W11 'Newport'
Excellent news for 'Newport'! The Company Board has decided to authorise the construction of another new 'Terrier' boiler to enable her to be returned to service. The decision follows a survey of the boiler earlier in the summer which concluded that it was basically life expired and the most economical way forward was to build a new one. More details can be found on the Latest News page.
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W11
and
W24
outside
the
works
in
2001
and,
below,
W11
stripped
down
ready
for
the
boiler
survey.
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W24 'Calbourne'
Repairs to the outer firebox have progressed well. Steel inserts on back plate and throat plate, and two new half-sides have been welded in place. The remaining original plates have had old stay bushes removed and the holes re-tapped to receive new bushes. Together with the holes in the new plates, this will restore the stay holes to original size allowing future re-staying to be possible. A full report with photographs can be seen on the Latest News pages. The white areas in the pictures are spray paint used in conjunction with magnetic particle non-destructive testing, (NDT), of the weld area. These welds are also X rayed to ensure no hidden defects are present.
New water gauge fittings have been developed in conjunction with and produced by South Coast Steam Ltd. especially for Calbourne's overhaul. They are outwardly identical to the Southern Railway type removed from the boiler, but they have been redesigned internally to incorporate modern Klinger packing inserts for ease of maintenance and greater reliability. The original fittings have four grooves running the length of the plug, which used to be packed with blue asbestos. For many years PTFE has been used instead of asbestos but this has never been entirely satisfactory.
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W24's
outer
firebox
at
Crewe
whilst
(below)
at
Havenstreet
the
bunker
extension
is
being
refitted.
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W8 'Freshwater'
In February 2008, the engine was scheduled to be withdrawn for ten-year boiler overhaul. In September a leak developed in the main steam pipe / regulator 'J' pipe that requires internal investigation, therefore the boiler has been withdrawn from service earlier than expected.
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'Freshwater'
at
the
head
of
the
push-pull
set
on
one
of
her
last
days
of
duty
befor
being
withdrawn.
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'Waggoner',
'Freshwater'
and
'Invincible'
on
the
shed
roads
during
September.
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WD198 'Royal Engineer'
Repairs to the boiler were completed in July and a satisfactory hydraulic test carried out following delivery to Havenstreet, where it was thoroughly cleaned and painted. The top of the cylinders were chipped and painted in readiness to receive the boiler back into the frames. The boiler was craned into position during October, reassembly of the 'fixtures and fittings' is now underway.
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'Royal
Engineer's
boiler
back
in
the
frames
and,
below,
Andy
Summers
works
on
the
new
ashpan.
The
previous
version,
in
the
foreground,
was
also
constructed
at
Havenstreet
some
years
ago.
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Andy
Summers
(left)
and
Mike
Brittan
at
work
on
'Royal
Engineer'
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Ivatt 41313 and 'Flatrol' B900103
The boiler from 41313 has been transferred from Quainton Road on 'Flatrol' wagon B900103. The boiler is in remarkable condition and was once described by Sam Foster, (ex BR boiler inspector), as the best he'd seen in preservation. It has been stored inside ever since being saved from the cutter's torch on the engine at Barry.
The 'Flatrol' wagon is one of only four built, by 'Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co.' on the Clyde in 1953, and is ideally suited for boilers because of the very low deck and relative short overall length. It has been pointed out to me that Fairfield's were the builders of PS Whippingham in 1930.
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41313's
boiler
has
had
a
cover
constructed
over
it
to
protect
it
from
the
weather.
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Hunslet D2054
The inside of the cab has been repainted at last. For several years the job has been outstanding but it was worth waiting for, reflecting the historic importance of the locomotive, now the only Island one in working order!
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W38 'Ajax'
The wheel drop is now back in use following repairs to the electrical system. 'Ajax' was the first locomotive to take advantage of the facility, having it's rear axle dropped to give access the the firebox foundation ring which required some attention.
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LB&SC Brake 3rd 4168
Repairs to the bodywork continue, with most of the paint now stripped from the internal roof boards, a seemingly endless and arm aching job. The rebuilding of the underframe by contractor in Pembrokeshire is due to be completed in October.
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4168's
body
in
the
C&W
workshop,
still
sat
on
the
former
LS&WR
'Ironclad'
underframe.
The
new
underframe
for
this
coach
is
expected
to
be
ready
in
the
near
future.
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LBSCR Wagon 27730
The 1928 wooden 10T open goods wagon's restoration was completed in July, thanks largely to funding by private donation.
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27730
following
it's
restoration.
more
details
can
be
found
on
the
Latest
News
pages.
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LCDR Composite 6378
This vehicle is really taking shape now with upholstery going into compartments and first topcoats of paint being applied to the exterior. The new luggage rack brackets are in the process of being fettled and bead blasted, using the newly refurbished blasting equipment. The roof is complete, covered and fittings on. Communication cord conduits are finished and droplights made ready for fitting.
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The
interior
of
one
6378's
3rd
Class
compartments.
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SECR Saloon Composite 6375
The Chatham Saloon has been in the workshop for repairs to upholstery. Unfortunately the railway's success at attracting passengers has resulted in their bottoms wearing out the seats1
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John
James
holds
up
an
example
of
the
worn
out
moquette.
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13T Dropside, 483725
For many years this wagon has rested in the head-shunt at Smallbrook. A general shortage of engineers' wagons of this type has prompted a repair, which has included some steel work and complete timber renewal. The wagon will be turned out in engineers' grey like 483733.
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Almost
completed
-
483725
in
the
C&W
workshop
on
10th
November
2007.
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Annual C&W Convention
This year the event was held at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road. Three of our C&W team attended and as always had some very useful discussions with experts from other railways. Our process for the production of gold leaf transfers continues to be of particular interest.
Electrification work
The Mechanical Workshop has been completely re-wired. The requirement for an electrical installation certificate means that much of the old installation does not meet the requirements of the latest regulations. Modern fittings and a logical scheme have resulted in far better and reliable lighting and power outlet facilities. The full benefit will be felt during the winter months.
Stop Press
The cause of poor steaming and late running with Invincible on the Sunday of the Wine Festival was a displaced Westinghouse pump exhaust pipe in the smokebox. This resulted in reduced and intermittent vacuum and therefore not enough air through the fire. The pipe has since been refitted.
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'Invincible'
at
the
head
of
the
heritage
wagon
fleet
during
the
'Big
Day
Out'
on
7th
October
2007.
From
the
rear:
LSWR
Road
Van
56046,
LBSCR
10T
Open
27730,
SR
8-Plank
27936
and
LBSCR
10T
Single
Bolsters
59038/45/49.
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And Finally....
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The
Mech
Eng
Depts
solution
to
the
smoking
ban
-
send
the
smokers
to
the
Smoke
Box!
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W24 'Calbourne'
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Work
in progress
on 'Calbourne's
outer firebox
(above) and
areas of cracking
indicated
on one the
inner firebox
sides (below).
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WD198 'Royal Engineer'
South Coast Steam Ltd. in Portland has made good progress with the repairs to the boiler. All of the crown stays have been renewed, two rows of side stays renewed, and several firebox seam rivets replaced with copper patch screws. Rivets in the lower half of the barrel / tubeplate joint have been renewed and the boiler completely rebut. Work continues with the complete renewal of the foundation rivets. Two tube holes in the middle of the nest have been blanked off to enable extra washout plugs to be fitted to provide better washing of the tube nest.
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Two
views of the
completed work
in 'Royal Engineer's
firebox.
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Renewed
rivets at the
boiler barrel/tube
plate joint.
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Ivatt 41313
Clearance trials were carried out over the Wootton section in June, towing the locomotive with W8 Freshwater. The Ivatt Locomotive Trust's Roy Miller was in attendance on the footplate, the driver's seat having had temporary repairs for his use. Dimensions of significant clearances were taken and recorded, and produced no surprises or problems. Tighter clearances are expected when trials are carried out over the Smallbrook section at a later date.
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41313
alongside W8
on 29th May
2007.
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W37 'Invincible'
The engine's repaint is complete and looks very smart. Several of the quieter operating days have utilised Invincible, which can just about keep to time with the new timetable. A selection of pictures taken during W37's first few days back in service can be found on the Latest News pages.
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'Invincible'
moves off shed
on 1st June
2007, her first
day back in
traffic following
a repaint.
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'Ajax'
A minor foundation ring leak in an awkward place meant the engine was out of service for several weeks while the ashpan was dropped and the leak dealt with. It came at a hectic time for works staff who were busy filling the roster and keeping up with routine maintenance. Since repairs were completed, the engine has done it's fair share of duties including some very heavy days.
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'Ajax'
at Havenstreet
on the
Sunday
of the
1940s
weekend
and (below)
'Waggoner'
and 'Ajax'
on shed
during
the lunchtime
break
of the
same day.
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W8 'Freshwater'
Now returned from two successful mainland events at the Kent & East Sussex Railway and Portsmouth Dockyard, Freshwater has undergone attention to the Westinghouse pump to remove heavy deposits of carbon in the airways.
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W8
at Havenstreet
during
the Easter
weekend.
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LB&SC Brake 3rd 4168
Now back in works, repairs resume where they left off last year. One of the brake end corner posts among other timbers has been renewed. Work continues in burning off old paint from the compartment interiors. The work being carried out by contractor in South Wales to rebuild the underframe is scheduled to be finished in September but progress to date has been slow.
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Compartment
4168A
stripped
down for
renovation.
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LBSCR Wagon 27730
Work has recommenced on this wooden framed 10T open goods wagon, which was built in 1928 and donated to the IWSR having been latterly stored on the Bluebell Railway. The project to restore the wagon has been funded largely by a generous private donation.
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27730
in the C&W
workshop during
April (above)
and work continuing
at the end of
May whilst Pete
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