50027 main gen repair fund.

Dear all.
As you may be aware 50027 has suffered a main gen failure.
Today was the day of the power unit lift, the gen is already away on a lorry for delivery on Monday or Tuesday for inspection and repair.

I have set up a just giving page for donations to what is likely to be a costly repair

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfun...=offline&utm_medium=qrcode&utm_term=MpB8zyrV5


Today’s lift is only the start of the costs. Being done on a weekend is super expensive and with the world now twice as expensive thing will soon add up.
The fund limit was set as I had now idea how much we’d achieve and I have been absolutely finished with the results so far.
If anyone can spare anything it will be much appreciated.

Massive thanks to those involved in the lift today. Everyone did a top job.

 

YouTube clip of the lift.

 

Have seen the video, will see what I can give next payday, nice to see that there was co-operation with the next biggest operator of Class 50’s since BR

 

Today we added a new member to the SOZT (5027) fleet with a delivery of steam cleaner.
It’s already gained a LA and RO shed sticker plus nse flash and was put to good work in starting to steam cleaning the engine room.
35 plus years of grime will take some getting rid of bit in the before and after photos you can clearly see some progress. (Photos posted to Facebook and my donations page).

After a few weeks and loads of degreaser it will hopefully be clean enough to eat your dinner off it (which incidentally is the plan!)
Thanks to the usual suspects for getting grubby again and to Ian from Southern Steam Cleaners for the help advice and delivery of this little monster.
This was bought with donations from the cab visits over the diesel gala and members weekend so if this was you, you have helped us out as buying one will work out cheaper long term than renting one for a month or so plus we can keep it for other jobs.

Donation link is still running please donate if you can

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfun...=offline&utm_medium=qrcode&utm_term=MpB8zyrV5

 

It’s amazing what a deep clean can do, difficult as it may be to start off with but it’s one of those things that once you keep on top of it, it really does pay dividends.
Who wants to work in a dirty environment?

 

Who was it who said that "engine cleaning is a luxury that we cannot afford"?

 

An accountant?
Pat

 

Totally. Although it’s a pain to have to do this job, we’re doing things we’d never get to do otherwise.
the engine mounts were shockingly poor. Agsin, 35 years or so old.
And while expensive (over 2 grand), they’d never be changed otherwise.

 

What’s the saying? Do it once and do it right? Just out of interest would 50027 ever be available for hire? It seems to be the the EE Type 4 that seems to slip under the radar.

 

While I’d never say never if you were a betting man I’d advise you keep your cash in your pocket!

There’s a few reasons really. But mainly see below for some answers.

We are a very small group (less than 10 I can regularly call on), some weekends it’s just me and my girlfriend there, others I can normally rely on 6 people, max.

None of us are train crew so I’d have to ask the railway to provide a driver to babysit the loco over the weekend.


I’m also probably doing the loco a massive disservice but it hasn’t done more than 25mph in nearly 30 years and expecting it to do nearly 3 times that being dragged on the mainline to railway xxxxxx would scare me something stupid!


Lion is everyone’s hobby, I get that, the main gen repair pot shows that, but fixing it is limited to just me and a few others.
I’d hate to have a 31271 style repair to do.

From my experience galas don’t give a massive pot of cash in return for 4-5 days away.

Sure there’s the long term exposure and sales stand potential but I wouldn’t want to ask my guys to give that, although I’m sure they all would without any persuasion.

I’m also fiercely loyal. It would be just our luck that is was the only serviceable diesel on the line just as we go away on a jolly. I’d never forgive myself it that happened.

As I said, never say never but don’t hold your breath!

 

Sorry for they late reply, but thanks for taking the time out to reply, I understand where your coming from.
At the end of the day it’s your machine at what you decide to do is your decision.
I need to try and plan a romantic weekend down in Hampshire with the good lady at some point!
(She’s already well acquainted with 20’s 59 and 188!)

 

No worries mate.
I only dip in and out of here as well so your reply had only just been seen.

I have to think about the long term of the loco.
And wheelset and tyres changes aren’t high on my list of jobs to do!

A 25mph 10 mile line is good enough for me!

 

Today I had the pleasure of visiting the company doing the main gen on Lion.
I’ve put a few photos I took of it in pieces showing the progress of the cleaning process on Facebook and on the just giving page for those interested.
Two people have now said it was one of the dirtiest gens they’d seen so it comes as no surprise that it needed 4 dips into a cleaner to get a reading.
All the brush boxes have been cleaned up along with new PTFE insulators.
Unfortunately it will require a new bearing.
I did kinda expect this tho.
It’s 35 odd years old, and 30 years with the stop start nature of preservation has take its toll so it’s probably for the best.

Link to donate to the fund is here

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding ... =MpB8zyrV5

Although my target has been reached (and exceeded) this is just the target I set rather than anywhere near the final bill.

We also sell Lion based merchandise.
Search 50027 Merchandise on Facebook for the list of clothing and items we have.

Thanks all for your continued support and interest.

 

After conversations with other class 50 owners and comments such as
“Ticking time bomb”
“Accident waiting to happen”
“Remortgage repair”
And a few sleepless nights thinking about it
I decided to send the eth and aux gens away for a clean, paint and a repair mod to the banding on the eth gen.

With the loco already out of service, main gen repair a costing a bit less than I’d budgeted for and along with all your generous donations we all agreed that the best time to do it was now rather than later.

This repair will however pretty much clear out the locos reserve funds.
So if you can spare a few quid please do so.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding ... =MpB8zyrV5

We had built a nice fund for the loco to eventually go inside for bodywork repairs and a repaint but this will now be put back a while.

A few pics from today are on my 50027 Facebook page or on the funding page.

Thanks again to all of those involved and those I took the advice from.

 

I saw "Lion" been moved into the yard yesterday morning as we approached Ropley on the track inspection walk. Also a small working party heading to it. Good idea to get everything done at once. I'll put another bit in the fund for you.

 

Had a flurry of donations overnight but yours has been noted. thanks mate.

 

So according to my just giving account there’s just 3 days left before it expires.
I’ve messaged them to see it can continue beyond a year, for ongoing funding to overhaul the ETH and aux gens but they’ve not replied yet.

In case it’s a no and it’s lost for ever here is a list below of those who have donated.
To get just over 9k is absolutely amazing.
On peoples advice I re-set the 7k target to the price of the invoice for the main gen.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding ... =MpB8zyrV5

One last push to get to 10k maybe?

Massive thanks to those below.
A few names appear several times but that’ll be multiple donations given.
Thanks a lot. I means a great deal to me.

Robert Hurst, Scott Court, Richard Bryan, Steve Heart, R Bentley, James Ascough, Liam K, Phill Hathaway, Matt Bentley,Rich T, Andy Mercer, Kevin Jones, James Craig, CM, Paul Spracklen, Mike Burnitt, Midwinters, Andy, Iscs Ales, Stuart Hawkins, Wilson Hill, Sam Tugwell, Anon, Matt, Coops, Jim Goodhead, David Taylor, Adam & Mark Reed, Phil Pearson, James, Olly Swan, Richard Knight,Ian Blackall, Chris Richmond, Rob F, Ian Jennings, Anon, Garry S, James Smith, Ian Hall, Gareth Davey, Matt Dexter, Ian Milne, Jim Andrews, Dawn Spencer, Ian Sell, Shaun Bradbury, Mat J, VF, Ethan Court, Graham & Thomas Howe, Steve Hart, Ian Blackall, Matt Hurst, Richard P, Emma Blink, Martin Leonard, Vulcans Finest, Anon , Paul Etherington, Katherine, The self confessed wnxx lurker who visited 27s cab, Chris Meads, Craig Brown, Jake Taylor, Andy Pearce, Matt, Ian H, Sidcup Ginge, Roy H, JC Deeming, Richard Bryan, Michael Ball, Phil W, Anon, Andrew Fanner, Nick Theobald, Ian Morrish, TS Controllers, John Tipping, Mark Wilson, Anon, Rufus and Tilly, Andy Matthews, Anon, James Ascough, Dave Redbourne, Richard Hay, Steven Hart, John Crouch, Anon, MIDI, Peter Fuller, Jim A, LK, Martin Perry, Richard Bentley, Brian Bonner, Anon, Andrew, Ethan Court, Anon, Rovin Ronnie, Anon, Anon, Nigel W, Anon, Tony Crain, Sam Tugwell, Paul Etherington, Wilson Hill, Ray Briscall, TB, Anon, Rob & Mike Knowles, Steve Morley, Dave Zehetmayr, Phil Rescorla, Ian H, Ian Hall, Anon, Paul Thomas, Andy Love, Keith H, Jim Andrews, Paul Spracklen, Richard Holmes, Ian, Steve Hart, Hampshire Unit, Anon, Ian H, Del Bennett, Anon, Dave Trillwood, Chris Pelling, Driver J, Matt, Richard Bryan, Nick Theobald, Richard Hay, Andy Overton, Tony Hoffman, Simon Freeman, Anon, Paul Higgs, Keith Holder, Nigel W, Ian, Tooks, Richard Bryan, James Ascough, AJW, Jack L, Frank Macarthur, Olly Swan.

Many thanks to those above.

 

Finished with a grand total of £13027!

I’m totally withered by this amount so a huge thank you to those who contributed.
Much thanks from us all.

I wasn’t allowed to keep the fund going and was advised by them to simply start a new one.

So here’s the link for the continued repairs and overhaul of all 3 generators away for repair.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/50027gennyoverhaulfund

 

Just out of interest Andy, where have they gone for repair? If it’s confidential please don’t worry about replying.