Industrial Loco Updates

Vulcan at Barrow Hill.

The Vulcan group held an extremely successful working party on 26th June with 15 volunteers present including members of the Chesterfield Locomotive Action Group. The saddletank had already been removed, and on Sunday the work done included removal of the boiler cladding and lagging, also the dome cover. The side rods are being cleaned and burnished, and various rust spots removed and overpainted.

The next working party will be on Sunday 24th July. The immediate aim is to clean and paint the boiler and to prepare the locomtive for lifting up so that the journals can be measured prior to machining the new bearings.

So far, comments from the boiler inspector are encouraging and we hope to have this engine back in steam before very long.

Tim

 

Vulcan at Barrow Hill

On the last working party we managed to get the cab off, and to clean down the boiler barrel and paint it in aluminium, with at least 12 volunteers working on the engine followed by a barbecue at the end of the day.
Martyn has come across a photograph of Vulcan apparently shunting a wagon load of Deltic roof components, very appropriate given the strong presence of the DPS at this site.

The next working party is on 21st August.

Tim

 

Vulcan at Barrow Hill

We held our fourth working session on 21st August. Another very active day. The blanking plates for the boiler had been collected from Twiggs at Matlock and these were marked out and drilled by some very skilled volunteers from the Grimsby and Louth who also began repairs to the wasted areas of the cab. The last of the motion was dismantled ready for the loco to be jacked up, various other components were cleaned and painted.

During the afternoon two young boys turned up and asked if they could paint something, to be able to say they had worked on a real steam engine, so we let them paint part of the front buffer beam. Hopefully in a few years they will be turning up in overalls at a railway near you.

The engine will be on view at the Barrow Hill Model Rail weekend, 17/18 September. The next working day is Sunday 25th September.

Tim

 

Sir Thomas Royden based at Rocks by Rail in Cottesmore has successfully passed its hydraulic test on Tuesday. The boiler has been preped for its steam test while the tank is away receiving extensive repair work. The chassis is now 95% complete with only the oil ways to the axle boxes remaining. Steam test to come soon!!

Also Vigilant is progressing at the other end of the shed having been re wheeled for the first time in many years, the buffer beams have been removed and new timbers are en route for fitting!

And all this in between a complete site rebuild!

Gary

 

Peckett 0-6-0ST 1859 of 1932 "Sir Gomer", formerly of Mountain Ash, has passed its steam test and is now back in action at the Battlefield Line - Shackerstone. The green saddle tank is now due to attend the Pontypool Railway's Industry of South Wales Gala in two weeks time, rubbing shoulders with Peckett's 'Mardy Monster' and 'Whitehead' as well as an Austerity and a Bagnall 0-4-0ST. Don't miss this chance to see Sir Gomer back in action on home turf!

 

A technical question: roughly what does the saddle tank off an Austerity weigh, as I am organising a lift and with a bit of luck the chap up the yard can do it with his tackle. I am told it is around 4 tons; does anyone know for sure?

Tim

 

Latest news, Victory has had her boiler work completed through the early part of 2011 and then passed its Hydrolic test. We then refitted into the frames during june this summer just past. The lastest news is the cab has been refitted and currently the cladding is to be fitted and then the saddle tank shortly afterwards. The finishing re-assembly of all the pipework and fitting will be carried out hopefully seeing a test by later this year. Picture shows progress as of August 2011;

 

Right!!
Progress at Rocks by Rail has been rapid over the last few weeks so here is an update! AB1931 has passed both its cold and steam boiler tests and is now operational for next year when we are re-opening as the home of east Midlands Ironstone Quarry Heritage.

AB 2088 Sir Thomas Royden is now complete after 5 years hard work by the volunteer team on behalf of the owning family, she passed her steam test last Friday with 1931 and moved up and down the yard for the first time in 20 years! She is on beat and very smooth on the regulator with only a few minor points to finish including a full paint. It was a fantastic day all around with champagne and cake to celebrate!! She will be moving off site soon for final finishing while we complete the site re-build started this year.

1308 Rhos is now located on site and is being restored by the the 1308 trust to operational order, the trust has been set up by myself and a few other members of the museum in order to bring this important Ironstone engine 'home' to be operated on the site. We are currently cataloguing the components recovered and drawing up a work package for restoration to be started soon by the owning trust. More on this development will be posted as time moves on

 

Victory is now looking complete, final assembly is all that is required to see her running by next spring.

 

Well done Tony! I see the cab has changed shape a bit. Have you kept the slanted in upper sides? I believe this was a trademark of MOD rebuilds. There is a Barclay diesel at Isfield with a slanted in cab. Shame its not AE 1945 at this stage. Any news on Barrington?

Mark

 

Cab still the same just no internal bunkers now's, which really has made the cab a lot better. Picture below shows shape better.


As far as barrington, im told its anyones for 25,000! lmao.

 

Thanks Tony, Looks like another visit to the CVR is due next year. I shall have to get buying some more Lottery tickets for Barrington!
Mark

 

Sir Thomas Royden in her final coat of green, she is currently in Northamptonshire at the NIRT site carrying out running in and operating their Santa trains this season.

 

Not really an update but has anyone actually got a lamp that fits those front lamp brackets, you see so many of them cut and butchered for STD BR lamps that i do wonder!
I have never actually seen a propper Barclay one, has anyone else?

The Melter

 

They do exist! Quite rare to find them they where produced by Barclay's to fit we have one for 1931 and Tommy but have never seen any others..

 

Looking good Gary, maybe time for another phot bash next year eh?

Mark

 

She is starring in a Russ Hilliar Charter on the 12th January at the Northamptonshire Ironstone Railway Trust Mark! So get yourself booked in!! We will behaving one at Cottesmore too but in the summer I think, Hows things good? Have you started on the loco you helped save yet at all? any updates?


Gary

 

Will have to see how the pennies are doing after Chrimbo hwell:. Cottesmore sounds better, a chance to see all the changes!
HL3738 is making good progress towards static display. My only input so far are the new smokebox door handles.

 

Hey she is looking great! Good progress there Mark! Very nice door handle too!!! Yeah will be too much too see if you wait till then to get to Cottesmore! At this rate we will have changed everything by then!! Will try and send some pictures over

Gary

 

"Vulcan" Update.

We have just held our December working party, work done was to give the boiler a further coat of aluminium oxide and to clean down and prime areas of the frame and footplate. The engine is to be lifted off its wheels next week in preparation for measuring and machining the new main bearing castings.

Working parties in 2012 will concentrate on the third Sunday in the month, starting on Sunday 15th January.

Tim