Recent News from Ropley MPD, in continuation of the Latest News page
| 29th July 2001: The Ivatt #41312
was failed yesterday evening with a broken grate section.
Martin (right) was a hero; he retrieved the broken pieces from a firebox with 100 LB psi boiler pressure and a brick arch as hot as a grill, consequently not a place to stay too long! |
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Photos: Tony Wood |
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The three of us repaired the grate with bars and, by turns in the firebox, Martin, Dave Sibley (above) and your webmaster reinstalled the section - still with over 50 LB psi on the gauge - lit the fire, and had #41312 in service again same morning and for the remainder of the MHR Enthusiast Event. The repair will last until a new casting arrives. What it looked like after a week in the firebox! |
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| Subj: Steam Gala Date: 30/07/2001 21:07:07 GMT Daylight Time
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Tony This is just to complete the tale of the Ivatt tank loco on Sunday. When I arrived for my driving duty John Rose, our third man, asked me to look at the state of the grate, which had a problem with one of the main bars. Closer investigation revealed what appeared to be a broken firebar. Tim Yates happened to be on hand and, in view of his slim build, was ideally suited to fitting through the Ivatt's small firehole door to have a closer look. In spite of the heat Tim heroically went into the box and managed to pass out half of the offending bar which was completely broken away, so that the diagnosis was confirmed. The other heroes of the day were of course the trio involved in carrying out the repair, and so get the loco back into traffic within a couple of hours. Dave, Martin and Tony who repaired the bar and did the reassembling, did a fantastic job. Mike Pearson
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| Alresford signalman David Salter pulls off the up starter for the first
train of the day on 23rd July 2001
Photo: Tony Wood
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| 20th July 2001: Neil Davis driving Ivatt 2-6-2 at Ropley
Photo: Henry O'Dwyer |
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| 20th July 2001:
After a full day with Footplate Experience courses on Wednesday 18th, Mike Burke and your webmaster on #31625 took a 10-Ton steam crane from Alton to Alresford. Chris Cornell took this pic of it at work next day there. After a full .... Footplate Courses on Thursday 19th, we had to return it to Alton with #31625.
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It's life as usual on Farnborough Main as 34016 Bodmin is checked by signals with the down 'Cathedrals Express' on 12th July 2001
Photo (12th July 2001) and report: Nigel
Kendall
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| 12th July 2001:
Unusual view shows what's beneath you when you're perched in a railway carriage loo. Tom Turner was replacing floorboards in this one at the Alresford Traincare depôt. Photo: Chris Cornell |
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Progress report 11th July 2001 on conversion of 'Barbara' to tender engine 'Douglas'
You can still access many items previously shown on these pages
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If you find these pages interesting or useful, please tell others and make a link from your own website.
All photos are by me (Tony Wood) unless
acknowledged. You may copy mine for any non-commercial purpose.
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Copyright © 1997 - 2001:
Tony Wood
http://www.watercressline.co.uk/tw
| Photos (*movies) by tw to show the day-to-day work
of this busy MPD: Nov 2002 to date: FujiFilm FinePix 2800Zoom* (digital) Late 1998 to Nov 2002: FujiFilm DX8 (digital) 1998 and earlier: Minox 35ML (35mm) |
| The Watercress Line, The Railway
Station, Alresford, Hampshire, England, SO24 9JG Tel 01962 733810 Fax 01962 735448 tonywood@watercressline.co.uk www.watercressline.co.uk/tw |
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