LMS Patriot Project Updates

I suppose pedantically "more modern" is true, but I have trouble applying it to what must be 90 year old technology even if a digital camera is added!

 

I received my copy of the latest "Warrior" this morning (issue 41) which will be an enjoyable read. There's an excellent double page photo of the original 45551 at Wigan North Western around 1960. Also congrats to Gav106 on his recent marriage!

 

Here is a picture from above taken a few days ago

 

And here is Nigel busy working while I was busy talking

 

Is this picture of 45551,s frames illustrating the good progress of the lubrication pipes been fitted so far?

 

The picture illustrates that a lot of things have been done beyond just the lubrication. IT also shows that things are being done properly and positive progress made.

 

Thanks nigel for putting me right about about the recent progress on the pics of the pats frames work has had done is the sanders somethings else thats had work done besides the alingment of the cylinder and valve bores are lined up, And
and the lubrication pipes been clamped to the frames.

 

Those valve boars must have been a pig of a job.

Bob.

 

And I think you mean clamped, not crimped. At least, I hope you so...!

 

The valve bores will need a little work but it's all in hand. The cylinders are fine. The pipes are clamped with clips.

 

The May Engineering Up-date has been posted, here.

It looks like it was written a while back, and just posted recently, e.g.."It is the intention to lift the frames off the wheels within the Boiler Shop using hydraulic jacks. These are currently being sourced with a view to doing the lift before the end of May 2019."

Noel

 

Reading through the update, it struck me as odd that "The new supplier is Statfold Barn Engineering and arrangements were made to transport the motion parts to their premises at Tamworth, this took place at the beginning of March. Once there a visit was arranged to agree the details of the work to be carried out and envisaged timescales".

I would have thought that "the details of the work to be carried out and envisaged timescales" would have formed the basis of the spec that would have been discussed with potential vendors for this work before awarding the contract?

Also, regarding damage due lack of lubrication to the axle bearings, just how far has the chassis travelled I wonder?

 

The other thing that struck me was the number of moves. The loco was at Llangollen; moved to Crewe in 2018; moved internally within Crewe in April 2019; but that space is only agreed until July, after which (potentially) there may have to be another move. All those moves must be disruptive at least, and potentially also costly (certainly the move from Llangollen to Crewe, which must have involved lorry moves).

I was talking to the Project Manager of the Beachy Head project a few weeks ago and he made the point that the decision very early in the project to fund the construction of a purpose built building has been enormously beneficial and one of the keys to success, even though it meant a substantial expenditure early on when the temptation might have been to use the same amount of money to make a large tangible part of the loco. Since then, construction of the loco has been able to proceed without any disruption caused by needs to move around; and everything the project needs is kept securely under cover.

Tom

 

Don't forget it's been to Tyseley and the model railway show at the NEC as well. It's clocked up hundreds of miles already by low loader.

 

Has 45551 actually been slowly dragged by a diesel shunter up down crewe yard maybe to position other rolling stock and to make suitable working room in crewes boiler workshop and thus were the bearings lubricated by hand instead, i guess when 42765 tender was temporaly borrowed the frames of the loco would have to have been positioned somehow, And thus would the mechanical oil feeds work on the frames anyhow. I hope the motion and axlebox bearings can be rectified and machined properly this time round for autumn when the boiler gets united on the frames and all thats to pipe up then and the boiler cladding also.

 

https://www.lms-patriot.org.uk/news...unces-new-contractor-complete-unknown-warrior

 

Great stuff to hear that midland railway butterley west shed have been awarded the contract to complete 45551 now when is all the loco and its kit of parts due to be moved from crewes heritage centre boiler shop to swanwick yards?

 

They do seem to have faced a unique set and number of challenges.

 

Great News! I wondered if Riley's would get the contract, but the PRCLT have an excellent track-record of their own, especially on the operation & maintenance side of things.
I can't wait to see this locomotive completed and running!

Richard.