Newsletter No.1

May 1978

Front cover photograph: 31618 Passes Swanscombe Halt en route to New Hythe 19th January 1969,
Photograph D. Idle.

In this edition click to go further to:

Financial Matters or Barry Report

Editorial

This is the first newsletter under our new name, the Maunsell Locomotive Society, we will continue to give news of the progress of 1618 and from thne to time we intend to look at the work of Mr. Maunsell and also give details of other preserved Maunsell locomotives.

For recent members we have included details of the preservation of 1618 and also a report by David Jones on his recent visit to Barry. Comments received on the new style newsletter have been favourable, photographs of Maunsell locomotives in action are wanted for future issues.

The team of regular workers are making progress with the work on our locomotive and we hope that members will take the opportunity of seeing her in action on the Bluebell Railway later this summer.

Running Notes

Work has continued on 1618 throughout the winter months, progress has not been quite as rapid as was originally planned but despite the cold weather a fair amount has been achieved. The bulk of the activity in recent weeks has been concerned with the hydraulic test on the boiler and superheater elements which have been removed from the boiler, tested individually and found to be in very good condition, probably good for 10 years further work. The boiler is being blanked in readiness for the hydraulic and the exterior of the firebox has been descaled, the scale having built up around the stay heads over a great period of time. Numerous studs that have badly wasted are being replaced and the single boiler tube that was removed for examination by the inspector has been replaced.

While 1618 is out of service another vacuum ejector of the original pattern will be fitted providing that extensive repair work has been completed to the ejector. The pipework in the cab will be improved and copper pipe will be used to replace the steel pipe that was fitted when 1618 was rescued from Barry.

There is still a great deal of work to complete to get 1618 back into service but she is due to return to traffic in May. Once the engine is back in working order she should remain in traffic for a good time (apart from routine maintainance), but in due course a major overhaul for 1618 is inevitable.

R.B.

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For New Members

As we have gained quite a few new members in the last few months it is time to review the progress of the society. The Southern Mogul Preservation Society was formed in 1966 to preserve one of Mr. Maunsell 2-6-0 locomotives, however the last four examples were withdrawn by the Southern Region before sufficient funds could be raised to purchase one. Luckily five S.R. moguls were to be found in the now well known scrap yard at Barry, Glamorgan, and after prolonged negotiations a deposit was placed on U class 31618, found to be in the best mechanical condition.
A temporary site was found to store 31618, (as she then was) on a private siding at New Hythe on the Strood to Paddock Wood branch line and our locomotive was moved there during January 1969. Restoration work then commenced and at the same time the balance of the cash that was owed to Woodham bros, was paid off. The private siding at New Hythe could only be considered as temporary and after some pressure by the site owners a new home was found for our loco at Tenterden on the Kent and East Sussex Railway. Tenterden was a useful home for 1618 (as she had become) as it allowed the original working members to remain together and press on with the restoration work.

However during the time that 1618 was at Tenterden some of the work force found other interests although we were lucky enough to gain other working members, gradually 1618 was returned to working order and eventually steamed.

Thoughts were then turned to the future of 1618, it would have been nice if our engine could have run on the Kent and East Sussex but owing to the condition of the track (their max. axle loading is 17 tons, ours is 18 tons) this was not to be. A new home had to be found where our locomotive would have a good future and Bluebell, with a new progressive outlook was chosen. While we were considering the future it had been agreed that the Bulleid Society and Bluebell Railway should be given the custody of the Q1 0-6-0 from the national collection and arrangements were made to move 1618 at the same time as the Q1, this was achieved and the cost of moving our locomotive was minimal.

Finally we are very pleased to be based at the Bluebell Railway and I am sure that seeing 1618 in action last summer justified the change.

R.P.

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Publicity

In recent months we have gained more publicity than ever before, photographs of 1618 in action have appeared in the August 1977 Railway World, the October 1977 Railway Magazine and a good colour shot in the April 1978 Railway World. We have also had good coverage from the Bluebell News being on the cover of two issues last year.

Membership

Our membership total at the moment is 180 of which an even number are Life and Associate members. We have gained several new Life and Associate members in the last few months but feel we should have a greater number of associate Members (50) in the society. Now that we have changed our identity and broadened our interests we hope we can gain more support from the enthusiast movement. Membership rates remain the same for 1978, £1.50 for Associate and £15.00 for Full (Life) membership.

Financial

During the past weeks we have received some very kind donations from the following members. Mr. M. Taylor. Mr. A. Castle. Mr. R.A. Gurney. Mr. J.D. O'Brien. Mr. D. Foale. Mr. F. Bailey. Mrs. J. Pape. Mr. R. Phillips. Mr. J.B. True. Mr. M.D. Porter. Mr. R.J. Williams. and Mr. R. Shaw.

Our finances have recovered a little since paying for the movement of the engine to the Bluebell Railway and our main aim at the moment must be to establish a financial reserve to ensure that 1618 can be maintained in working order and in good condition. The day will eventually come when 1618 will require a major overhaul and as we are the owners some of the expense will have to be borne by ourselves.

D.S.

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Barry Report

by D.G. Jones.

Mention was made in Newsletter No. 30 of the two remaining 'U' Class locomotives at Barry Scrapyard in South Wales. There are also four Maunsell 'S15' Class engines, and this article gives the position as at April lst 1978. As the majority of members know, Woodham Brothers Ltd. has already provided over 90 locomotives which would have otherwise been lost including our own 1618, the second engine to be rescued from the yard.

There are three separate areas to the Barry site, the cutting-up yard with 32 locomotives, the going-out yard with 12 locomotives and the main yard where the other 80 or so are located. 'U Class 31638 which is without a tender, has been reserved for the Swanage Railway Project and can be seen in the main yard between 80097 and one of the two diesels at Barry, D6121. The other 'U' Class 31625 is beyond economic restoration and awaits scrapping in a corner of the cutting-up yard next to'S15' 30825. The wheels of the Mogul however have been allocated to the 31638 Fund, being in better condition than those on that engine. It is unfortunate that 31625 cannot be saved as it could be correctly restored for oil burning having spent 1947 and 1948 converted to this form of fuel.

Turning now to the four Maunsell 'S15' locomotives; (there is also one Urie 'S15' at Barry, 30499 whose tender has been allocated to 31638) 30825 has already been mentioned but although in the cutting-up yard has been inspected and reserved by the Peak Railway Society who plan to re-open the Matlock to Buxton line. A second 'S l 5' 30828 in the main yard is also reserved for this project but only time will tell whether both are saved. The third Maunsell 'S15' is 30830 situated at the end of the centre row in the cutting-up yard next to a GWR engine 4247, and although not reserved due to its poor condition, the tender has been allocated to the fourth 'S15' 30847. An active group known as the 847 Locomotive Preservation Fund has recently cleaned and painted their reserved engine which now looks one of the best in the yard. 847's own tender was purchased for use with 'U' Class 31806 now awaiting restoration on the Mid-Hants Railway at Ropley. Summarising the above we have:-

From the foregoing therefore we can expect at least two and possibly four further Maunsell engines to join those already preserved.

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Opposite..30777 SIR LAMIEL at Ashford Steam Centre in 1976.
Photograph R.P.

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Preserved Maunsell Locomotives

Ten Maunsell locomotives have so far been preserved, we give details below which are correct as far as we know. We can give no guarantee that the locomotives are on public display.

Other locomotives remain at Barry including S.15 30847, a fund has been started to save this locomotive and details can be obtained from Mr. M. Allen, 47 Hillside Grove, Chelmsford, Essex. A fair amount of cash has already been raised and some work has been done on the locomotive. It is hoped to keep 30847 in the South of England.

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Stop Press

1618 to be used in a film. No real details to hand yet but providing that the hydraulic test is quickly completed and 1618 returned to working order by the middle of May, she should be used for a film about the life of the late General Eisenhower.

Officers of the Society

Chairman: Ray Bellingham

Honorary General Secretary: R. Packham

Honorary Treasurer: D. Stubbs

General Committee Member: N. James

All correspondence should be sent to:

Mr. R. Packham,

Honorary General Secretary,

Maunsell Locomotive Society,

132, Church Road,

Swanscombe,

Kent,

DAIO OHP.

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