AGM - August 1992

Reports on the Society's progress in the past year and a lively discussion of the future possibilities open to the Society made this an interesting and informative AGM. Detailed minutes of the proceedings are included with this newsletter.

Sales

A sizeable income has been generated by Society members this year. Felix Cope has raised several hundred pounds by running the Society stall at various events. Adrian Pinkess has reported considerable interest in the tee shirts and sweats advertised in the previous newsletter, with a good profit being made for the Society. The sales of the last Video have also been most pleasing, and £200 profit placed in Society funds.

Members with any items that may be offered for sale on the Society stall should contact Felix Cope. The tee shirts and sweat shirts are still available from Adrian Pinkess, and he can be contacted by writing to: 116, Little Heath Road, Bexleyheath, Kent, DA7 5HW. The new Society videos will soon be available and an advert is elsewhere in this newsletter.

Letters

Thank you to the many members who wrote to both Adrian Pinkess and myself with matters arising from the previous newsletter. Many interesting points were made, and a full selection will be published in the next Newsletter.

Among the topics covered will be the proper pronunciation of the Society name, a suggestion of a named loco of benefit to the Society, and the various options for the future. Keep the letters coming in!

S15 no 828

The restoration team based at Eastleigh rose to the challenge of getting 828 ready for the Open Day at the B.R. depot on Sunday September 27th. Many members of our restoration team took a day off and visited the event, and were most impressed with the high standard of restoration achieved. It was felt that we can be proud of the standard of our work in comparison to the professionals.

The loco is finished in Malachite Green, and makes an interesting comparison to 847's Olive Green livery. Perhaps one day we can see the two double-heading a train!

541 Update

Sadly, the 'Q' class had to be withdrawn from traffic in September prior to the expiry of its 10 year boiler certificate in October. It had been in the workshops since August for repairs, but its superheater flues were suspected to be rather thin, and following removal of the superheater elements an ultrasonic test proved this to be so. It was decided that it would be unwise to steam the loco again. No doubt when 847 is completed thought will be given to overhauling 541.

Treasurer's Report

As at the end of September the Society had received over £3500 in income and spent over £5800 in the current financial year. I anticipate that there is still another £800 to pay for work on 847 and we still need to repay £3400 of loans. Although we do have funds in our account I believe that we will be approximately £700 short at the end of the year. So, the message is that we still welcome any donations to help complete the work to 847. Cheques should be payable to 'Maunsell Locomotive Society Ltd.' and sent to:

Steve Pilcher, 312, Riverside Mansions, Garnet St, Wapping, London, El 9SZ.

847 Restoration Team

The restoration team are to be congratulated by all associated with the Maunsell Locomotive Society, and can feel justifiably proud of their achievement in overhauling our third locomotive from scrapyard condition. Can any other Society match our achievements?

Those involved in the restoration are Steve Pilcher, Rodney Packham, Ray Bellingham, Felix Cope, Adrian Pinkess, David Pinkess, Ray 2 , David Jones and Barry Smith.

It is planned to include a 'team photo' of the above members with 847 in the next issue, and I am sure that all members will join me in thanking the team for all their hard work.

Photographs

We have found an outlet whereby the Society can sell good quality, postcard size, black & white photographs. They should be of a railway theme and preferably pre 1970. We can raise 20p per photo. Anyone willing to help us by supplying photos should send, them to the Treasurer, at the address listed elsewhere on this page.
(As always, we always welcome current Maunsell photos for use in the newsletter, Ed. )

Visits

A date for your diary - if you have one for 1994 yet! The garage in my home village of Crockenhill houses a well-kept secret in the form of a complete Victorian Workshop, in which the owner works to maintain his two traction engines. It is believed to be one of only two surviving in their original location. The owner opens it to interested groups once a year, and we have been allocated the 1994 Open Day. Further details in the distant future.

847 Engineering Report

The workshop staff are at present (late September) working hard to ensure that 847 is ready to return to steam in November. Ray Bellingham has been machining the valves and assembling the rest of the valve gear. Keith Sturt has been preparing the motion bearings and whitemetalling them. The coupling rods are due to be put up shortly. Steve Czech and Chris Wood have been making up the large and small bore copper pipework.

Our volunteers have been busy with some of the fiddly jobs, cleaning and polishing the buffers, fitting rodding under the loco, and renovating the cylinder covers.

Finally, Tony Funnel has been performing an excellent job with the lettering and lining which highlights the fine gloss paint finish produced by Tommy Dobson and others.

A full report on the final stages in restoration will appear in the next issue.

Maunsell Videos

The two videos produced by the Society have been well received by members, and a pleasing number have been sold. We have got sufficient material this year to produce two editions of the video. It is intended to devote one tape to operations on the Bluebell this year, including a ride on the extension in an engineer's train, the first public train to New Coombe Bridge and the return of 847. The second tape will feature the travels of our cameramen, including the Mid Hants, KESR, Great Central, IoW, NYMR, East Lancs, and steam on BR. An order form will be sent to previous customers when the final details are available; if you would like to be sent details please send an SAE to Mike Floate.

Any members who videotape the operation of 847 in the next few weeks are invited to send their tapes to Mike Floate for possible inclusion in a tape devoted to the S15 due to be on sale next spring. Tapes will be safely returned, and a complimentary copy of the completed tape sent to all contributors.