1589 "Newstead"

Interesting. I wonder who technically owns it all and what their plans are?

 

I believe it's owned by the person/family who own the wedding venue. No idea as to future plans, but bearing in mind it hasn't worked in at least 20 years then I would say it's not high on the owner's priority list! This is a photo (not mine) from 2015: https://bestieboy.smugmug.com/Trains/Miscellaneous-Steam-Locos/i-5ZRJvc4/A

I believe this is the company that own or lease the site: http://www.carlingfordbrewing.ie/index.php
If you are trying to contact the loco owner, I would think this would be your starting point.

Keith

 

When I visited around 2000/2001 it was definitely closed and had been for a while. Maybe the loco did run for more than a year, but I don't believe it completed its full boiler certificate and the railway only ever opened sporadically so not many people ever rode on it.

Keith

 

Will make a note of that for the future, thanks Keith. Would be interesting to see it if I'm ever that way (I don't think I could personally ever afford to buy, move and restore it, but you never who may!)

 

With the lockdown, things have been a bit quiet, and like most other railways, all volunteering had to be temporarily stopped on the Spa Valley. Thankfully, there are now procedures in place and we can start to go back into the shed.

In the meantime, the group have started a website (thelostengine.co.uk) - still early days but it has been made, coded etc. by one of our own younger members. There's some areas still to tidy, but feedback welcome on nay improvements or errors that people may spot.

 

Last few weeks has seen life return at The West.

Some of the projects we wanted to achieve before the boiler comes out were the vacuum and steam heat pipework, and extensions to the injector overflows. The injector overflows originally ended under the cab floor just ahead of the rear axle - right where someone may be under the loco during prep, so not ideal. These now come out by the cab step, which also makes it easier to check they have picked up clean whilst on the run.

The pipework from the ejector to the smokebox has also been trial fitted, and the entry point in through the side of the smokebox is being worked on. Some brackets to support the pipe as it runs along underneath the tank will need to be made too, but as it stands, everything important now exists and has been trial fitted.

The angle irons under the running board have been filled, smoothed and a start on priming has been made. The bufferbeams have had the same treatment, and are now having the base red coats applied. Some of the guard irons have been painted up in different shades of Purple Brown, whilst one bunker side has had a coat of Crimson applied; this will allow us to compare the shades and how they compliment each other before we choose and apply the final coats later on.

New brake hanger pins have been machined by one of our team on their lathe at home, and these have been reamed and installed. The same volunteer also turned out some lovely wooden mounts for the three pressure gauges in the cab, and these again have been test fitted.

Outside in the yard, the wheels have had some patches of rough casting smoothed out, and are gradually being filled, smoothed and painted.

We were given a date of August 2nd for the engine being moved outside for the frames to be blasted, so the slide bars were removed, and various fittings removed. Little ends, hanger pins and other crucial surfaces were wrapped and protected. Unfortunately, the blasting has been delayed, but were are hopeful of this not being too far off.

New bearings for the axleboxes are needed, as the existing ones are quite 'jiggered'. Equally, the slippers also need replacing. Quotes are being sourced for these with a view to sub-contract these out so as not to delay progress too much. The Horn keeps have also been repaired; sometime in colliery days (we reckon) chunks were cut out to allow access to the spring-retaining nut. To ensure the strength of the keep, it was decided wise to repair these.

I will try to remember to post some photographs later on, otherwise these can be found on our Facebook Page.



We have also had a painting commissioned by the artist Wrenford Thatcher, of which we are selling prints and cards to fundraise the cost of the nameplates (the originals lost to time.) 14" x 11" with a card mount can be purchased for £24.95, and can be collected by arrangement from Tunbridge Wells West when I am on site (usually every other weekend and some Wednesdays.) Alternatively, we can get these posted to you at a cost of £5. Greetings Cards are £2 and can be posted for 50p.

And finally, we are delighted to hear that sister loco Beatrice is back in service at Bolton Abbey - we look forward to a trip up to visit John and his engine when restrictions are eased and it is safe to do so.

 

We've been busy these last few weeks. The blasting was delayed so the opportunity was taken to finish welding up the ejector pipe entry point on the smokebox, and further cleaning between the frames. Last week the blasting was started, and both outside faces of the frames have been done and primed. We hope to do the inside faces this week, and if time permits the cab too. We shall be moved again at some point very soon as Sir Keith Park is expected to arrive. For many of us, it's our first time blasting - it's amazing how quickly surface rust starts to form when you have finished an area and moved on...

 

Anyone who follows the social media pages will know that just before the last lockdown, Newstead was moved from Road 3 to Road 1 within the shed. We then began to clean the inside of the frames and needle gun the cylinder block, applying appropriate primer coats to protect the metal. A few areas need to be redone, but before we could crack on with this Lockdown: The Sequel began. In the last week, a few volunteers (under social distancing and Covid-compliant measures etc.) returned to site. The new brake hanger pins are made, and I've been told new parts for the Horn guides have arrived (off the top of my head, I can't remember specifically what parts!)

To speed up returning the wheels to the frames, these have been sent to a local firm for shot blasting and priming; with the wet weather and no space inside to keep them currently, this will be better for them. A few of us will be back on site tomorrow to do some more work on smaller parts, such as buffers and springs. It will likely be the spring before any work that involves painting can be resumed.

 

The wheels have now been shot-blasted and given a few coats of two-pack primer. They then moved to Quainton Road on Tuesday, where the big end crank pins will be machined to the correct profile. The old horn guides were deemed beyond economic repair, and so new steel castings were ordered. These were delivered before Christmas, and subsequently taken to Metwin Engineering to be machined; this should be completed today, or by early next week.

Some additional contract work is in place, and new safety valve springs have been ordered in conjunction with another loco owner. The springs have been assessed, and all bar one have been deemed ok. The defective one is expected to be sent away for refurbishment; some spares will also be ordered.

I think, like many others, we're all hoping that restrictions will lift to a point soon that will permit us to return to volunteering on-site again in some capacity.

 

During the last few months, we have been fortunate enough to be permitted a contractor on site.

Our first contractor was hired to come in and remove the pistons and valves from the cylinders, and carry out an inspection of them. These have now been inspected and whilst the piston rings and valves are all good, their respective rods will need to be built up with nickel or chrome, and the slide bar faces ground to a perfect flat smooth finish. The steam brake piston has also been measured and assessed.

Continuing below the frames, these have now
been jacked up and leveled ready for measuring, allowing us to make sure everything is lined up correctly before any further major work is carried out. The life-expired horn guides have been removed, ready for the newly-cast-and-machined replacements to be fitted (see earlier reports.) Unfortunately, upon removing one of the horns some cracking has been discovered, along with fretting of the frames. This will all be thoroughly assessed and the best course of action decided upon to rectify.

We’ve also had a look inside the boiler. Some scale needed to be removed from the firebox crown and around the stays (we wonder how long that has been there?) and at face value, the boiler is looking to be ok. At least one longitudinal stay will need to be replaced, but before the boiler can be fully and properly assessed, the barrel will need to be needle gunned internally to check for pitting. We hope, alongside the Spa Valley’s other projects in the shed, we will be able to bring some volunteers back to continue the work very soon.

 

So, two of the tallest people went into one of the smallest spaces available - the boiler! All the scale and debris has been swept out, and a start made on needle-gunning to clean the barrel ready for a visit from the boiler inspector, whose advice will help plan the necessary works going forwards. Sanding and painting the frames also continues.

Up at Quainton, JM Engineering have completed machining the big end crank pins, and we shall have a few days attendance there to carry out filling, sanding and painting the wheels before they eventually return to Tunbridge Wells.

 

Before the first lockdown, a start was made on cleaning and painting the rear face of the cylinder block. Unfortunately, it wasn't finished in time and became rusty again, so this has been rubbed back and put in fresh heat-resistance undercoat again; looking much better than before.
The buffers and bufferbeams have also progressed from undercoat to first topcoat of red.
The hot riveter has been out too, affixing the bracket to the new cab side patch first off, which has now been welded in place. The next job was to assemble the new front steps and attach the mounting bracket to the running board.
Pads are being welded and ground on the horns to allow the new guides to be seated in the right position.

 

A tad behind on reports here, but amid all the other things that have progressed lately we saw the boiler lifted and sent away for contract overhaul. The tank also went to a firm local to Tunbridge Wells for internal shotblasting and painting.

This should speed up the return of 1589 to steam.

Bottom end work has seen the slide bars and motion block machined and reinstalled and the piston rods built up with metal spray.

 

Really excited about this restoration. Would love it if someone repatriated the Irish one too, if it’s not got a future.

I seem to remember some time ago reading an announcement about the livery Newstead will where when complete - obviously it’s red but I thought there was some expansion on why and the specific shades etc. I can’t seem to see this post anywhere now; did I dream it?!

 

I don't think there's been a post confirming the full livery other than to say a poll by the working members decided it as NCB red for the top half. Discussions are currently happening as to how it will be lined as we've seen a few different styles.

The frames and some of the parts below these are (I think) lined purple brown for which the owner has a fondness after seeing Beatrice at Embsay.

I don't think we have a timescale for return yet but depending on the work required to it we anticipating the boiler back middle of next year. We're all looking forward to seeing this loco publicly steam for the first time in preservation in the not too distant future - and hopefully a few places will want her for galas too.

 

Unless anything changes, its future is locked in a tin shed on the Carlingford Brewing Company site in Riverstown Co Louth. Railbus RB002 is also on site but stored outdoors for many many years, so is probably a goner.

 

There’s no such thing as NCB red. The only standard NCB colours were navy blue and white (for anything going underground). Different areas painted locos as they wished and most, if not all chose colour schemes at the whim of those able to make that decision. North Yorkshire Area Chief Engineer decided on ‘LMS maroon’ for locos in that area but was left to Jack Collins, the painter at Allerton Bywater workshopsto interpret that.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz7jxllgn51o

Nice little report about the original nameplates being reunited with the loco.

 

A not so good photo'' I took of Newstead on 22/05/1971 at Wooley Coll'y .Looks like a replica name plate ,and a makers plate missing on the left hand side.