Current happenings

1638 went back into traffic, fully restored as of Feb 06

Previous "news updates" archive prior to February 2006

Previous "news updates" archive since the launch of 1638 in February 2006

2oth February 2012

847

Yep there has been some much needed surgery as 847 gets some attention to bits that will see her through her next 10 years sweetly we hope. A look at the chunk of wasted metal here will show you that the rear drag box plate from which this 2 foot section was cut, had wasted to half its previous thickness. It has been replaced as have the rubbing plates that go between the tender and engine, like the photo shows here with the 2 new castings in place.

 

 

The two pieces they replaced are shown here as well. You can see why it would be a problem to leave these alone. They don't just fix themselves either. The pieces have to be cut out, rivets burnt off etc, and then a pattern made, a new casting made from this and then new pieces welded and in the case of the castings riveted in place. Sound easier than it is and it doesn't sound that easy does it?!

Still with new metal, take a look at the new ashpan, as finished off recently by Paul the welder in the Bluebell workshop. The ashpan is fitted directly below the grate of the boiler and so of course collects the corrosive ash from the coal that has been fired. They will soon get eaten away which is what has happened, hence the rather good new one... shown here up side down as it were.

Yet more new metal has been prepared for the engine with the firehole door surrounds getting new castings. The old ones were quite corroded with wasting and pitting. Nice new castings have been created to take their place as per the photo here.

...and so then to the boiler. Well the side stays are all in, that is the copper bars that keep the distance in the water jacket between the inner and outer skins (wrappers) constant. They now need beating over to secure them to a water tight fit. A long and noisy job. The back head stays are shown here too. The numbers written next to them in felt pen relate to the length of the stay. As you can see there are many different sizes. Many stays are specific to their own particular hole. When this is done the boiler can be turned over and the crown stays (those on top of the boiler.... remember it is upside down at present...) can be attended to as well. When they are done then we are getting close to a retube. We are looking at ordering some tubes now with a view to having them ready for fitting. A set of stays has the ball park figure of £9000. Gulp! We have all the flues though and the copper ends are ready for using too... in stock and ready to go.

U Class 1618

There have been some new springs acquired for the central buffer up spring. As you might make out from the casting, the square section spring that has been used has worn the casting it sits in quite deeply. Original spec round section springs have been bought to replace them so that hopefully, apart form being nearer to original spec, the wear and tear will be less.

541

There is a fair bit of activity with our Q class too. The tender is on a carrier outside in the yard alongside 847. The wheels have been removed and sent to the South Devon Railway for turning. They look nice and shiny at present and are ready to go back on the tender. Inside the workshop one or two pieces are coming out for attention too. The lubricator for example is shown here. Behind it by the way is part of the rigging from 847. Just one of a huge range of jobs that need looking at during an overhaul.

Finally, I was out and about with 1638 this last weekend. She was pulling a Maunsell rake. In case we ever forget, he was responsible for some fine rolling stock as well as engines. We had 3 attached to the engine all in fine fettle from the carriage and wagon works at Horsted Keynes. They are a credit to what they do, for the benefit of our visitors. Come to the Park and try one out for yourself soon!

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