Page created on 04/11/2024.
Roco ref. 54312 “Bruhat” coach, modified.
Observation
This sympathetic coach is showing its age. The decoration is minimalist: no end markings, no revision date. The bellows supports are reduced to simple stumps, and no folded bellows are supplied. The ventilators and handrails have to be fitted, which is difficult for the laterals as there is no place for them.
Other flaws: the one-piece interior fittings are also rather crude; the model registration does not correspond to any in the Encyclopaedia of SNCF coaches; the colour tends towards khaki.
My intention is to fit a folded bellows at one end, leaving open the possibility of fitting an unfolded one, to fit the handrails, to replace the bogies, and finally to install lighting.
Modifications
Bellows
I’ve noticed that folded Roco Est coach bellows fit directly. However, the shape of the handrails and lines doesn’t conform. We’ll make do.
To make the exchange easier, I glued the gangways to the intercommunication doors with Blu-tack.
Railings
The central railing poses no problem. The side railings don’t have a fixing pin. So you need a template if you hope to position them correctly. Here are the dimensions.
Realization
Here’s a railing taped to the template.
The template is put in position, abutting the step.
The gluing is done with CA (cyanoacrylate) and isn’t exactly clean. But it’s the only way to avoid spending an hour per railing waiting for another glue to dry… The paint is a bit damaged.
If I had to do it all over again, I’d make an angled drilling template and use metal railings, which would be thinner.
Bogies
The Roco “Wagons-lits” bogies are not very attractive. In particular, the secondary springs are “extruded” (not cylindrical). What’s more, I have my doubts whether the axle boxes conform to the French model.
At the end of their careers, most of the Bruhats were on Y2 or Y16 bogies. So I’m going to fit them with REE Y16 bogies.
A quick and imprecise calculation shows me that I need to reduce the height of the pivots by about 4 mm. This reduction is made with a ø 6 milling bit on the 1-point suspension bogie. After checking, the reduction is a little too great. A polystyrene shim of suitable thickness will correct this.
New pivots
The mounting system for REE bogies is very different from that of the Roco. The inner hole of the Roco pivots, like that of the REE bogies, has a diameter of 3.3 mm. This is just right for an Evergreen tube of this diameter. What’s more, the REE screws fit impeccably into this tube. Sections of 8 mm are glued into the Roco pivots.
On the right, the original WL type bogie, on the left, the new Y16 bogie.
On the two-point suspension end, the thickness of this suspension must be corrected, after reducing the pivot by around 5 mm. Simply measure the total height of the coach without correction and deduce the thickness to be added: 0.8 mm.
Note: the small rectangles visible in both photos are parts used to hold the drawbars in place. They have been replaced by more effective ones, as we are about to see.
Drawbar guides
Originally, the bogies themselves prevented the drawbars from coming out of their housings. With the new bogies, this rather rustic solution no longer works. It has to be replaced by glued retaining plates.
Couplings
I realized that the Fleschmann Profi couplings wouldn’t fit into the NEM box, even when forced. This is astonishing and exceptional for Roco equipment. The easy solution is to reduce the thickness of the coupling tail.
Result
Before
After
The coach is photographed with a folded bellows, its railings mounted and Y16 bogies.