Site Improvements
With a series of moves worthy of a chess grand master, there will shortly be a number of changes to the Mechanical Engineering infrastructure. A new oil separator is to be constructed that can cope with the increased demand from all three pits. This is to be sited where the old caravan now stands. With the office functions of the caravan already transferred to the C & W works, the remaining staff stowage and changing facilities need relocating. The mess end of the grounded CCT is to be reconfigured to become the new staff lockers and changing area. The mess will be housed in a portacabin where the old pigpen was. The pigpen, or ash disposal facility, has already been dismantled in readiness. Even at busy times, the new mess will be able to accommodate staff from both workshops as well as loco crews without the need for too much of the musical chairs we currently enjoy.
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The
Caravan is no more!
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SECR 6375
This Chatham composite saloon is now back in traffic on Santa duties. The refurbished 1st class has been described as "Looking spectacular!" If you haven't seen it already, go and take a look.
LBSCR 4168
Rick has renewed the pins and bushes on the Brighton bogie brake 3rd. The body is in the C & W works for a survey covering both structure and upholstery.
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The
body of 4168 in the C&W Workshop. It is sitting
on the LSWR Ironclad underframe.
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Rick
Corbin applying primer to a brake rigging safety
hoop from 4168.
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WD192 'Waggoner'
Spot samples were found to be heavily pitted and so all of 192's tubes were removed. The boiler shell was washed out ready for the inspector. As was expected from such a lightly used machine, the boiler passed the inspection without problem. Nick Wade is busy fabricating air and steam heat pipework.
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'Waggoner's
inner firebox, tubes removed.
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Thr
Driver's Brake Valve has been fitted to WD192,
very similar to the installation in WD198.
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Andy
Summers demonstrates the recently fitted front
air brake cock.
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A
Westinghouse Air Brake Pump is being refurbished
for use on 'Waggoner'
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LBSCR
2343
The Brighton 4 wheel 3rd has been in works for a doorpost renewal and moulding and panel repairs, followed by a repaint.
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John
James at work on 2343.
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The rotted
door post displayed by John James.
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By 22nd
December 2005 the woodwork had been completed and repainting
was well underway.
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'Calbourne'
Jeff Layfield has prepared a Heritage Lottery Fund information board about the work on 24's boiler. The frames have been prepared and painting is under way.
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'Calbourne's
chassis in the workshop - 22nd December 2005.
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D2059 'Edward'
The 03 suffered a compressor belt failure during a ballast train working and was nursed back home to receive a new set of belts.
W8 'Freshwater' & W37 'Invincible'
Freshwater and Invincible have been winterised- water drained from boiler, fittings and pipework, brightwork daubed with grease etc.
Santa Specials
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'Santa',
Boxing Day and New Year trains were all to be in the
hands of WD198, here seen moving off shed on 21st December
2005.
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Ready
to go at Smallbrook Junction - 22nd December 2005.
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The Westinghouse
Pump receives attention, lunchtime on 21st December
2005.
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C & W Restorers Convention
58 delegates from the C & W sections of various preserved railways visited Havenstreet on 24/5 September for the 6th annual Carriage & Wagon Restorers Convention.
Practical demonstrations included the techniques of wood graining and gold leaf lettering. CME Len Pullinger gave a presentation on underframes and their repair giving specific attention to modifying PMVs to form the running gear for grounded bodies.
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LCDR
6378 - Door rebuild in progress - August 2005.
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Delegates were treated to a Blue Peter moment when John James was able to display a kit of parts for the underframe of LB&SCR open 27834 alongside that of one we made earlier- 27730. Also in the works were LCDR 6378 and SE&CR 6375. Outside was the unique sight of three LB&SCR single bolsters coupled together for the first time in preservation.
As well as viewing the many grounded bodies at Havenstreet, Roger Silsbury obtained the services of a preserved Southern Vectis coach to transport some participants to Gurnard Marsh, where Pete Jardine led an expedition to examine another 16 grounded bodies.
'Calbourne' Good News, Bad News
The last ten years service has led to greater than anticipated deterioration of the boiler barrel and further difficulties have been identified with the firebox repair.
The good news is that the railway has accepted that a new barrel should be manufactured and is keeping the appeal going so that the additional costs can be met. The new target is over £100,000. The bad news is that the LNWR Co expect to take at least 12 months for the boiler work at Crewe. This means that the earliest return to steam will be 2007.
Whilst it is disappointing to have such a long wait for 'Calbourne', it is good to see that the railway's management are committed to doing a thorough job which will keep the loco in traffic for a much longer period in the future.
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'Calbourne',
minus boiler, outside the C&W Workshop earlier
this year.
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C &W Works
Dogfish DB992730 and Shark DB993853 are now ex works following repaints. SE&CR composite 6375 is in for bodywork repairs, a full repaint and an upholstery refurbishment in the first class compartments. Completion is due at the end of November, in time for the Santa season.
'B' exams have taken place on all coaches, ensuring availability for the Santa operation.
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Ex
Works Shark.
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'Ajax'
W38 has now completed three further days in traffic and all major problems have been overcome. A minor leak from the foundation ring will require the ashpan to be dropped.
Problems with poor ride quality reported by the guards has been traced to buffing and drawgear imperfections. Leaking Oleo buffers and a weak drawgear spring are to receive attention.
For more pictures of 'Ajax' in passenger service click HERE.
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W38
'Ajax' passes Ashey Station - 2nd October 2005.
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4168
Bogies
The bogie frames have had a descale and repaint. Work is now proceeding on the running gear. The target of having the bogies complete for when the underframe returns from Bartletts looks likely to be achieved.
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4168's bogie
frames in the workshops - August 2005.
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Loco Running Repairs
W8 was late off shed on Monday 12 September due to collapsed Westinghouse air valves. Prompt attention by the fitters meant only minimal delays to the service.
During early October, 198 had the blastpipe removed to clear carbon deposits. No deterioration in steaming had been reported, but as this loco will once again be the mainstay of the Santa season, prevention is better than cure.
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'Royal Engineer'
pulls away from Havenstreet - August 2005.
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Stop Press
Another professional railwayman joins the ranks of our qualified footplate staff. Congratulations to Freightliner Driver Dave Griffiths who passed for firing on Thursday 6 October.
Loco Availability
A series of frustrating faults and failures spooked the department throughout August, with loose big ends, broken small ends and a whole range of minor problems. Things just kept going wrong without any apparent reason. Reported defects rose to an alarming level over the steam show but have now settled down to a good to normal rate.
It is very difficult to pinpoint a reason for this other than the hot weather, but it is hoped there will never be a repeat performance.
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W8 pulls
away from Smallbrook Junction - 4th September 2005.
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198
A regulator blow required the loco to be stopped. This has now been attended to and now the loco crew can enjoy their lunch break without listening to their hissing loco.
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Mike Britain,
Ian Wilcox and Rick Corbin attend to 198's regulator.
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Water
Plans to keep priming under control by changing the boiler water early were upset by the need to attend to running maintenance.
Shark
Ballast plough brake van DB993853 is being made ready for active service on the permanent way. For the record, this vehicle was built to lot 2931 by the Birmingham Carriage & Wagon in 1957. I don't know which railway first had plough brake vans, but I remember seeing an LMS pair of 1936 vintage in Manchester in the late 70s.
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Shark!
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Currently
another engineer's vehicle, a 24T 14ft wheelbase ballast
hopper DB992730 (Charles Roberts, lot 2819 of 1956) is
occupying the space vacated by LBSCR 2416.
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Army
Diesel 235
The finishing touches of crests and numbers have been applied by Geoff Hodgkinson. It looks so good that it has been kept in the shed, rather in the manner of classic car owners who don't let their pride and joy out in the wet!
Wheel Drop Hoist
We have known for some time that the problems were caused by water ingress into the electrics. This has now been cured and the hoist is now working perfectly.
Ajax
With an operational hoist, the driving axle bearings were removed, scraped in and refitted. Shims have been modified on the driving axle boxes since earlier troubles may have been due to misalignment in the horns. Lubrication details continue to be modified in the light of the above, the slide bars being back to oil cups. Further trails are expected in the third week in September.
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'Ajax' - August
2005.
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PLEG Shunter Charter
he 03, D2059, ran a charter train on Saturday 6 August. The 05, D2554, also ran brake van rides in and out of the headshunt. The PLEG chaps were very happy with their day and appreciated that we could tell them with some precision where their seats were relative to the loco (something to do with calculating the exact distance travelled)
Being ever mindful of the pennies, we also took the opportunity to pass out Mike Saunders for 05 traction. If ever EWS has a diesel charter, Mike can now add 05 and 03 traction to his cv alongside modern stuff like 66s.
A report on the PLEG charter can be seen HERE
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Arthur Tarrant
manned an information stand during the Steam Show. His most
challenging question was "Have you seen my wife?"
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Army Diesel
Army 235 has been receiving the Harry Moore treatment and is now resplendent in a new coat of olive green complete with orange chevrons. The repaint has been taking place in the C & W workshop since the clean conditions are more conducive to a high class finish.
Army 235 ventured into daylight to display the exhibition finish during the Front Line Branch Line weekend before retiring once more into the works for the finishing touches of insignia etc.
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Waggoner
Many wheel barrows full of rust have been removed from 192's saddle tank. Ian Wilcox and Andrew Summers emerged with overalls so orange that they could have passed for high vis gear.
Coach 4115
Deja Vu time- not the ex LC&DR body rescued by the Wight Loco Society, but coincidentally, another 4115.
In the half year to December 1896, the LB&SCR turned out a batch of Billinton designed four-wheelers. LB&SCR no 1200 was transferred to the island on 27 June 1925. Our newest coach was formed into set 498 as a three compartment brake third as number 4115. It says something of the state of the island's coach stock at the time that it was thought worthwhile shipping a near life expired vehicle across the Solent.
4115 soldiered on until October 1931, whereupon it was sold out of service and moved to Rew St., Gurnard and used as a bungalow, latterly by a relative of a certain Mr. Pullinger.
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The grounded body of 4115 was delivered to Havenstreet using the same crane and transport as that taking Calbourne's boiler to Crewe.
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Wagon Exams
The photogenic wagons have been examined by Rick prior to the Front Line Branch Line and Thomas events and he has also checked that the engineer's vehicles are up to the task of moving stone etc. about the railway.
Wheel Drop Hoist
The hoist was working long enough for Calbourne's tanks etc to be removed, thus giving access for the boiler to be removed. This was lifted on the last day of June and is now on its way to Crewe.
Unfortunately, the hoist has gone sick again and it has proved impossible to attend to the persistent hot driving axle boxes of Ajax.
Water
Priming has been kept under control by changing the boiler water half way through the usual washout interval.
The conductivity of the boiler water has proved to be a reliable indicator of when priming problems may be encountered.
Whatever the water company treat the water with to attain high quality drinking water doesn't stop weeds growing in the Havenstreet water tower. Mike Brittan can often be observed shinning the tower, fishing net in hand to remove the weed growth.
Guard's Dilemma
Len has asked me to congratulate myself upon being passed out as driver on Monday 27 June. How Ron Lee's merry men are going to distinguish between myself and a well known Pompey fan is up to them!
HATS HATS HATS HATS
Greasetops are still available through L.P. at a bargain price of £7-50. If you are not sure of your exact size, come to Len for your head to be examined.
LB&SCR Brake 3rd No 4168
As alluded to in MT 74, Bartlett's have indeed been successful in obtaining further work from the railway. This time in the form of 4168's underframe.
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4168's bogies
have been retrieved from Griffin's Sidings.
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Before departure for West Wales aboard one of Mike Lightbown's lorries, many fittings were removed to enable them to be cleaned up for re-use. Some footboard brackets were also removed so as to fit the road 'loading gauge'.
4168's bogies were retrieved from the depths of Griffin's sidings on Thursday 12 May. The master plan is to have the bogies and other fittings fettled up ready for when the underframe returns.
Wheel Drop
Hoist
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The cab roof
being removed from 'Calbourne' on 29th May 2005.
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Both Ajax and Calbourne have been held up until the hoist was fixed. Ajax is now back on all six wheels after the driving axle bearings were scraped in and the lubrication system was modified.
Calbourne's chimney, tanks, cab, pump and sandboxes were all loosened in anticipation of the hoist becoming available.
LB&SCR Bogie 3rd No 2416
Much work has been done in replacing rotten mouldings, particularly on the up (south) side. Much of the material removed has found its way into the lighting up wood. The paint probably provides more of the combustibility than the wood itself.
Most of the windows were re-bedded at the same visit to the carriage works.
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Ian Wilcox
Ian has just completed two months work experience on secondment from Portsmouth Engineering Training Association. Ian hopes to rejoin the railway soon as the new engineering apprentice.
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Andy Summers,
Ian Wilcox and Mike Lightbowen removing 'Calbourne's regulator
rod.
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Waggoner
Work progresses well and the boiler is now in silver, having previously had a coat of Finnegan's number 1. One slight concern is that when the boiler was last drained, the loco was 'boxed up' soon after. Eventually, the moisture made its way to the lowest point and settled just above the foundation ring. This duly formed a tide mark of rust, which proved very difficult to remove. Imagine that the iron and water molecules had decided to rearrange themselves as sheet rust floating on the residual water and you get an idea of the problem.
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Army No,235 aka 'Mavis'
in the C&W Workshop.
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Water & Washouts
Both Freshwater and Royal Engineer have been priming quite early in their duty cycles following washout. The water company are obliged to provide us with top class drinking water. This isn't necessarily ideal for boilers! To try and alleviate the problem, the water treatment rates have been adjusted
A straightforward washout takes two man-days and the following X exam a further man-day. Rectification work following faults found (or reported by drivers and deferred until washout) can significantly impact the resources required to return the loco to traffic.
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'Invincible' in the
Goose Field on 29th May 2005.
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Uniform
Greasetop hats are now available at £7-50 each subject to us getting sufficient orders to attain a quantity discount. Sizes are 7 1/8, 7 ¼, 7 3/8 & 7 ½. Please order asap through Len Pullinger, who has a sample available for inspection.
Stop Press
Congratulations to Paul Beale (Harry Potter) who passed out for driving on Thursday 2 June.
May 2005
