Mid-Hants Railway Loco Shed

Recent News

Recent News from Ropley Motive Power Depot: showing work-in-progress of interest to the steam railway enthusiast
Reports and photos by your webmaster, or by others where acknowledged

Follow our restoring of heritage steam engines from Barry wrecks to high performance, mainline certified steam classics

3rd October 2003:

Snatched shot from passing train of Bodmin's centre drivers just out for examination of the axleboxes (see below)

Photo (3rd October 2003): Tony Wood

2nd October 2003:

Work in progress to remove and check the Bodmin axlebox which ran hot on 21st September. The loco is over the wheeldrop with rods removed

Centre connecting rod lies wrapped in the pit

2nd October 2003:

New tyres for 9F #92212 arrived this morning. Frank and Rod check them on the lorry.

One pallet unloaded

Photos (2nd October 2003): Tony Wood

NewsExpress

'Diesel Corner'

25th September 2003: Photo below (25th September 2003) : Tony Wood

25th September 2003:

A new tyre has been fitted on one of the wheels on this Bittern driving axle, returned today: now we have the full set at Ropley. There are some interesting visitors in the yard.

In the shed, Steve Humby and Roger Ventin were copper-rivetting the roof sheets onto the cab of P&OSNC (a contract job). Pity they'll be painted over!

Photos (25th September 2003) : Tony Wood

Restoration of Gresley A4 #60019 "Bittern"

25th September 2003:

Little contract job for Freightliner is to re-metal the bushes on the coupling rods of an 08 shunter.

At the time of these photos, Neil was de-burring white metal after machining, and Frank was making the slots for the lubricator felts.

We pressed the renovated bushes back into the rods in the afternoon.

Deep in the machine shop, John Redgrave was busy on a capstan lathe, turning out more spring hanger nuts for A4 Bittern

Photos (all 25th September 2003) : Tony Wood

17th September 2003:

92 Squadron is having boiler work. Some thermic syphon and other firebox stays needed re-caulking, and we're replacing four smoke tubes, working hard to have it fit by the Gala° weekend it's here for.

Here's an early morning shot of Keith Loughlin setting up to replace the smoke tubes. Some superheater elements have been removed for access

Photo (17th September 2003): Tony Wood)
°Gala graphic by Henry O'Dwyer

14th September 2003:

#73096 is out on loan to SVR in exchange for A4 #60009 Union Of South Africa. Exchange was implemented by swopping the locos for the return run of The Severn Standard excursion yesterday

Reports and photos

Photo (Ropley loco yard, 14th September 2003): Tony Wood