First of all, an apology. As members will know, 1997 was meant to be the first year of a brave new world in which the Society would produce three issues of the Newsletter to keep you better informed. Unfortunately, plans for Newsletter No.36 have had to be put on the back burner in order to hurry this News Sheet to you, the reason for the rush being that we have only recently discovered that No.847's boiler ticket expires in September and not in November as originally thought.
All is not gloom and doom however as we have been in contact with the Bluebell Railway to arrange that the exit of our S15 from revenue earning service is marked in a suitable way. Details of the arrangements appear below. As for Newsletter No.36, this will duly appear this coming Winter when it is hoped to produce a bumper issue with extra pages (exactly how many will depend on the additional cost involved).
On a further optimistic note, the restoration of 1638 is making very good progress. Peter Jessop's report in this News Sheet contains all the latest details.
Ian Hawkins
Income from subscriptions and donations has now exceeded £2,700 and the donations box has produced nearly £300 so far this year. The sales stand at the Horsted Keynes swapmeet produced a very handy £155 (thank you to all involved) and, when interest on the building society accounts is added, the Society has earned about £4,200 to date.
On the expenditure side we have now paid out just over £10,000. Of this, £7,600 relates to materials for 1638 - i.e. new tubeplate, smokebox, forgings for the rods etc. plus plant hire for sorting out the concrete ballast in the tender tanks. Also £1,400 has now been paid out for contract labour to undertake work on 1638's tender drag boxes and chopping up the tender tanks. This work, which was mostly beyond our volunteers, has speeded up the project significantly.
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At the time of writing, the Society has just over £44,000 in its accounts. Between now and the year end we need to budget for about £29,000 for machining the rods, and say a further £3,000 of materials, labour and sundry expenses. We would like to set aside £5,000 for the construction of a new tender tank for 1638 - so that will leave just £6,000 spare. So can we interest you in contributing to a tender tank appeal? The more we can raise now, the more work we can commission on 1638 and clear the project. Ideally Ray Bellingham would like to get more of the small forgings sent off for machining - this will save a lot of time in the workshops at Sheffield Park. So what can you do to help the Society? There are about 300 members - if nearly everyone could provide £20, then the cost of the tender tank would be covered, so how about it? Any contribution you can make will be welcomed by the Treasurer at 312 Riverside Mansions, Garnet Street, Wapping, London El 9SZ.
Referring to the figure of £29,000 above, this is a quote (including VAT) for machining the forgings for the six coupling and connecting rods, from Dinsdale's in North London who did a good job of machining the connecting rod on 847. This cost is about what we expected and the firm has a good reputation with other societies around the country, so an order is about to be placed. There is a ten week delivery time, so we hope to have them machined and back on site by Christmas. I believe this will be the biggest purchase the Society has ever undertaken. How things change - it certainly was a struggle raising every penny for 847!
Steve Pilcher
Most of the action has taken place in, on, around, and unfortunately sometimes under the tender. Admiration and a round of applause please for the Sunday volunteers who have gone back to the needle gun to get the tender frames in smart shape. I can tell you that the noise and dust generated by these devices is bad enough at the best of times, but on a very hot summers day when you are perspiring enough already is not the time to apply goggles and earmuffs and so take on the appearance of a "Tellytubby"!
Our heroes (for it is unfair to name but one or two) pulled through marvellously and we now have on jacks outside the Sheffield Park works, a wonderfully presented set of frames. They are minus drag boxes, as these are being replaced, the new steel already having been cut. We even have a set of correct matching spoke wheels too, as Ray Bellingham led a team, who had made themselves available on a day in mid week, in a wheel rearrangement - swap round between our two tenders. This happened whilst the crane was booked in for the Class 4 boiler lift, and so saved us much money by paying a share rather than the whole cost of the crane hire.
If you get the chance to view the tender you will find that some refitting has already taken place, with two vacuum tanks now in position. They have the size and shape of beer barrels (but alas, 1638 uses water just like other steam locomotives!). They have been relocated under where the tank will go, between the frames.
Work on the engine itself is restricted at the moment to the cab. A new spectacle plate has been cut, and the repair and swapping over of brackets and fixings is in hand.
The serious money of most restorations is spent in two particular places, namely the motion and the boiler. Well, following a decision at the AGM, we have grasped the nettle on these...
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... issues and agreed the machining by contractors of the new rod forgings that we have. When complete, this will give a big boost to the whole project, as the bequest money mentioned in recent newsletters will have enabled us to leap this substantial hurdle like a champion. As the various parts of the locomotive start coming together, our focus will begin shifting towards the boiler.
On this particular front, the present state of play is as follows. The boiler has been gutted, though the firebox left in place. A new smokebox, mounting ring and smokebox door have been purchased, with all fittings having been removed from the old one. A replacement front tubeplate has been acquired and awaits drilling to take the new tubes that will need to be bought in the fullness of time. Certain important pieces such as the chimney and superheater header have already received attention and are available for refitting.
As you can see, there's something going on at all times in all areas (makes me wonder how we do it). If you have the time, come down and join us and find out. You won't regret it.
Peter Jessop
As mentioned in the Chairman's report in the last Newsletter, 847 is due to come out of traffic at the end of this season. This is principally because its ten year boiler certificate is up on 15/9/97. The boiler was hydraulically tested in 1987 and at that time the understanding was that the 10 year ticket would start from when the locomotive was first steamed - i.e. 1992. However boiler testing regulations have changed since then and the 10 year certificate is now regarded as starting from the date of the first hydraulic test. So in effect the engine is going to be stopped after running for just five years. The boiler is believed to be in reasonable condition, as is the overall condition of the locomotive. At the recent AGM Ray Bellingham said that the Bluebell Railway hoped that the volunteers could help get the overhaul started straight away and then the locomotive could go into the works for a quick turn around.
So to mark the expiry of 847's first period of service we have been in contact with the Bluebell who have, subject to availability, arranged for the locomotive to be in traffic on both days of the week end of September 6th./7th. Its train will consist of three Maunsell corridor coaches, two Bulleid opens and a four wheeled Southern brake (again subject to availability) and it will be used on four round trips each day leaving Sheffield Park at 10.30, 12.30, 14.30 and 16.30. In addition, on the Saturday evening, an extra train hauled by 847 will run from Sheffield Park to Horsted Keynes (possibly Kingscote) and return at a time to be advised. There will be a connecting coach from Horsted Keynes to East Grinstead at approximately 10 p.m. If you are interested in this evening train, please contact Steve Pilcher at the address above so that an idea can be gained of the numbers involved.
Paul Skinner and Mike Frackiewicz are planning to put together a display about 847 and its history on the station platform at Sheffield Park. We hope to see you at what promises to be a memorable week end. Please note that there are no special fare concessions for Society members - normal Bluebell Railway arrangements apply.
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The Eastleigh Railway Preservation Society, (who restored S15 No.828) have confirmed to us that they were due to conclude an agreement, in early August, with the NRM for a 10 year loan agreement for No.850 "Lord Nelson". All being well, it is hoped to move "Lord Nelson" from Carnforth to Eastleigh within the next two months. The Society hopes to overhaul the locomotive to main line standard within three years.
"Lord Nelson" was initially restored to working order for the Rainhill 150 celebrations in 1980 and ran for approximately two years before being stopped due to boiler problems. Since then it has remained in store at Carnforth, having ventured out briefly for the Woking 150 celebrations.
This is certainly good news for all Maunsell locomotive fans. We will keep you informed of progress in future Newsletters. In the mean time, anyone interested in the project should contact the ERPS fundraiser, Keith Home, 1 Merrytree Close, West Wellow, Romsey, Hants S051 6RB.
We have unearthed a further batch of the posters, produced in the eighties, depicting 847, 1618, and 541 at Sheffield Park. The posters are in mint condition and, in order to clear them out, are available at £1.50 each including p&p from the Treasurer. A real bargain.
The AGM went well and was attended by about twenty members. A full discussion was held on a variety of topics. Perhaps the most significant issue was the possible disposal of No.830. Ray Bellingham expressed the view that the Society should give serious consideration to disposing of the locomotive because of its generally poor condition and the very high cost of restoration. The view of the meeting was that the matter should be put to the membership. However, as the main purpose of this News Sheet is to inform the membership, as quickly as possible, about 847's last working days (for the time being), it has been decided to hold over to Newsletter No.36 the full pros and cons of restoring 830. It seems only fair that members should be given as full a picture as possible before being asked for their views.
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Note: an A4 sheet was attached to this newsletter with AGM minutes, and are reproduced here as follows..
The meeting started at 10.15 with 25 members present.
Apologies for absence
Phil Bainbridge, George Binns, Felix Cope, Peter Cox, Ian Hawkins, Russell Pearce, Adrian Pinkess, Chris Suiters.
Minutes of the last meeting
Agreed as presented.
Membership Secretary's report
Peter Jessop said that the membership remained at just under three hundred, with a few not renewing and a few new members. He had created a "website" on the Internet, to advertise the Society's activities and this had drawn in a some new members. Peter explained that due to family reasons he would be moving back to Switzerland for a while from September. He confirmed that he would very much want to remain involved with the Society's activities and was keen to maintain the "website" and write articles etc. Peter was thanked for all his good work on behalf of the Society and it was understood that George Binns would take over as Membership Secretary.
Treasurer's report
Steve Pilcher reviewed the 1996 accounts for the benefit of the meeting. The Society's financial position had been transformed by the receipt of a bequest of £55,000, which would enable the Society to make significant progress with the restoration of 1638. Nevertheless careful control was being exercised over expenditure and to maximise income. Income from the donations box was slightly down from the previous year but had picked up again in 1997. David Pinkess was also thanked for his efforts in collecting aluminium cans for recycling and thereby raising over £100 for the Society.
The value of assets in the balance sheet was up by £10,000. £5,000 was attributable to the purchase of 830 (this was the cost price) and £5,000 was an auctioneer's valuation of the "Sir Dinadan" nameplate which had also been bequeathed to the Society - and was displayed at the AGM.
Steve mentioned that subscriptions and donations for 1997 were comparable to the same period last year. Expenditure had been stepped up following receipt of the bequest - several new parts had been bought for 1638 including a new tubeplate, smokebox, plus forgings for the coupling and connecting rods. In addition Melvyn Frohnsdorff was being paid to undertake various jobs to speed up the work on the tender chassis.
Adoption of the accounts and election of the Auditors.
The 1996 accounts were adopted unanimously. Messrs King and Taylor were also reappointed as Auditors.
Chairman's report
Ray Bellingham reviewed the work on 1638 and mentioned that a big step forward had been achieved by re-wheeling the loco chassis in December. Work had continued in replacing some of the running plate, constructing new steps and rebuilding the cab sides. Two ex Schools class tenders, which had been converted to snow ploughs had been purchased in 1996 for a total of just over £3,000. The tanks had been dismantled over..
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..the winter and the concrete ballast disposed off. Both chassis were in good condition and the better one had been selected for use with 1638 (this chassis had been paid for by the Bluebell) and the other had been set aside for use with 830. The tender chassis for 1638 had been dismantled and was in the process of being overhauled and new drag boxes were being built. He estimated it would cost about £5,000 to build a tender tank and this might be constructed on site.
Ray mentioned that he had obtained a quote of £24,880, plus VAT from Dinsdale's of North London for machining the six coupling rod and connecting rod forgings. (Post AGM action an alternative lower quote has been obtained and accepted.) Ray hoped it would be possible to arrange for work on the boiler to be financed from the Bernard Wright bequest to the Bluebell. It was agreed that an appeal be launched for funds to be raised to pay for a new tender tank.
As to 847, this was due to come out of traffic in September and Ray hoped it would be possible to arrange a quick turn around on its overhaul, as it did not require much work. The wheelsets needed to be sent away for turning, small tubes and flues needed to be removed and replaced, motion and axle boxes overhauled. The Society's working members could help strip it down during the winter, and a budget would need to be provided by Bluebell.
As to 830, Ray questioned the viability of the project. He reminded those present that it had originally arrived as a source of spares for the Brighton Atlantic Project and restoration could only proceed if a realistic restoration plan could be produced. He reminded the meeting that it lacked all its non ferrous fittings and motion which would be expensive to replace. The boiler was in poor condition and most likely the firebox would have to be replaced as it was badly cracked in the crowns. Many other parts were also missing which made it a very expensive project - well beyond the Society's resources. Space was at a premium at Sheffield Park and the Railway were considering disposing of locos that they did not need. He asked whether we should sell it or wait until the Railway asked us to dispose of it. It was unanimously agreed that the membership be balloted and asked for their views.
As to 541, this was due to go into the works after Blackmore Vale. Paul Skinner mentioned the need to try to recruit more working members to help overhaul the Society's locos.
Election of Directors
Peter Jessop wanted to remain on the Board. Paul Thorp was proposed as a Director. He had proved to be a valued and frequent member of the volunteer gang. Also he was able to attend mid week and would provide a good link between the volunteers and Ray. The existing Board members and Paul Thorp were elected unanimously. Agreed that George Binns act as Membership Secretary.
AOB
Paul Skinner suggested that a special event be arranged to mark 847's last day in traffic before overhaul and members invited down. This was agreed.
Ray mentioned he might be moving house and may not wish to retain the Sir Dinadan nameplate. Agreed he keep it pro-tem and ascertain whether George Binns/David Jones want to keep it.
Peter Jessop was presented with a 1638 numberplate in recognition of his work on behalf of the Society.
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