Newsletter No.9
Summer 1982
Cover Photograph, What its all about, U class 1618 runs past the locomotive Sheds at Sheffield Park. Photograph: Pete Nicholson.
In this edition click to go further to:
Financial Matters or Engine Report
| Mary Bellingham. | Treasurer. | c/o Sheffield Park Station, near Uckfield, Sussex. |
| Ray Bellingham. | Chairman. | c/o Sheffield Park Station, near Uckfield, Sussex. |
| G. Binns. | General Member. | 21 Barnfield Close, Hastings, Sussex. |
| F.R. Cope. | General Member. | Feldor, Grassy Lane, Sevenoaks, Kent. |
| N.V. James. | General Member. | 16 Malvern Close, Mitcham, Surrey. |
| D.G. Jones. | General Member.. | 22 Manor Road, Hampden Park, Eastbourne Sussex. |
| P. Nicholson. | General Member | Southwood Lane, Cheltenham, Glos. |
| R. Packham. | Membership Secretary.
Newsletter Editor. |
132 Church Road, Swanscombe, Kent.DA10 0HP |
| H. Strongitharm. | Sales Officer. | 2a, Calverley Park Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. |
Q class 541 is gradually nearing completion and every week sees some of outstanding jobs being carried out. We are very lucky to have a regular gang of members who have worked week after week to restore 541. Skills vary from engineering to just cleaning and scraping but all are important. Just as important are the members who have helped us financially, many of whom we have never met.
It is pleasing to note that the interest in 847 is still very strong. The response to the appeal in the last news sheet has been reasonably satisfactory and should get us off to a fair start. Some minor work has been carried out on 847 in recent weeks and the gang are looking forward to completing 541 and starting on the overhaul of our S15.
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Two locomotives now awaiting major restoration at Sheffield Park seen together at Guildford on 26-4-62. 31618 working the 10-04 to Redhill while our own 847 waits for the road on a ballast train. Photograph, R.S. Greenwood.
Our S15 again, 30847 makes a fine sight
on a freight near Gomshall.
Photograph, S.C. Nash.
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1618 is in working order after the overhaul of the pony truck. The U class should be available for traffic through the summer season.
Work is continuing on 541 and a variety of jobs have been carried out on this now unique locomotive. A new pair of safety valves have been cast to Southern Railway design as has a new steam manifold, the patterns for these being made by Ray Bellingham and Dave Stubbs.
The cab roof has been rebuilt and bolted back in place. The original brackets and angles were found to be re-usable but the sheeting had become badly wasted and was replaced.
The coupling rods have received considerable attention, a great deal of time and effort was spent in cleaning and polishing the rods and they were eventually put up with help from other volunteers on 9th May.
New support brackets for the vacuum cylinders have been made, the cylinders themselves have been stripped down and cleaned with new rolling and neck rings being fitted. To date one of the cylinders has been refitted under the front end of the tender.
Q class 541 on the Oxted line near Sandersted, 1949. Photograph, D. Cobbe.
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Plans are being made for the machining of the connecting rods and the rods have been moved into the works for this purpose.
We are constantly being asked when 541 will be in action again, we still think that the engine will be completed this year but not until the end of the year. There are still many jobs to complete and as you will probably realise they are gradually being done.
Because of our present commitment to 541 we have not been able to spend very much time on our S15. However some basic work has been carried out and as 541 draws nearer to completion we intend to devote more time to 847.
On 847 Mike Frackiewicz has spent some time cleaning and greasing the cylinders to prevent further deterioration by rust. A vacuum cylinder that will be used with 847 has also been cleaned and moved to a safer storage area. The coal space in the tender is being cleaned up and parts that have been stored there are being sorted out.
The reversing gear in the cab is being overhauled and rebuilt away from site.
541 under going restoration at Sheffield
Park earlier in the year.
Photograph, P. Nicholson.
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The response to the last news sheet has been fairly satisfactory and donations were sent from many members, some marked for Q class 541 and many for our S15 847.
Our current expenditure includes the cost of having the new safety valves and steam manifold for 541 cast by a local firm.
For 847 a financial reserve is being built up and this will be used to secure essential fittings. To date we have raised just about a tenth of what we need to secure parts for 847 and as you will realise a great deal of further support is required if the restoration of the S15 is to proceed at a reasonable pace.
We are grateful to all those members who have made a contribution to the funds.
This was held on August 14/15 and our own 1618 was in action along with the 'Schools' class 928 STOWE. In the waiting room at Horsted Keynes there was a photographic display depicting the work of the society and Maunsell locomotives. Thanks go to those who supported this event.
The Sales shop has become established at Horsted Keynes and is expecting to be very busy this year. The shop is open on most Sundays and Bank Holidays and sells a variety of stock. All profits go towards the restoration of our locomotives. Thanks go to Mary and Louise Bellingham for regularly staffing the shop.
This van, bought some time ago from British Rail, is in need of a repaint. The van is currently situated at Sheffield Park and we are looking for a couple of volunteers who are not involved in any other project, to take on the job of painting it. Apart from felting the roof we have been unable to give this vehicle much attention owing to more pressing needs. If any members feel they would like to take on the job of restoring the van please contact Ray Bellingham or Rodney Packham.
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On the same day that the Bluebell Railway's 45 ton capacity steam crane arrived at Sheffield Park, Saturday November 7th, our sales stand was taken by Howard Strongitharm and David Jones to the model railway exhibition at Shoreham College. This was the first such exhibition at Shoreham which is intended to become an annual event. One problem was the restricted space with several layouts being positioned in the main hall and on the stage, together with various society and trade stands in between. However, we had a good location and enough space on a long table to spread out all our stock. Other Societies had stands including the Bluebell, the Shoreham to Beeding railway society and the Barry Steam Locomotive Action Group, these latter two being in the corridor outside the hall.
As would be expected most demand was for model railway items although books, postcards and in particular posters of Southern engines also sold well. There was not a great deal of interest in the Society itself so we are unlikely to recruit any new members from this exhibition. The amount taken was slightly over £30 which did not really justify the effort put into the day bearing in mind that all the stock had to be collected from and returned to our shop on Horsted Keynes station. Other societies particularly the 73082 Camelot group seem to be able to raise quite a lot from sales stands away from the Bluebell although many of these are at British Rail open days.
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Tonbridge,
Kent.
April 82.
Dear Mr. Packham,
I am pleased to renew my membership for the Maunsell Locomotive Society and I am delighted to note that the restoration of 30847 is to commence next year. I enclose a small donation towards this project.
Would you kindly advise me if the members are going to be balloted about the final livery and numbering of 30847.
I believe that its restoration to B.R. livery would be very popular particularly as most of its working life was spent in that guise and it would also be an added attraction on the Bluebell.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Bunn.
Editors note. What do the members think about the livery for our S15.?
Lets hear from you.
Our sales stall at Horsted Keynes, this is proving valuable in raising funds for the society. This stall was previously at Charing Cross. Photograph, P.Nicholson.
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