Locomotive News - October 2009

A winters' work is never done!

Late running winter repairs to the locomotives resulted in some work being deferred till after the season. Boiler foundation rivet renewals on 192 'Waggoner' could only be accessed by completely removing the boiler from the frames, so this ran over until July, leaving wheel boss liners to do. A partial 'Valves & pistons' examination proved the locomotive to be safe to run, leaving more to do this winter.

WD192 'Waggoner' leaving Havenstreet - 27th September 2009. - Photo: C A Barry

'Invincible' suffered a broken spring hanger during a two-train service morning in August, rendering it unserviceable. The engine crew managed to keep delays to a minimum by making safe the spring and bringing their train back to Havenstreet at much reduced speed, shattering the illusion of the non-stop crack express, 'The Tourist' - now re-named 'The Tortoise'!

'Invincible's broken spring hanger. - Photo: A J Barry

Work resumes on 'Calbourne'!

September saw a return to work on fitting out the boiler with firedoor slides, regulator stuffing box, blowdown valve studs, and grate support brackets. The side tanks were placed in position in order to accurately mark out the position of the tank bracket studs on the new barrel. A new smokebox is being fabricated by South Coast Steam, and work to lag the boiler is about to start.

'Calbourne' in the C&W Workshop with side tanks trial fitted and, below, in the yard during shunting operations on 25th August 2009. - Photo: A J Barry

News from Bradford

Some steady progress has been achieved with the construction of the new boiler for No.11 'Newport'. A visit to the engineering works of Israel Newton & Sons in Bradford became necessary to discuss the arrangements for internal components before the fitting of the firebox makes access difficult. The main steam pipe and 'J' pipe, supplied by the railway, have reverted to copper and cast iron respectively, unlike the new boiler for W8, 12 years ago, which had short-lived fabricated steel ones.

The new 'Terrier' boiler under construction at Israel Newton & Sons. - Photo: L Pullinger

The outer shell is now in one piece and complete with the front tube plate, which is a one-piece pressing, unlike the previous version that had a welded flange. Internal copper steam pipes lead from the dome to the back head and injector take-offs on the barrel. The new firebox tube plate has been made, and the doorplate was being straightened up following flanging. The wrapper, which has yet to be cut out, will be butt welded to the tube and backplate flanges before fitting into the outer shell. The new boiler has all the makings of a first-class job carried out in an efficient and professional way.

The internal copper steam pipes emerging from the dome. - Photo: L Pullinger

'JUNO'

As reported in the Latest News section of this website, the last of the Ivatt Trust locomotives has arrived on the IWSR. Hunstlet 'Austerity' No.3850 'Juno' was built in 1958 for use on the ironstone quarry railway system of Stewarts and Lloyds of Rutland. 'Juno' has been based at Quainton Road since purchase by the Ivatt Trust in 1969. The locomotive was last steamed in the nineteen seventies and has been stored out of use ever since. 'Juno' left Quainton Road on Friday 22nd May 2009 and was unloaded at Havenstreet the next day. Future plans for the locomotive on the Isle of Wight have yet to be developed.

'Juno' on display outside the C&W Workshop during August 2009. - Photo: A J Barry



'Juno' came complete with a set of tyres and a spare crank axle.

Footplate Promotions

Enginemen promoted this season include:

Alan Brindley (Top Left) has been passed out as a Driver. New Firemen are Peter Conway (Top Right), Del Tilling and Steve Smart - seen below left relaxing with Driver Tony French during a Steam Show lunch break.

Carriage & Wagon

LCDR 6378 entered traffic at the Strategic Vision launch on 6th June 2009. There are now six 4-wheelers in passenger service. - Photo: A J Barry

Work continues on LBSCR 4168, seen in the Goosefield Sidings during August 2009. - Photo: A J Barry

LSWR Road Van 56046 and the 'Shark' visited the works for attention during the late summer. - Photo: A J Barry



LBSCR Third 2403 was craned onto the 'Ironclad' underframe on 25th September 2009. This coach is the next to be worked on under the HLF project. - Photo: J Faulkner

More IWSR photographs can be seen on the FLICKR web site.