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
| 23rd January 2002:
So many loco shed volunteers these days it's sometimes hard to find a parking space at Ropley Frank and Steve (below) have been fabricating a replacement for the middle grate support (below right) which runs fore and aft to support the rocking grates on CanPac |
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| Photos (23rd January 2002): Tony Wood | |
| Maintenance was needed to axleboxes on #34016 Bodmin, so the wheels
will be dropped
We'd just had time to remove the right-hand side rods when a sudden rain-squall sent everyone scurrying for shelter in the shed. The left-hand set was off, and work was well-advanced with the centre engine rods by the end of the day Bubs was machining an axlebox crown which will then go on the big slotter to have a side removed |
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"It goes here" |
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| 20th January 2002:
Mark Pretious (in the donkey jacket) supervised a group of Watercress Rangers to clean Thomas ready for his visit to meet young friends at KESR (Our two youngest qualified firemen [Kris Tippen* and Andrew Miller**)] both started working as Rangers until they were old enough to use machine tools, and to work as loco crew)
*(2nd from right in linked pic) |
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| After an early start cleaning the Ivatt, photographing
its departure, and before due on relief
turn for the service train crew, your webmaster mooched around with his camera:
A lamp on P&OSNC's tender Photos (20th January 2002): Tony Wood |
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| 18th January 2002: Neil Davis was fitting the new ashpan hopper he'd made for #35005 | |
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| 15th January 2002:
The Ivatt (#41312) is back. Keith Loughlin (at the smokebox door) was checking it over in readiness for a routine boiler washout. We're all pleased to see this favourite loco again. View of the yard, below, was misted by smoke from a shed stove. Thomas's water tank back on soon. Photos (15th January 2002): Tony Wood |
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13th January 2002: CLICK (More here)
'How a steam loco works - inside story' worth your patience (explained with photos and drawings)
Remember, this is only the Loco shed stuff
- More news and pics
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All photos are by webmaster unless acknowledged.
You may copy mine for any non-commercial purpose. webmaster - tonywood@watercressline.co.uk
Copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999,
2000, 2001, 2002: Tony Wood Previously: Minox 35ML 35mm |
| The Watercress Line, The Railway
Station, Alresford, Hampshire, England, SO24 9JG Tel 01962 733810 Fax 01962 735448 infromation@watercressline.co.uk www.watercressline.co.uk/tw |
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