Toddington Updates

Not any ground braking news, just a quick update. The planets favourite Prarie (5542) is arriving back on friday after an extended loan to the WSR (visits to the SVR and WSR were with the agreement of the GWSR) and will be in use each weekend up until christmas. The loco will then run at Toddington from March until September 2011, when the current boiler ticket expires.
7903 is having a quick tidy up on the paintwork as the barrel has worn badly in the last 6 years. A program of winter maintenance is planned for the bottom end during the closed season.
2807 and 8f 45160 have both settled down as reliable performers with no issues to report. Both engines have a planned program of winter maintenance planed with the 8f being rostered for the santa's along with 5542.
35006 is shortly to have its boiler lowered down to its final position once the last pieces of the throatplate cladding are completed as they are hard to fit afterwards. The Connecting rods are having hours of effort spent bringing them up to the desired finish, before these too can be fitted. The last P&O report can be read here:
http://www.gwsr.com/enthusiasts/dep...on-project/progress-reports/2010/october.aspx
Truro is undergoing her annual boiler insurance exam at present, but will shortly be off to the GCR(N) to assist with Santa;s.
Finally, here are a couple of my photos from the past few months which haven't seen the light of day yet!

 

Thanks for the pictures, splendid stuff. What livery is the 8F now wearing? Is it the Turkish one or the LMS one?

 

The 8F still carries her Turkish livery (well a version thereof).
The AGM of Cotswold Steam Preservation, owners of 2807, was held at Toddington on 20 November with 2807 doing the honours of taking us to the meeting at Winchcombe from Toddington. The train was 29 years late which is another way of saying it was the 1st AGM where the focus of the meeting was doing what everyone had worked so hard for it to do! Steam heat was a bit erratic though! The weather was very dull so not a good day for photos. I attach a photo of 2807 arriving at Winchcombe later in the day.

 

This time with the photo attached!

 

We're pleased to be back on the G/WR to help out Santa and his helpers. 5542 is now in its final session of its 10 year ticket and we are looking forward to spending it at based at Toddington. We have the boiler overhaul planned to start at Buckfastleigh in October next year and hope to be back in action by mid 2012.

 

Is ther any news on Gotherington?

Regards

 

The latest information on progress at Gotherington, where the landslip is being repaired is at:
http://www.gwsr.com/home.aspx
I have been informed that the anticipated date for the line to reopen to Cheltenham Race Course again is 4 June 2011 but this is dependent upon money continuing to come in. Clearly more money would help to reopen the line just that little bit quicker, but its not a rush job of course. By then the extension up to Laverton will also be open with tracklaying continuing to Broadway. Onwards!

 

No. 2807 is rostered for 4/5, 11/12, 18/19 and also 21/22 December.

In addition, No. 2807 will be operating at the Christmas Cracker Steam Gala on Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 December.

Cotswold Steam

 

Mason's valve playing up, fixed at the end of the day! It was lovely and warm on the footplate though!

 

News in that services have been cancelled tomorrow (Tuesday) as well. Decision on wednesday expected tomorrow morning. Just how quickly things changed can be seen by looking at the following link. Steam engines work ok in snow its all the other bits that give up (points, signals, skating rinks for platforms etc)

http://www.gwsr.com/news/latest-new...hort-day-at-toddington-as-snow-sweeps-in.aspx

 

Wednesday and Thursday also cancelled.

 

I've heard that there has been another landslip on the GWSR, at Chicken curve this time.
I hope I'm wrong, how much bad luck can one line have?
Can anyone embellish/confirm/deny?

 

Please note that I am only a shareholder in the GWSR, not a director or part of the PWay Dept, and so this response is not official.

You are not strictly correct. The trackbed at "Chicken Curve" near Winchcombe has been settling slightly for years (GWR days even) and the GWSR regularly has to "fettle " it. Dipped joints are common here and this section sees regular PWay detachments to it. As part of the rebuilding and repairing of the Gotherington Landslip, other work on the GWSR in other areas is also being undertaken (mainly drainage improvements) and Chicken Curve is one of those areas which will receive repair and renovation work. The problem at Chicken Curve is, I understand, very different from that at Gotherington but its still a nuisance and will need some additional work. I understand that this will commence immediately after the 2010-11 season ends, ie tomorrow! However, please don't take that as gospel.

 

Yes - movement on chicken curve caused todays trains not to run over Chicken curve.

As Kinghambranch as said - there has been problems here for years, with work planned here over the closed season.

Stephen

 

As the posters have suggested, there has been some increased movement on one area of CC toward the end of 2010. This area has been subject to almost daily inspection from November. Recently 05-06/01/11 a couple of test boreholes were dropped into the active area, results are awaited. (http://nigel-black.fotopic.net/p68624624.html)

Apologies to all those delayed at Toddington and the staff at Winchcombe with the late cancellation of services following inspection prior to services on the Saturday. Unfortunately the 2 extra Santa days could only operate from end of "Defford" straight to Stanton (added to compensate for CC to Winchcombe), fortunately Santa and the presents were whisked by sleigh to visit the train on route.

This Saturday will see the start of removal of track off CC and re-profilling and realignment prior to the new season. Note this was bought forward to Wednesday 12/01/11 as extension material was unavailable at Laverton due to CC movement.

 

A quick rundown of goings on at Toddington. (March 19th)
The new pit at Winchcombe is taking shape (see photo) and the concrete should be poured by now.
GWR 2807 is at the WSR taking part in the spring gala and by all accounts attracting some kind comments from crews on how well it goes. It leaves on March 30th to travel to the GCR where there is the chance it may run on some dates prior to the GCR/GWSR GR8 escape gala on 9th/10th April
8F 45160 is safely tucked away at the GCR and is due to be in operation this coming fri/sat/sun for the 1960's gala.
The loco has received many kind comments on her condition already, reflecting the time and effort that the Churchill 8F group have put in over the winter (plus Phil for spending all day saturday polishing the copper!).
7903 Foremark Hall is currently at Tyseley with all wheelsets removed for attention to the boxes and Horn guides. Expected to be returned to toddington in late April for reassembly of inside valve gear and pipework followed by weighing etc. before joining the operational fleet at Winchcombe
35006 slowly but surely edges closer, from the pictures it can be seen that the firebox has its cladding fitted (and a shiny regulator handle) and once some of the other cladding is fitted the boiler will be lowered to its final place. Its starting to look really good.
The final picture shows the NRM 4F 4027. This has been undergoing a clean and repaint of the chassis whilst the boiler has had the front tubeplate removed and several stays too.