Latest News from the Mid Hants Railway Loco Shed, Ropley, England

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

14th November 2007: Bittern was lit (shortly after this was taken) in preparation for Saturday's RAT
The newly aligned Ropley Up loop is now laid and ballasted and will be allowed to settle before fine tuning. To extend the points rodding, new trestles and roller frames were being sunk. Report Photos (14th November 2007): Tony Wood

12th November 2007: LHS of pic: #45379; rebuilt J94 #10 Douglas; and Ivatt #41312 Middle road: U-Class #31806 RHS of pic: BSK 34947 Chris Wrathall tests for fit a pin he has made for U-Class #31806, applying the FB Principle by being assertive without being aggressive. #34007 Wadebridge is due back from the Bluebell on 13th November 2007
BSK 34947 now in gloss Ropley Shed Carriage Restorations and Maintenance
A chance, now that the track at Ropley is up for P-Way work, to do some of the outstanding small jobs on #73096. Photos (12th November 2007): Tony Wood

5th November 2007:

Bittern is back at the Mid Hants, now with chimney facing Alresford, and was having a boiler washout. Its support coach was loaded onto a low-loader at Alresford today and taken by road for the wheels to be re-profiled. Mike Burke cured the problem of an atomiser valve which refused fully to close.

Contractors were working on Ivatt #41312 to fit new lhs cylinder liner.

31st October 2007: The wheels have been dropped out of U Class #31806 ...
... and bearing surfaces were being inspected and measured
	Ivatt #41312 has had its left hand cylinder bored with steps in readiness for a new cylinder liner
Dick Chapman was boring newly white-metalled valve-spindle bushes for #41312
Last Footplate Experience day for 2007: Merchant Navy Class #35005 Canadian Pacific was diagrammed: Movie (1.3MB)
Mike Cross was painting BSK 34947 "My apprentice" - said Duncan, grinning. Photos and movie (31st October 2007): Tony Wood

23rd October 2007: Now that the bufferbeam is off #10 Douglas, there's a usefully clear view of the slide-valve steam chest and ports of a J94 with front covers, valves and pistons removed. In service, when the regulator is opened there is a 'clunk' as steam pressure throws the valves onto their vertical seatings.
	The nuts holding on the front cylinder covers of #31806 had probably not been removed since the early 1960s so some resisted even an impact spanner and needed a five foot Samson bar on the socket. Once they were loosened, the air tool made the job easier. Kevin was removing right hand side cylinder cover nuts: Movie (1.9MB, 23rd October 2007)
Darren and Frank were tinning the crossheads for #45379 in preparation for white metalling: Movie (2.6MB, 23rd October 2007) Frank explained that pure tin adheres at a molecular level to the steel of the crosshead: the tin has to be thick enough so the oxide layer floats off leaving enough tin to make a good bond with the white metal. Report on progress on Black Five #45379
Bob Millard was machining the white metalled hornguides of some axleboxes with the planing machine for contract job on a loco bogie Movie (2.2MB, 23rd October 2007) Photos and movies (23rd October 2007): Tony Wood

18th October 2007: The telephone at the new Ropley signalbox was answered by Rod Tye: "Yes, it's all working. It's my first time here and I and I'm just trying to get my head around it." Here's a bit of nostalgia: the diagram from the 'temporary' Ropley 'box
Douglas is back on his wheels and springs. Andy is making progress with refitting the firebox The steam crane in Ropley station loop awaits return to Alton sidings

	The lhs cylinder liner has been removed from Ivatt #41312. Contractors will bore the cylinder and make and fit a new liner, shrinking it beforehand with liquid nitrogen
Thomas is back from his visit to Spa Valley Railway and soon goes to Holland to meet more of his little friends Photos and movies (18th October 2007: Tony Wood

11th October 2007: Two wagons used as stores for the past 25 years have gone - the CCT will be restored for the goods train and the TPO has been sold away from MHR
A panel had been removed ready to take out the superheater header of #92212 More about #92212 preparation for boiler inspection
Andy was drilling the firehole door ring of Douglas's boiler ready for rivetting. In the main shed, springs were being assembled to Douglas's axleboxes. John Redgrave was busy at a lathe, trying to keep up with demand for spring hanger pins
Frank was machining the white metal of Douglas's big ends Heavy general overhaul (2007) of rebuilt J94: #10 Douglas
In the Wheeldrop Shed, the left-hand cylinder of Ivatt #41312 was being dismantled ready for replacement of the cylinder liner Photos (11th October 2007): Tony Wood