Churnet Valley Railway MPD

Hi Folks,

A Fotopic website has been put together to bring you weekly updates of what is going on within the Motive Power Depot at Cheddleton. Please click on the link to view the regular updates ; http://chris17.fotopic.net. Regular updates will also be posted on this forum and the Churnet Valley Railway website once the MPD pages have been set up.

The MPD at Cheddleton has changed vastly in the past few years with many new machines been set up within the shed to allow the majority of machining work to done on site whether the purpose is for maintenance of the running fleet, Heavy General overhauls, Barry scrap yard re- builds or contract work. The only contract work that has been done off site for the MPD was the machining of the driving wheel crank pins, journals and tyres as the MPD’s wheel lathe and crank pin lathe is not yet commissioned.

The MPD now has the knowledge, skills and experience that allow all aspects of machining, fabrication and fitting work to be done on locomotive frames as well as work on boilers. Recent work of this nature has included re- metal and machining of driving wheel axle boxes ready for fitting as well as the forming and fitting of a new lower door plate section on the boiler for S160 No 6046.

The MPD is also responsible for the scheduled washouts on the running fleet as well as any maintenance that may be required. Recent work of this nature included a piston and valve exam on 4mt 80098 which lead to a re- bore of the valve chest with new valve heads and rings been machined on site.

The railway has also carried out the dual braking of a steam locomotive S160 No 5197 with the second S160 6046 currently having the same system fitted. The locomotive and tender are air braked with an ejector fitted to control vacuum braked stock.
The MPD is also responsible for providing crews for the locomotives when they are in service, in august a total 24 days are run with steam and all require a driver, fireman and cleaner for each day.

The MPD currently has approximately 30 working volunteers that support the 2 full time machinists and the 1 full time welder/ fabricator.
If anyone is interested in getting involved in the activities that have been mentioned above please send me a Private Message.

Kind Regards
Chris

 

Churnet Valley Railway MPD Loco News – August 2008

S160 5197 – Available for traffic

The engine failed on the 9th August with a loud knocking noise coming from the L/H valve. The engine was stripped that evening to reveal a broken rear valve ring on the rear valve which had damaged the back of the valve head. The valve head was removed from the valve spindle and machined in the lathe to remove the damaged part of the valve. The valve was re- assembled and refitted around mid night. The engine returned to traffic the following day. The engine now has as an odd beat as the steam is exhausting quicker on the valve head that was damaged.

The engine has been used on a total of 18 days in August.

S160 6046 – Under Overhaul
Work is continuing with all aspects of the locomotives overhaul as detailed below;
Boiler: The coded welder started on Tuesday 12th August and by the Thursday the new lower doorplate section and both new firebox sides had been welded into place. The flange has been welded onto the tubeplate and now awaits ending away for machining. It is hoped to start tubing the boiler by the end of the year.

Frames: The axleboxes have been metalled and machines however the wheel sets require the journals turning again as when they were machined for the previous owner they were not machined round. Work continues with a view to having a rolling chassis by the end of the year.
Tender: The brake gear has now been fitted to the tender, most of which has been manufactured new in house. The tender tank has been bolted down and the new sieve boxes have been fitted.

8f 48173 – Restoration Started

Work has started on stripping the boiler with the remains of the smokebox and the superheater header been removed. The front tube plate is in the process of been removed as it is beyond repair as the previous owners bent the tubeplate whilst pulling the flu tubes out with a tractor.

Once the tubeplate is out the boiler will be shot blasted and NDT tested before been inspected by the boiler inspector to determine the amount of work that is needed.
A new front tubeplate is needed along with new ½ steel sides on the firebox.

4mt 80098

80098 has now returned to its home base at the Midland Railway Centre Butterley.

7821 Ditcheat Manor – Stored

7821 has been stored at the railway following the expiry of its boiler ticket in February 2007. The engine is stored awaiting transport to its new owners at the West Somerset Railway.

Visiting Locos

42968 has been confirmed as a visitor to the line in february/ march 2009 for the LMS themed gala. More info will be available as visiting locos are confirmed.

 

Churnet Valley Railway MPD Loco News – September 2008

S160 5197 – Available for traffic

The engine has run throughout September with the exception of one day when the engine was failed before the days service with 11 leaking stays. On an S160 boiler it was American practice to use hollow bar for stays that was welded on the inside and the outside of the firebox. If the stay is broken then water and steam can leak out of the hole. On this occasion it was found that the welds had cracked so a coded welder was brought in to grind the welds back and put new welds around the stays. The repairs proved to be satisfactory and the engine returned to traffic the following weekend. During the week days when the engine has not been used, a great deal of work was carried out on the motion with all the gradient pin bushes been replaced and the pins turned to make them round again. Following this work the driver’s side valve gear was all re- bushed and the pins turned to make them round again. After the problem with the driver’s side valve head that was experienced last month the decision was taken to machine and fit 2 new valve heads to the driver’s side valve. The beats from the engine are greatly improved, sounding more like what she did at the Merehead Quarry weekend!

Work on the engine is currently focused on getting her ready for her visits to the West Somerset and Keighley and Worth Valley railways galas in October.

S160 6046 – Under Overhaul

Work is continuing with all aspects of the locomotives overhaul as detailed below however progress has been delayed due to the work carried out on 5197.

Boiler: The new firebox sides have had a bridge reamer through all of the holes to line them up with laps on door plate and throat plate. 2 trial rivets were fitted on the 19th September to get the correct length required to enable the conical shaped head to be formed. The rest of the rivets are scheduled to be fitted on the 24th September.

Frames: Work continues on fettling the axle boxes ready for the engine to be re wheeled.

Tender: The new brake pull rods were manufactured in house and await fitting.

8f 48173 – Restoration Started

The front tubeplate and the ring for the smokebox have been removed from the boiler barrel. The steel firebox sides have been cut and a start has been made on removing the rivets from the laps.

7821 Ditcheat Manor – Stored

7821 has now left the railway with the loco moving to LNWRH and the tender to the West Somerset Railway.

Visiting Locos

Ex LMS 3F 47279 has now been confirmed as visiting the railway on short term hire from the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway whilst S160 5197 is away on its travels. 47279 arrived at the railway on the 24th September and should be in traffic on the 4/5th October.

Ex LMS 4F 44422 has been confirmed as visiting the railway for 2009.

Ex LMS 42968 is visiting for the steam gala in February 2009 from the Severn Valley Railway.

 

Churnet Valley Railway MPD Loco News – October 2008

S160 5197 – Available for traffic

5197 has been away on its travels for the whole of October firstly at the West Somerset Railway followed by the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway for their respective galas. The engine has been well received at both railways proving to be popular with the crews and the enthusiasts. 5197 had its chance to prove its power pulling 7 coaches and 34007 Wadebridge dead up the bank from Bishops Lydeard.

The engine is due back at the CVR in time for the Santa season.

Ex LMS 3F 47279 – Available for traffic

47279 has been used throughout October whilst 5197 has been away. A problem with drivers side injector has led to the injector been swapped for one off the KWVR’s 4F. The engine should remain at the railway until the end of the year.

S160 6046 – Under Overhaul

Boiler: The doorplate rivets on the new firebox sides have been fitted and just require final tooling up along with the caulking of the seams. The throatplate end of the new firebox sides still need to be riveted however the new rivets have not yet arrived. The foundation ring is now finished following work to repair some of the rivet holes and grooving that had taken place. The new front tubeplate is to go away for machining early next month.

Frames: During October the frames for the loco were dragged outside and 3 of the driving wheel sets were trial fitted with the axleboxes in the frames. The 4th wheel set is currently up at Ian Riley’s works having some corrective machining carried out. Upon its return the final 2 axleboxes will be machined and these can then be fitted to the frames. The valve spindle cross heads have been built up with weld and machined ready for trial fitting on the rear valve covers.

Tender: The new tender is currently stored prior to final brake work been finished in line with the completion of the engine.

8f 48173 – Restoration Started

The fireman’s side firebox side has now been removed for replacement due corrosion that has taken place over the years. A start has now been made on removing the firebox plate from the driver’s side. The frames have now been shot blasted and sprayed with a primer to prevent any further corrosion. The wheel sets should arrive back soon from turning.

Visiting Locos

Ex LMS 4F 44422 has been confirmed as visiting the railway for 2009.

Ex LMS 5MT 42968 has been confirmed as visiting for the steam gala in February 2009 from the Severn Valley Railway.

 

Churnet Valley Railway MPD Loco News – December 2008

S160 5197 – Stopped

5197 has now been stopped following the expiry of the 10 year boiler certificate. The boiler will now be opened up for inspection by the boiler inspector and the insurance company to determine whether an extension is feasible.
The engine had new valve heads fitted to the driver’s side of the engine due to the previous castings been of the wrong material.

Ex LMS 3F 47279 – Available for traffic

47279 has been used on the Santa trains and also as a standby engine. The engine has performed well and will now by staying at the railway until after the Steam Gala in February. Our thanks go to the K&WVR for allowing the engine to stay on for the gala.

S160 6046 – Under Overhaul

Boiler: The front tubeplate has now been machined and awaits collection. A D- section has been cut out of the bottom of the boiler barrel for renewal. The foundation ring repairs have been completed and is awaiting refitting along with the inner firebox. The tube holes in the inner firebox have been reamed ready for the tubes.

Frames: The frames have now been turned the correct way up and now have the wheels underneath them. A start has been made on fitting the compensated spring mechanism. All of the pins and bushes were made for the bottom and put in store so it is now a case of fitting the parts to the engine.

8f 48173 – Restoration Started

The driver’s side outer firebox side has now been removed and the boiler has been turned onto its side to allow the removal of the foundation ring and the crown stays

Visiting Locos:

Ex LMS 4F 44422 should be arriving at the CVR Week commencing 05/01/2008.

Ex GWR 2-6-2T 5199 will be visiting the railway for the steam gala and will return in May on a 12 month contract. The engine is due to arrive Week commencing 12/01/2008.

Ex LMS 5MT 45231 will be visiting the railway for the February Steam gala, it may well work trains and photo charters for a couple of weeks after the event.

Ex Industrial 0-6-0 Ring Haw will visiting for the February steam gala from the North Norfolk railway.

For more information on the gala see:http://www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk/main/gala09.php

 

Churnet Valley Railway MPD Loco News – March 2009

S160 5197 – Away on hire

5197 is now on hire to the East Lancashire until the end of the year following the extension of its boiler certificate until the 31st December 2009.

Ex GWR 5199 – Available for traffic

5199 continues to perform well on a variety of duties and has been popular with the crews. The engine leaves the railway in a week to take part in the Steal Steam & Stars 2 gala at the Llangollen. The engine requires a couple of minor boiler repairs including patch screw replacement on the throat plate. 5199 may well be returning to the CVR after the gala.
The loco received the attention of the cleaners who blitzed the engine from top to bottom to keep the engine in pristine condition.

Ex LMS 44422 – Stopped

44422 has arrived back at the CVR from the Norfolk Railway Gala. Upon inspection the loco was found to have a broken spring and so this will be changed before the loco is used on service trains. The opportunity will also be taken to inspect the under keep pads on the loco.

S160 6046 – Under Overhaul

Boiler: Progress is now evident on the boiler with the outer firebox repairs now complete. The new sides have had all of the rivets caulked along with some repairs made to the foundation ring holes on the throat plate. All of the longitudinal stays have been fitted complete with new pins. The foundation ring was refitted to the inner firebox and the holes drilled through the new corners on the door plate. The corners were then worked to fit up tight to the foundation ring. The inner firebox and the foundation ring were then fitted to the boiler. The outer wrapper will now be worked up to the ring before the ring can be riveted in.
The new front tube plate has been returned from machining and just requires the tube holes to be reamed to the correct size before it can be fitted to the boiler. The holes in the tube plate that attach it to the barrel will be drilled and reamed using the holes in the barrel as the guide, the tube plate will then be riveted in. The replacement D patch will then be welded into place.
Once the above has been completed a start will be made on staying the boiler. This is not as time consuming as the British method of having to ream and tap the holes before screwing in the stay before knocking the stay down or caulking and fitting a stay nut. The stays on 6046 are welded into the boiler and so it takes a lot less time.

Frames: Following the re- wheeling of the frames the compensated spring arrangement has been fitted along with all of the brake gear. The coupling rods have had the holes bored round in preparation for the fitting of the new brass bushes. The motion bracket and weigh shaft have been fitted and now requires setting up true with the cylinders. Once this has been completed the slide bars will be fitting. The new valve liners have had the ports machined and now await fitting.

Tender: The remaining brake gear has now been fitted along with some smaller items like the lamp irons and the ladder on the back of the tender. Some small bore copper pipe runs have been finished for items such as the dagger for the vacuum chamber release valve that is mounted next to the locker on the tender.

8f 48173 – Restoration Started

Work has stopped on the 8F to allow more time to be spent on pushing 6046 towards completion.

 

Churnet Valley Railway MPD Loco News – May 2009

S160 5197 – Away on hire

5197 is now on hire to the East Lancashire until the end of the year following the extension of its boiler certificate until the 31st December 2009.

Ex LMS 44422 – Available for Traffic

44422 has continued in service with days in the week been used to keep on top of the repairs that need doing on the engine.

S160 6046 – Under Overhaul

Boiler: Since the last update on the boiler the front tubeplate has been riveted in and the longitudinal stays have been refitted complete with new pins and cotters. The D patch has been returned following forming and will be welded into place which will allow the riveting of the tubeplate to be completed.

A start has been made on riveting in the foundation ring with doorplate section riveted first. As the firebox had new sides and doorplate section the new plates require heating up to allow the plates to be worked up tight to the foundation ring.
An order will be place shortly for the new smokebox, smokebox front, and the smokebox door. A drawing has been found that will allow all of the holes in the smokebox to be cut before the smokebox is rolled.

The 3rd out of the 3 S160 boilers has arrived at the railway from Chathams. This boiler was originally off 6046 when it came into the country from Hungary. The boiler is to be shot blasted and then some NDT testing will take place to assess the feasibility of putting the boiler in 5197 once its own boiler ticket has expired. This is obviously subject to any work that would needed doing to the boiler.

Frames: The new brass bushes for the coupling and connecting rods have been machined and a start should be made on white metaling these as soon as the white metal arrives. The new gudgeon pins have been machined along with the nuts. The key way slots have been machined and the pins have been sent away for case hardening.

A start has been made on setting the motion bracket and the slide bars up true with the cylinders. This followed the fitting of new brass bushes in the motion bracket and the fitting of the expansion links.

The buffers have had new springs fitted and have assembled on the buffer beam.

Work as re commenced on the pony truck with a view to getting it complete and under the engine in the not too distant future.

Tender: Final fitting of the brake gear has taken place with the new pins cut to length and washers and split pins fitted. Final work is taking place on the air brake cylinder which should hopefully be refitted soon.

8f 48173 – Restoration Started

Work has stopped on the 8F to allow more time to be spent on pushing 6046 towards completion.
Ex GWR 5199

The engine is due back at the railway from Llangollen any time now and will remain at the railway for an initial 14 month period. The engine will most probably go straight into traffic to allow 44422 to be stopped so that some overdue maintenance can be carried out.