22nd November 2009
T
he long anticipated re-wheeling of J94 No.7 has been yet again been postponed. This time it was the fault of the weather, with high winds forecast for the day of the lift it was decided that the crane could not operate safely. The current plan is now to have the re-wheeling carried out in two weeks time.
The great Romney Hut tidy up has also begun in earnest with the benches looking spick and span and for extra bonus points the Fork Lift is working again. So, seven years of plenty for everyone who turned out to get their hands dirty, fire and brimstone on all who decided to spend the day watching telly.
Locomotive News
No. 7: As well as being ready for re-wheeling, the boiler inspector has had a look and is happy with its condition. There is a little wastage to be repaired on the front tube plate and once done we can retube the boiler.
The regulator has been removed and the regulator operating shaft is in the process of being removed (quite difficult to get to due to the height of the dome).
A loan of a lempor blast pipe has been secured to allow us to make a copy. This type of blast pipe has a significant effect on the locomotive performance.
The last two buffers have now been rebuilt and re-fitted. The smokebox door dart is under construction and work is now getting under way on the brake gear, draw hooks and the big end bearings.
80105: Tom Willison and Norman Girvan spent some quality time putting the brick arch back together again and after completion the loco has been trial steamed in readness for the Santa specials.
419: The boiler is now ready to be lifted from the frames once the old tubes have been removed.
Other News
Some TLC has been lavished on the Steam Heating pipes on the coaches for the Santa Train courtesy of Brian Thomson and Brian Williams. Plans to fit a sauna in the brake van were, however, abandoned.
The Wickhams Trolley is back in operation again courtesy of Andew McLean of the diesel shed. It's a Type 27B Mark 6 previously used at Ravenscraig Steel Works and it's now off to Manuel to assist in the signalling work. It even seems that there is a pair of wheelsets at the back of the Romney Hut to allow a trailer to be built for it.
The Scammell Scarab Mechanical Horse which was sitting in the workshop in SRE2 is also being worked on. This time by Mick Hughes in the Goods Shed. The bodyshell is being built up around the passsenger windscreen after a lengthy bout of the rust worm. Once that has been completed the nose has to be refitted with some more panelbeating after it fell off and was run over. No names being mentioned!
If anyone is looking for a mini project to kick off then the Type 18 Trolley sitting outside SRE2 would be another good job for someone to cut their teeth on.
Photos of recent activity...
22nd November 2009 - News Gallery
Copyright SRPS 2010 ©
