MHR Restorations and Overhauls

It sounds like Ropley has been getting a few visitors to see 34051 but public access is not available. This has been posted on the MHR site:

"We would like to advise that Ropley is not currently open to visitors whilst the finishing touches are applied to locomotive No. 34051 'Winston Churchill' ahead of its much anticipated move to the National Railway Museum. Due to Health and Safety considerations the loading of the locomotive for road transportation will not be a public event.
'Winston Churchill' will be on display as part of 'Churchill’s Final Journey' at the National Railway Museum from 30 January - 3 May 2015 "

 

Taken from the Urie Soceity page

Latest News January 2015

30499
More sections of the running plate have been replaced with new steel plate and the areas around the cylinders are being stripped down ready for these to be lifted off. The two piston rods and crossheads were split over the New Year's break!

30506
With the right-hand new frameplate now in position and ready for welding to the old frame, progress has been rapid on the overhaul of 506's cylinders. These are at Bryn Engineering in Lancashire and are now nearing completion. The work has involved boring out the main piston bore and these will then have liners fitted to bring the cylinder diameter up to its original size.

 

I wonder when the Ropley Sunday Scribe is going to give us an update on progress with 75079?......... no matter how small.......

 

Sorry for not getting back sooner.

Latest update on 75079.
Work still continues on making cladding. Most of the boiler barrel cladding is now on but will need removing for painting and storage. The corner cladding is still to be made.
Copper pipe between the grease nipples and the radius arms are being made.
Front pony truck wheels have arrived back and have been painted in undercoat paint.
Sand boxes and sand piping has now been cleaned and painted.
Some brake rigging parts have been overhaul and put in to store.
Front truck is still being worked on.
Buffers have been stripped down and are being cleaned and overhaul. At the same time buffers for 80150 are also being overhauled.

 

Nice & straight forward report Lee.

Good to see things are moving on, maybe things will pick up when 76017 is finished......

 

I would think there is a very strong chance that once 76017's boiler is finished and reunited with the frames, the boiler of 75079 will be lifted to go into the boilershop. Could even happen on the same day if the steam crane is utilised to maximum efficiency as has happened before.

 

I am sure I read somewhere that they were aiming to have the boiler taken off 75079 early in 2015; so that would seem to make sense that it could be combined with lifting the 76 boiler.

 

Colin loves any excuse to get the crane out.

 

Any one up for a good many bonfires then.Get fit or keep fit out in the open

 

Now the front driving wheel is back in the frames of 70000. Does anyone know when 70000 is going for a test run.

Cheers

 

I cannot believe this hasn't been asked yet… now Churchill has departed what is next into the works

 

am going to guess 41312

 

I wouldnt be surprised if we have a big crane day soon as still have to bring up CanPacs boiler from Eastleigh so could get all 3 lifts done in one hit.

 

Hello,
Looking good At York:

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31060364

Nick

 

New Ropley up shelter hs now been completed. Doors will be open for the gala I was invited to have a look inside last week, its amazing!

 

It certainly is the Mutt's! I had a sneaky peek inside not long ago when they were snagging - didn't feel right to take any photo's......

It looks like its always been there.

Though I bet the Building Dept are glad the project is finished!

 

Looks fantastic, what's in there?

 

Wow, just wow!

I remember many a drenched rat on platform 1 on rainy days when I worked the station as a porter (2003-2009), never thought I'd see a facility like that!

 

Have a look at the gala.....

 

It looks superb. Out of interest, what is it based on? Was there a shelter looking like this at Ropley back some years ago or was it modelled on an LSWR design at some other station?