Arrivals
Preparations are being made to bring the first Ivatt tank locomotive to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. The eagerly awaited plan to transfer 2-6-2T, 41298 in its restored condition has changed and instead, 41313 will come first.
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41313
in the Ivatt Trust Shed
at Quainton Road.
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The locomotive is being moved in order that restoration plans can be drawn up for a return to steam at Havenstreet. It forms part of a long-term agreement between the Ivatt Trust and the Isle of Wight Railway Co. Ltd. that provides for the two Ivatt tanks to work on the Island.
Spare parts for use in the restoration are also being made available and will also be shipped to Havenstreet in due course.
Trustees Roy Miller and Peter Clarke are meticulously restoring the other engine, 41298. The repaired rear pony truck has been reunited with the frames and preparation for final reassembly is well advanced.
Although plans to introduce the similar standard class 2 tanks to the Island in the 1960's never came to fruition, the Westinghouse brake modification drawings have come to light recently, and these will be utilised, albeit forty years late!
It is hoped that 41313 will be transferred in August this year!
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Departures
Rick Corbin, who has been with us in the full-time post of Chargehand Fitter, specialising in C&W underframes, is sadly, leaving us in July. During his two-year full-time employment with us Rick has been mainly engaged on upgrade modifications and maintenance of passenger vehicle underframes; work that is largely unseen and unsung by customers and staff alike. He will be joining another well-known railway operating company on the Island.
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No
doubt Rick will find plenty
to paint elsewhere!
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Other News In Brief
Hocknull's wagon receives new floor. The open drop-side 483700 has been in works for repairs and returns to traffic for the 1940's weekend.
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W8 'Freshwater' & W38 'Ajax'
Freshwater and Ajax have both had regulator valves re-faced, to remedy blowing through. Ajax has also undergone minor caulking to the foundation ring, and has been fitted with an experimental firehole baffle plate in an attempt to cut down smoke emissions. New vented fire doors have been fitted that are a vast improvement on the old simple steel plate doors.
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'Ajax'
earlier this year. The steam
seen issuing from the RHS
cylinder drains is the result
of the regulator valve leaking
by, a fault now rectified.
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LCDR Push-Pull set
Push-Pull Set, 4112 and 6369 have been back into works for completion of the paint repairs etc. that were started before the 'Works Outing', with new gutters on 4112.
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LCDR
4112.
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Footplate Roster
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W8
'Freshwater' during the'Works
Outing'.
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WD192 'Waggoner'
The new austerity has successfully passed both hydraulic and steam tests and the loco was formally launched at a special ceremony on Saturday 27th May during the "Works Outing" weekend.
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'Waggoner'
ready to move off shed for
the her inaugural train.
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Carriage Door Locks
The brand new LBSC pattern door locks and striker plates have been fitted to 6336. Due to the different shape of the new locks, Pete Jardine has let new wood into both the door and the body frames to support the new locks and striker plates.
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6336
during the door lock work.
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Carriage & Wagon
LB&SCR
Composite 6349
Brighton bogie composite 6349 has been out shopped following a complete refurbishment of the first class compartments, including re-upholstered seats using the authentic Southern moquette manufactured last year.Several mouldings have been renewed on the down side, which has been repainted and the whole coach has been re-varnished.
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LCDR Push-Pull set
The pair has been inside the works for attention to the gutters on 4112 which were leaking and rotten.
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Barclay
No.235 marshalls 6336 and
the Push-Pull set ready for
the Works Outing.
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LB&SCR
Brake Third 4168
The wheelsets for the Brighton bogie brake are being re-tyred in Scunthorpe. Meanwhile, the steel is being treated and painted prior to assembly of the underframe in South Wales.
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Regular
carriage cleaning sessions
are now taking place, David
Bradley shows how it's done.
If you would like to help
please call the station on
01983 882204 for more information.
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W37
'Invincible'
W37 Invincible successfully handled the first of the season's trains, being relieved by W38 Ajax when train lengths and washouts dictated. W37 had repairs to the fire hole ring rivets and seam.
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'Invincible'
pilots 'Waggoner' during the
Works Outing event.
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W38 'Ajax'
Barclay 0-6-0T Ajax has settled in following a steady stream of continuous operation over Easter.
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'Ajax'
arrives at Havenstreet.
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W8 'Freshwater'
Following an intermediate mechanical repair, W8 Freshwater had an successful half day trial on 19 April. Work attended to included; reversing gear, crossheads, water gauge columns and ashpan.
Whilst not showing on the loco roster, W8 had been specifically requested to haul a charter on Saturday 22 April. In the interests of customer satisfaction, W8 was brought back into service earlier than rostered. Freshwater then stayed in traffic, thus allowing Ajax an early washout and attention to minor defects.
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'Freshwater'
gets the cleaners attention
- Saturday 27th May 2006.
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W24 'Calbourne' - Boiler Repair
Boiler repairs are well in hand at the L&NWR works at Crewe. Firebox repairs include a new copper tube plate and door plate due to the discovery of further deterioration of the originals.
'Works Outing'
The late May Bank Holiday weekend, where every thing that works went out was a great success and a tribute to the works staff in getting all of the stock available.
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Fireman
Mike Lightbown couples
up.
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'Invincible'
takes on coal in
the traditional
way - her small
bunker can only
carry enough for
one round trip of
the line.
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'Waggoner's
crew on her first
day in service;
Fireman Mike Lightbown
and Driver Tony
Barry.
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On
'Ajax's footplate:
Fireman Ross Browning,
Driver Martyn Budd
and Cleaner Rachel.
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April 2006
For various work related reasons no MT has been produced for April. This selection of photographs gives a view of recent progress in the Mechanical Engineering and Carriage and Wagon workshops.
WD192 'Waggoner'
If all goes to plan 'Waggoner' will be operational for the 'Works Outing' event at the end of May, details are on the Special Events page. With the boiler tubes in place and hydraulic test complete work is now concentrating on component overhaul and re-assembly. On 2nd May a crane was on site to lift the saddle tank and cab roof back into position.
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The
tank back in place on 2nd May 2006.
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Rick
Corbin expanding tubes in the firebox.
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Regulator
valve components stripped for inspection.
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Dave
Griffiths works on one of the injector bodies.
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WD198 'Royal Engineer'
Looking very smart after it's repaint, out of ticket WD198 is currently on display in the station yard.
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'Royal
Engineer' with Derek Bishop's 1980's Ford
Capri alongside.
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W8 'Freshwater'
A lot of work has been done to 'Freshwater's motion, including rebushing which has banished a lot of the rattling and clanking which had got steadily worse during last year.
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Lifting links, expansion links and die blocks
removed for attention - and back in place
a month later.
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W38 'Ajax'
'Ajax' was in operation over the Easter period, loco crews are steadily gaining experience in handling this powerful locomotive. A photographic report of 'Ajax' in service can be seen on the Latest News pages.
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The
train crew on 17th April - Guard Chris Tagart,
Fireman Mike Lighbown and Driver Bob Millard.
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Mike
Lightbown clears the smokebox.
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Duty
Fitter Andy Summers checks the bearings.
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Carriage
& Wagon
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SE&CR
Brake Third 4145 in the works for a re-varnish.
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John
James at work on Brighton Composite 6349.
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6349
on the Wheel Drop road.
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Ken
Bolton complained that he had not been seen on
this site for a long while - so here he is, demonstrating
the C&W hoover.
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6336
is in for some attention to bodywork and replacement
of worn out door locks.
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WD198 'Royal Engineer'
The difficult decision has been made to advance the 10 yearly boiler overhaul by 12 months. Concerns about the condition of the crown stays were identified during recent routine inspections.The crown stays are the Achilles' heel of austerity boilers.When the boiler is lifted, it will require a full re-tube and renewal of the foundation rivets.The recent repaint will not be wasted as the loco will be better protected and will present a cared for image to our visitors. 198 will remain in one piece and on static display pending the boiler lift.
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WD198
in the C&W Workshop for it's repaint - 11th
February 2006.
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WD192 'Waggoner'
With the temporary demise of our most regular workhorse, it is as well that 'Waggoner' is making steady progress. All the boiler tubes are now in situ. The opportunity has been taken to train up our apprentice, Ian Wilcox and chargehand fitter, Rick Corbin in the art of expanding tubes.
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'Waggoner'
in the Mech Eng Works - February 2006.
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Carriage & Wagon
'Brighton' bogie composite, 6349 has been in for spot re-panelling at waist level and replacement mouldings in the same area and some attention to the droplights. The three first class compartments have been re-upholstered using new moquette and hessian backing, but reusing the original timber and much of the horsehair. The new moquette is in the authentic Southern Railway pattern, although the orange colour is rather subdued- "pre-faded!" joked John James.
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Seating in the SR pattern moquette awaits fitting
into 6349's First Class compartments.
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LBSCR
2343 has been in for a touch up and varnish.
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SECR
Brake Third outside the C&W Workshops for
routine exams.
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Carriage Door Locks
Brand new LBSC pattern door locks have been fabricated for 6336 and 6378. New striker plates are also in the process of being made. The door locks register has been up-dated so that all work done may be accurately recorded.
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One
of the new door locks and another offered up
into one of LCDR 6378's door frames.
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LCDR
6378 - 11th February 2006.
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Loco Availability
Subject to the ongoing 'A' exams, the early season services will be in the hands of 'Invincible' (no known defects) and 'Ajax' (further lubrication modifications in hand).
Following it's own 'A' exam, 'Freshwater' has had some repairs to the ashpan and attention to a minor leak in the foundation ring.The gauge columns are being overhauled and may get some replacement parts. The most labour intensive work has been de-scaling the firebox so that the boiler inspector can assess the condition of the plate and measure its thickness.
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W8
'Freshwater' receives attention whilst W11 'Newport'
waits it's turn at the back end of the works.
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W24 'Calbourne'
Len Pullinger and Andrew Summers visited Crewe on 28 February to examine progress on 24's boiler. This has been stripped down into its component parts and assessed for plate condition. As a result, a new copper doorplate and tubeplate are to be incorporated into the repair.
New Tea Hut
Now plumbed in and open for use- wipe your feet! The signing on point and loco running notices have been moved to the old loco mess.
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Isle of Wight Diesel Railway
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The
fleet lined up in front of the C&W Workshop -
11th February 2006.
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HMRI Seminar -Loco Boiler Repairs
Following concerns raised over varying standards of repairs, HMRI held the above seminar on Tuesday 24 January.
All major repairing bodies were invited and CME Len Pullinger ventured forth up to 'the smoke' on our behalf.
Presentations were
made by HMRI, TWI (The Welding Institute) and
Tyseley Locomotive Works. One outcome is that
HMRI has now formed an industry standards group
and a steering committee. The objective is to
"Draw up an up-to-date British code of practice
for the repair of locomotive type boilers".
Southern Workshop Meetings
As a result of contacts re-established at the boiler seminar, regular railway workshop meetings have been reinstated between the five major steam railways in the south. The meetings will start in February and the five is comprised of -
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Bluebell
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IWSR
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Kent & East Sussex
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Mid Hants
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Southern Locomotives (Herston works, Swanage)
Coach 'A' Exams
Rick Corbin has started the annual coach exams that identify the work required to keep the fleet fit to run for the forthcoming season.
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John
James making new upholstery beading.
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The body of LB&SCR Brake Third 4168 is
currently in the C&W workshop to have
its condition assessed. The upholstery is
stored in the Brake Compartment.
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Continuing
work on LC&DR Composite 6378 has centred
around the compartment interiors and doors.
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Facility
Improvements
The oil separators have now been installed on the site of the old caravan. The new Tea hut is now here and awaits plumbing in before we can start to use it
Royal
Engineer
Following a fortnights spit and polish outside in the cold, 198 has entered the new works for an 'A' exam and attention to the paintwork.
New cab floor timbers were sawn during the show and have been seasoning since. Once the new floor has been laid, a new shovelling plate can be laid into the bunker. This should make it easier for our firemen to actually access the black stuff!
In addition to the shovelling plate at the back, the one at the front (in the smokebox) is being renewed.
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'Royal
Engineer' looked after all of the Santa and New
Year trains - seen here running round at Smallbrook
on 22nd December 2005.
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A
little later WD198 gets the train away from Smallbrook
Junction.
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In
the Mech Eng Workshop work continues on WD192 'Waggoner',
steam heat and air brake pipework is being fitted
into place.
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Engineering Trains
The diesel drivers have been taking the opportunity to go up the line as the Civil Engineers have been requesting ballast and other works trains.