'Barbara' before rebuilding as 'Douglas'
|
|
| 20th February 2002:
Colin Fuller on the footplate of his loco - Douglas, "Class J94 and
3/4" - in steam at Ropley for checking. Clive Holliday (MPD
Engineering Manager) had tried a few chuffs and found the steam-brake
dragging. The valve was letting by and and he had gone off for the grinding-in
paste when tw took this shot of the gauges. Note the steam pressure gauge
at 160LB psi and the safety valve feathering.
|
 |
|
|
 |
December 2001: 'Douglas' in the shed at Ropley for finishing
20th November 2001: Newly-arrived
'Douglas'
( Class "J94 and three-quarters" ...
FB)
is with several other locos in the Ropley station loop |
 |
| 17th Nov 2001:
'Douglas' arrives at Alresford
Photo: Chris Cornell
|
 |
Some web-movies showing Douglas in action at the Watercress Line:
Douglas
with high-speed goods train (.avi,
3.6MB, Alresford, 12th August 2004): John Sanders
Thomas and Douglas
race (1) (3.6MB,
11th August 2004): Tony Wood
Thomas and Douglas
race (2) (3.4MB, 11th August 2004): Tony Wood
Douglas
wins a race with Thomas
(1.2MB,
17th April 2004): Tony Wood
Thomas beats Douglas
in a vigorous race through Ropley (1.4MB, 17th August 2003,
Tony Wood)
Douglas and
his Troublesome Trucks are 'rescued' by Thomas
(1.1MB,
13th Aug 2003): John Sanders
Douglas
hauls a goods train through Ropley (914KB, 26th April 2003):
Tony Wood
Douglas pulls a BIG train (with a little
help from his friend, a Class 33) (366KB, 24th April 2003): Tony Wood
Toad, Douglas and Thomas
(209KB, 24th April
2003):
Tony Wood
Thomas and
Douglas race at Ropley
(Aug 2002, 730KB,
'Mr Wizard')
Heavy general overhaul of Douglas (from November 2005) shown in detail
| 'Douglas' (née 'Barbara') as at 31st March 2001 |
 |
Subj: Barbara/Douglas
Date: 14/07/2001 08:52:30 GMT Daylight Time
From: Colin Fuller
To: Tony Wood
Tony
You should have received the latest photos of Douglas overnight.
This week the loco was put in steam for the first time for years and reached
70 psi. As you probably know the operating pressure is 170 psi. The brick
arch will be built when the loco comes back to Ropley, which could be just
before the next Thomas Event. Fingers crossed.
More news will follow.
Regards
Colin
 |
Photos: Colin Fuller
|
Subj: Barbara
Date: 22/03/2001 19:14:51 GMT Standard Time
From: Colin Fuller
To: Tony Wood
Tony
Delighted to be able to tell you that Barbara's boiler has today been re-united
with the frames and the tender has also been moved to Templecombe. At last
the locomotive is beginning to come together.
Carol and I are due to inspect the progress next Wednesday and there should
be photographs available soon.
Regards
Colin
From: "Ian Farrance" ian@farncare.force9.co.uk
To: Colin Fuller
Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2001 4:28 PM
Subject: Barbara
Colin &: Carol
Good news, Barbara has passed her Hydraulic Test, there are a couple of small
leaks, 2 crown stays, 2 backhead stays and the tubeplate/crown lap seam,
nothing that cannot be sorted.
The boiler will in the near future be returned to its frames, where it will
have a fire put in it to "cook it" up a little, this will probably seal off
most of the leaks.
John still has to finish the tender, drag box for the loco frames, cladding,
pipework and cab; but I think that the job is going well, I know he has been
keeping you informed of progress as well as myself.
During discussions today, it was decided that due to the amount of lifting
and travel the boiler still has to do prior to getting back to Ropley (assuming
that is where it will be kept) that the final steam test for certification
should be done when it gets to Ropley. This will give John a chance to caulk
any leaks prior to my seeing it for the last time under this contract.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact.
Regards
Ian Farrance |
|
|
|
From: Ian Farrance
To: Colin Fuller
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2000 7:08 PM
Subject: Barbara
Colin & Carol
Visited John Uphill's today, still making good progress.
The smoke box is on the boiler and most fittings.
The tender chassis repairs are complete and painting started on frames and
components, it is hoped to start reassembling in the next few days, prior
to making tank etc.
Have enclosed a couple of photos for you to see
Regards
Ian Farrance |
 |
 |
|
| 25th July 2000
Colin Fuller writes:
"We went to visit Barbara last week and the work has gone well. I attach
a photograph of the boiler with our son Johnathan standing by it. The boiler
work is all but finished, but the amount still to do on the tender is massive.
The frames present little challenge."
Photo: Colin Fuller
|
 |
| 18th April 2000
#45045 arrives at Alresford. That's Colin on the left.
Photo: Chris Cornell
|
|
 |
29th January 2000
The main news item this time is that at long last
Barbara has left Ropley for a secret destination in
the West Country to enable her to undergo her sex change to Douglas with
dignity. Just as the ice and snow were melting a day or so before Christmas
P.H. Antell & Son brought two of their heavy haulage vehicles up from
Dorset to move the locomotive. Colin Chambers was on hand with one of his
steam cranes to help with the loading and our thanks go to him. Down in Dorset
we had hired a mobile crane to do the unloading and they were only just able
to complete the job due to the gale force winds. Fortunately John Uphill
was on hand to steady the boiler as it swayed in the wind and all was well.
On the 15th January Carol and Colin went to visit Barbara at her secret location.
They met John Uphill and his young son and helper Michael who are undertaking
the restoration work (with others). Much work has been done and all the old
boiler tubes have already been removed. John is now ordering the materials
to start on rebuilding the crown stays. The preliminary view of the locomotive's
frame is that no major work will be needed, but a view has been reserved
on the state of the tender frame.
Thanks to:
Colin Chambers for the use of his steam crane
Nifty Nappies of Alton for cleaning materials
Globe Galleries of Andover for period fittings
P.H. Antell & Son for transportation.
Publicity
We have been fortunate recently on the publicity front. Carol and Colin were
interviewed by Peter Cansfield on Delta Radio :the local Radio Station on
the 21 st December. The Newsletter when produced is published in the Medstead
Times. A very supportive article appeared in the Alton Herald published on
the 14th January and we hope shortly to see a report of our activities in
Railway World.
For the Technically minded:
The latest report from Ian Farrance our Boiler Inspector reveals that the
barrel of the boiler is internally in good condition with very little pitting
and what is there is very small and is nothing to worry about. Light can
be seen though the smokebox and it will have to be replaced. Welding will
be needed to the T-bar that holds the first two rows of crown stays in place
and both the injector ligaments. This is not a major problem. As anticipated
the lap seam rivets on the firebox will need replacing. The cause of the
firebox tube plate lap seam opening up is thought to have been caused by
the top two rows of tube holes being over size, possibly due to over rolling
resulting in the tube plate being pushed in this area.
|
