1618 passes 847 at Sheffield Park on 18th February 1990. Felix Cope is cleaning the motion.
Photograph: Mike Frackiewicz
In this edition click to go further to:
Financial Matters or Restoration report or Review of other Maunsell engine still extant
| Rodney Packham | Chairman and
Membership Secretary |
132 Church Road, Swanscombe, Kent DA10 0HP |
| Ray Bellingham | President and
Chief Engineer |
C/o Sheffield Park Workshop, Bluebell Railway |
| Mike Frackiewicz | Company Secretary | 55 Rectory Lane, Woodmansterne, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 3PE |
| Steve Pilcher | Treasurer and
Newsletter Editor |
52 Thomas More Street, London E1 9LE |
| George Binns | General Member | 21 Barnfield Close, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 1TS |
| Felix Cope | General Member | "Feldor", Grassy Lane, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1PL |
| David Jones | General Member | 22 Manor Road, Hampden Park, Eastbourne, East Sussex |
| Adrian Pinkess | General Member | 116 Little Heath Road, Bexleyheath, Kent DA7 5HW |
| Barry Smith | General Member | 65 Thayers Farm Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4LY |
Page 2
Quite a lot has happened recently for the Society and I will therefore not bore readers with a lengthy precis as an editorial!
We had a good response to our financial appeal in the last Newsletter and the mild winter encouraged quite a few of our friends and supporters to visit and inspect progress on 847. Hopefully they were impressed!
At the time of going to press, we had negotiated a deal for booksales with the Camelot Society. Hopefully, with the Newsletter there will be a copy of the latest Camelot Society's booklist. For every item purchased from the list, the Maunsell Society will receive 10% of the purchase price. Please mention you are a Maunsell Society member if you would like to take advantage of this scheme.
Ray and Mary decided to return to the Bluebell Railway shortly after Christmas. Mary is back working in the Buffet, and Ray has been taken on in the workshop, to undertake sub-contract work. In the past the Bluebell Railway has been asked if it would undertake sub-contract work for other loco owners, but has had to turn down most of the work due to other demands on the workshop staff. Since Ray has been back he has machined our coupling rod forging and at the time of writing, was machining a full set of rods for 257 Squadron (which is being restored at Swindon). He has also completed some machining work for Clan Line and helped out on various jobs for the Bluebell Railway.
Page 3
We are pleased to report that:-
i) The cladding has been completed
ii) The coupling rod forging for the missing rod has been machined
iii) A good start has been made on the cylinder cladding, and the whistle is up in position.
As mentioned elsewhere, Ray Bellingham is back at the Bluebell Railway and has machined the forging on the Bluebell Railway's planer mill. This was the first time the machine was used since Ray completed the machining of 541's connecting rods in 1983. At the time of writing the rod required the various crank pin holes and oil ways to be bored out, which should hopefully be completed soon. So far we have had to pay £1,000 for the work, and the final price will depend on how long the job takes to complete.
Some of the cladding gang in action on 18th February 1990. Adrian and David Pinkess are fixing a cladding band with David Jones ready for some painting.
Photo: Mike Frackiewicz
Page 4
One of the more complicated sheets of cladding (with a recessed tray) about to be lifted into, position with help from friends in the Camelot Society. Left to right are: Felix Cope, Adrian Pinkess, Barry Smith, Melvyn Fronsdorff, David Pinkess, Gary and Niall.
Photo: Steve Pilcher
The cladding did take some time to finish, but we are pleased with the end result. The last section between the dome and the smokebox was particularly awkward as it required the fabrication of a recessed "tray" section to fit around the very confined space where the reversing shaft fits under the boiler, just behind the smokebox. This tray section was made up in three pieces and has some very awkward curved shapes to it. It was a bit of a struggle, especially as none of our working party had much experience of sheet metal work. As someone was heard to comment, "now we know how to do it, 830 will be easy!" Faith is such a wonderful thing!! We have also made some covers for where the firebox meets the running plate in front of the cab. They look neat and smarten up the appearance of the running plate.
Page 5
So what next? We want to get 847 looking respectable for AGM day and the Bluebell's proposed cavalcade the following weekend. We are therefore looking towards:-
i) getting the handrails and deflectors up
ii) finishing the cylinder cladding
iii) finishing the cab backhead and starting on the fittings
iv) painting the loco in top coat and having the tender lined and lettered
v) getting some of the motion up.
Ray Bellingham back in action on the planer mill, machining our coupling rod forging, February 1990.
Photo: Steve Pilcher
Page 6
Tony Funnel (ex workshop staff) has offered to complete the lining and lettering for us at a reasonable cost and his work is very good. Melvyn Fronsdorff has offered to help make up the fittings we will need for the copper lubrication pipework, and also to machine other castings for us. In addition, Ray Bellingham is making arrangements for the manufacture of certain pins /bushes etc. that are necessary to get the motion up. I hope readers will come down for the AGM and see the work at first hand; I'm sure you will be impressed!
 |
An undated photo of
860 "Lord Hawke" |
At the time of going to press the future of out PMV van looked rather uncertain. There is a lot of pressure on siding space on the Bluebell Railway, particularly at Sheffield Park. This is mainly due to the arrival of six ex-BR Mark 1 coaches (on hire) and the imminent re-wheeling of 33001, 73082 and 34059. We have been asked to consider purchasing a metal container (available at Horsted Keynes), which would be moved to the loco yard at Sheffield Park. Our stores could then be transferred from our van and the van sold to release space in the sidings. Other groups are being asked to do likewise.
It is regrettable to have to contemplate selling our van, particularly since Fred Card and Bernard Wright have put in a lot of work to make it look respectable. Needless to say, we are giving the matter careful thought, but given the space problems at Sheffield Park, we may have little option but to sell the van.
Centre pages:
'Q' class 30539 ex-works at Eastleigh MPD, 4th or 5th June 1960.
Photo: Peter Cupper
Page 7
Page 8&9
I normally produce a review of all the Maunsell locos just once a year
in our Christmas edition. However, quite a lot has happened to some of the
other locos
-so here's a brief resumee.
As readers may already be aware, Sir Lamiel did return to the main line early this year. Most of our restoration gang treated themselves to a trip behind Sir Lamiel between Appleby and Leeds at the end of May - more of that in the next edition.
An early photo of 770 "Sir Prianius". Date, location and photographer all unknown
The chassis from 825 was sold to the owners of 841 early this year and it was taken to North Yorks Moors Railway for use as spares. The bogie has been sold to the Urie Society for use with their S15s
Page 10
Mike Frackiewicz and I paid a visit to Eastleigh Loco Works recently and had the pleasure of meeting Harry Frith, Malcolm Tomlin and Mike Tilly - the leading lights behind the restoration of 828. Harry Frith was Eastleigh Erecting Shop Foreman and as such is a fascinating person to talk to on workshop practices and methods. Needless to say, the restoration of 828 is to a high standard, and a credit to all involved. The boiler has been restayed as required and awaits retubing. A new ashpan has been fabricated and certain boiler fittings mounted up. New half sides have been fitted in the smokebox and some wasted platework renewed. The boiler is back in the frames, but will be lifted out again for a steam test in due course.
S15 828 under restoration at Eastleigh, 29th April 1990
Photo: Steve Pilcher
Page 11
Apparently, rapid progress is being made with the overhaul of Repton up on the North York Moors Railway. A new tender body has been made by outside contractors. The tank has high sides like that which was coupled to 30932 "Blundells" in BR days - see photo.
30932 'Blundells". Date and photographer unknown.
With both 31806 and 31874 stopped for overhaul at the Mid Hants, I understand they intend to speed up 31625's overhaul by borrowing certain items (including a tender) pro tem. So 31625 may be back in steam quite soon.
Page 12
31639 and 31411 departing from Guildford on the LCGB tour, 3rd April 1966.
Photo: Des O'Brien
We are always interested m acquiring prints of Maunsell locomotives, and of the Society's locos in particular. One of our members, Mr. Des O'Brien, has very kindly lent some negatives, one of which is reproduced in this edition. Mike Frackiewicz is particularly keen on collecting pictures of 847, and has amassed a wide ranging selection of them. If any readers have pictures of 847, please could they send them to Mike, and all other photos to the editor (both addresses in the list of Directors).
 |
Q class 541 was the first loco to test the Bluebell's northern extension track, on 29th April 1989. The first 1km opened to the public on Easter Saturday 1990 Photo: B. Bamberough |
Page 13
This is where the editor/magazine scriptwriter dons his other hat as Treasurer. Enclosed with each magazine is a copy of our audited accounts and my Treasurer's report for 1989. It was a good year and so far 1990 looks promising, too. We have raised £2,200 as at the end of April. We appreciate funds are rather tight for our members, with high interest rates, etc. I am always loath to embarrass members by identifying individual donations. However, it must be said that we have had a few very generous donations which are much appreciated. In addition, we have had some very respectable sums from others whose finances we know are limited. So, thank you all!
This year we have the opportunity to speed up progress on 847 if our funds can keep up with the work. Hopefully, with other donations this will cover the work we want to carry out on the motion and pipework/fittings. However, this still leaves us seriously short of funds to finance the work required to the cylinders. There is always the possibility of discussing a loan arrangement with the Bluebell Railway - but they are short of funds, too. Instead, we have recently written to four Charitable Trusts who are known to have given over £1,000 each in the past to transport/industrial archaeological themes. It is still too early yet to expect a response, but I feel it is worth a try.
So the message is that we really will welcome all donations and let's see if we can find a Trust who we can interest in our work!
Following the article in the last edition of the Newsletter, we have now sold 42 of the "847 Restoration Project" T shirts, and have just 8 extra large size left. If anyone would like a T shirt now Summer is with us, you should send a cheque for £5.40 to Mr. A. Pinkess at 116 Little Heath Road, Bexleyheath, Kent DA7 5HW. Cheques should be made payable to A. Pinkess, and the price includes postage. All profits will go to the Society.
Page 14
The time has come for yet another AGM. Last year we had a good turnout of over 20 members and we hope we can have another good gathering this year.
The venue as before will be the downstairs bar in the buffet block at Sheffield Park, on Sunday 29th July. We will have to start promptly at 10.00am and finish official business at 11.00am to allow the bar to be set up etc. We are usually able to linger longer for an informal chat afterwards. The main item of business will be to discuss progress with 847. In addition we need to elect officers/directors etc. and adopt the accounts. No doubt there will be some interesting speculation vis what to do next. So do please come along; meet the directors and let's discuss matters of interest.
Felix Cope has booked a stall at the Bluebell Railway's Swapmeet on 21 & 22 July. As before, all profits will go to the Society - last year Felix raised £150 for us. If anyone has any items of railwayana, model railways etc. that they are either prepared to donate - or let Felix sell on a commission basis, would they please contact Felix at his home address (see list of directors). He is also still raising some money through selling used postage stamps for us. These can either be left with Ray Bellingham in the workshop at Sheffield Park, or should be sent to Felix. We are grateful for all donations and indebted to Felix for his good work.
It looks likely that 1990 should see our 'U' and 'Q' class locos used quite intensively on the Bluebell's services. The Standard class 4 75027 is out of traffic for its 10 year boiler lift, and 80064 is in the last few months of its boiler certificate. It therefore looks like the bulk of the Summer's traffic will fall to 1618 and 541, and possibly Stowe. No doubt Port Line will also be out on the line quite a bit, but overall it looks like quite a good year for Maunsell loco spotters!
Back page:
541 and 1618 ascending Freshfield Bank in 1989.
Photo: Bruce Malcolm
Colour copies can be purchased from the Bluebell Railway Shop
Page 15
