Locomotive News

Under-Assistant Scribe Colin reporting this week.

We assembled on a chilly morning, each of us muffled up in extra layers of fleeces and thermals in case we were needed out in the yard.  It came as a relief that Frank had a list of jobs that could be done inside – which turned out to be only slightly less cold.

We drank our tea and listened to Franks job list which went something like “Tornado, Tornado, Tornado, and Tornado”.  Dave-the-blog was missing – the reason to be revealed later.

So we divided up into teams and set off to the Wheeldrop shed where Tornado is undergoing winter maintenance.   There were a few who found alternative employment on Swanage and Thomas, and Welsh Dave went off to the Machine Shop to install a lubricator regulator for the milling machine.

Alex1 and Steve H were making the crinolines for Thomas’s boiler, which is now in its frames. He has to be ready for Easter!

Jim, Pat, Colin2 and John sawed up the last few of the scrap superheater flues from Swanage, then set about removing more of the small tubes and despatching them.

The troglodyte team (Welsh Pete...

View Full Article...

Wednesday 25th January, Overcast but mild today (for January); crocuses coming up in pic-nic area as we walk down to sheds for another fun day at Ropley...

Frank produced his customary “to-do” list as we assembled for cuppa and morning greetings; as we gathered our thoughts and readied ourselves, more cake tins became apparent on the mess-room tables for later consumption; no less than SIX today, all (with the exception of Colin’s who cheated by having his good lady bake his) baked by their donors. From being a cake-free zone not that long ago, we have become master bakers in our spare time... (I think that’s what Frank said....) We’ll have to organise a roster otherwise we shall be putting on collective pounds!

Anyway, to work...

Colin and I had, for our first job, the spark arrestor to replace on the U-boat. Not quite sure why it had been removed but on opening the smokebox door, we found it had already been done; result! We ticked that job off then and returned to see what everyone else was doing.

We have had Tornado in the wheeldrop shed for the last 3 weeks now for her annual maintenance with one of her support c...

View Full Article...

Details of progress on the overhaul of the National Railway Museum’s Schools Class loco “Cheltenham” by MHR Volunteers at Eastleigh Works

The big news is that the Boiler returned to Eastleigh today, having been lifted onto the lorry by the MHR 45 Ton steam crane. We opened up gate 2 ½ to allow the trailer to back into the building, where Paul from Knights Rail drove the crane and lifted it onto a pair of trestles for us. It’s great to see it back just under a year from sending it to Ropley. Thanks to Bruce Knights for the loan of the slings and trestles.

Work continues on the Tender tank coal space, which has been needle-gunned, primed and painted in undercoat. Eagle – eyed Simon spotted that a bracket had broken away, so he made a new one. This is used for securing the fire-irons when not in use.

The coupling rod bearings have gone to Ropley for re-metalling, and when they come back we will be able to machine them ourselves on the new lathe, thanks to Trevor and John connecting it up. This will be the first machining job carried out at Eastleigh by our gang.

Now that Ron scraped in the last tender axl...

View Full Article...

Details of progress on the overhaul of the National Railway Museum’s Schools Class loco “Cheltenham” by MHR Volunteers at Eastleigh Works

Well, we promised steam, and here it is… David Snow's picture of steam coming from “Cheltenham’s” safety valves for the first time since 1980. The Boiler has passed its steam test and once the brick arch and superheater elements have been fitted, then it will be coming back to Eastleigh for our volunteers to fit on the engine. Well done to all concerned in turning this boiler around in less than 12 months.

The coupling rods were taken across to the Erecting Shop where Arlington Fleet Services allowed us to use their press to take the bushes out. These all had excessive clearance with the crankpins, between 20 and 35 thou, so they have gone to Ropley for re-metalling and machining.

Barney has had an arduous day needle-gunning the coal space which then enabled Ollie and Brian to paint it…although Brian had a little problem which you will see from the picture. Knights Rail very kindly loaned their air compressor for the purpose.

Both cylinder claddings have...

View Full Article...

Under-Assistant Scribe Colin on duty again.  This is my second blog in as many days – I just spent yesterday writing one about Wassailing.  I know that both of our readers are fully aware of our ancient English customs, but if you want to refresh your memory, you can read all about it at www.obj.org.uk.  Those of you with incredibly keen eyesight might manage to spot another member of the Wednesday Gang who came along to watch, sans trombone.

Several of the gang went off to the wheeldrop shed to work on a loco in there, whilst Stuart, Peter-the-dentist and Welsh Pete were given the task of cleaning up the side tanks for No 1 (Thomas) which were now in the main workshop where the Urie tender once stood.

So, onward to the white metal.  I offered to finish off the job we’d started last week on assembling the white-metalled bearings in 76017’s axleboxes.  Dave-the-scribe and Steve joined me and we cracked on with it following the same routine as last week.  The excess white metal was removed with a scraper, and the bearings pressed into their matching axleboxes with the hydraulic press, then bolted in with bra*s bolts.&...

View Full Article...