Bluebell Motive Power

From the Bluebell eNewsletter:

LOCO REPORT: GETTING READY FOR THE SEASON

2016 has seen a quiet start to the year for the Loco Department due to the railway being closed for the commissioning of the new Kingscote signalbox. This downtime has enabled the Works to focus on maintaining the running fleet, with quite a few jobs being ticked off the list. These include the last niggling items on No. 73082 "Camelot," such as the blowdown valve, steam brake lubricating oil pots, and a sticky handbrake, which all required some attention. The Q class has received some attention to the steam reverser with new tappets and steam valve installed, and the C class has received a spruce up from our mid-week volunteers.

Both the H class and S15 have been withdrawn from traffic for the annual boiler exam, and while out of service both will receive some attention to their valves and pistons along with some other maintenance items. When complete our boiler inspector will attend site, witness an out-of-service exam and then an in-service exam (steam test) and issue another boiler certificate valid for 12 months. This is all part of the process for ensuring our boilers are inspected and managed over the course of their 10-year operational period.

Inside the Works, the E4 recently had a full piston and valve exam including the fitting of new slide valves and the replacement of 16 boiler stays. The loco is now complete, has undergone a test run, and is available for traffic.

All the wheels for Standard class 4 tank No. 80151 have been sent to the South Devon Railway for new tyres to be fitted, and work is progressing on the chassis and boiler. The frame stretchers and drag box have been removed from the chassis, and new platework is being fabricated to replace these worn out areas. All the pistons and valves have been removed and the cylinders will be re-bored in due course. On the boiler, the removal of stays, platework, and lap seam fastenings has begun so we can remove the firebox door plate. The usual areas of wasted platework have been discovered. They will be replaced along with inner firebox lap seams.

Schools class No. 928's boiler is progressing well at the north end of the Works, with the final stays being removed ready for complete removal of the inner firebox. This work will allow the new backhead to be fitted and fully riveted in place. Once complete the inner firebox will be re-fitted and all new stays installed. To the casual observer it may look like slow progress, but with hundreds of stays to cut and then unscrew from the inner and outer firebox's, it's a time-consuming process. In the yard, work on the chassis continues with the fitting of new platework to the cab.

Our off-site repair of boilers continues, albeit at a slow pace, with 80% of No. 34059's inner firebox removed, the barrel extension removed, and new platework to the outer firebox welded in. The new inner firebox material has been delivered.

With the start of the operational season only one week away, tenders are being filled and final polishing is happening, ready for the first train on the 6 Feb., 2016. Q class No. 30541 will visit the Mid-Hants Railway for its gala, so I encourage you to support the Mid-Hants and visit our friends to see the Q class in another setting.

Finally, thanks to all who have contributed to the fund for purchase of boiler tools and equipment. With your generosity, we have purchased two Asquith Universal Portable Radial Drills, along with other boiler related tooling. Happy New Year, and I look forward to seeing you in 2016!

By Chris Hunford, Locomotive Director

 

Further to the above - a couple of photos from a few months ago (mid November) from the P&V done on B473; the first shows a front view of the cylinders, with the cylinder covers and valve chest cover removed, along with the pistons and valves. The second shows one of the newly machined replacement valves, alongside with the worn valve it replaced. As reported above, the loco is now back in traffic ready for the new season.



Tom

 

As the old valves will almost certainly have worn to a curved face along with the port faces, they would need machining to match the new flat valves. Does the Bluebell have a port facing machine or was it done by hand? Just interested!

 

I only took the pictures! (and helped getting the cylinder and valve chest covers off in the first place). I'll ask next time I am there, as I didn't see it done. I suspect we must have some kind of machine to do it in situ, as such work has been far from uncommon over the years.

Tom

 

I refitted those covers a few years ago when Birch Grove was being painted black and had a P&V, putting the footplating back on was one of the most uncomfortable things I've ever had to do! Seem to remember being underneath the engine having to lean over backwards to hold a nut in a little void next to the bufferbeam... Not sure who the LBSC had as fitters, but assuming they were recruiting from the local circus for contortionists!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

One thing I've noticed is that since Giants of Steam 73082 hasn't been carrying her nameplates. Is the loco going to run nameless for this ticket or is there a rededication ceremony where the nameplates will be reattached.

 

I can't find the reference now, but I think the plan is that she will run without nameplates for about a year or so, reproducing how she looked when first built, and then subsequently they will be refitted, presumably with a formal renaming ceremony.

Tom

 

Thanks Tom. I have good memories of 73082 as my Grandad knew one of the drivers who allowed us on the footplate (my first footplate ride) for the run round at Kingscote in the early 00's. I believe we did it again but with 92240 on that occasion.

 

Latest update from the Standard 2 project - newsletter number 20:

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/loco_news/oh_84030.html

Tom

 

I visited the Bluebell for the first time in nearly 3 years today for my 21st birthday with Mum and Dad, and we all had a fantastic time - thanks to everyone there for the very warm welcome that we received. It was very much appreciated, especially on such a grey and damp day.

I haven't had time to look at the video yet, but here's a teaser... 73082 bursting out of Sharpthorne tunnel with the 11:00 to East Grinstead.



Can it come and visit the Mid Hants please?!

James

 

And my video from Sunday. The climb to Imberhorne (the last shot of the film) is well worth watching/listening to, even if I say so myself...!

James

 

Had my first trip over the extension on Sunday, I asked the guard (won't tell you which train) how much busier the railway was with E.G. open, he said that they were carrying 1 million passengers a year now. Hope he doesn't tell an H.M.R.S. employee that!

 

Oops!

Tom

 

You haven't sent the other one back yet

Tom

 

Can we keep 'the other one' as well?

James

 

Morning James, have you had anymore news on Southern Class 21c123(Blackmoor Vale), the last time we spoke was about November.
Thanks Will.

 

There is an appeal currently running to purchase a complete new inner firebox which I think is the main current focus for the Bulleid Society. See http://www.bulleidsociety.org/21C123/21C123_Firebox_Appeal.html Some components of the inner firebox have already been acquired, for example the thermic syphons.

Tom

 

Just wondering what the news is regarding 34059. I can't find recent updates on the Bulleid society site. Lovely loco!

 

Try reading the post at the top of this page....

 

Whoops, I missed this.... "Our off-site repair of boilers continues, albeit at a slow pace, with 80% of No. 34059's inner firebox removed, the barrel extension removed, and new platework to the outer firebox welded in. The new inner firebox material has been delivered."
I wonder whether that means a return to service the year?