No 246 Morayshire

Continuing the theme of good news coming out of Bo'ness this week after our award of an additional £234k from the NHLF for our Steaming Ahead project, very happy to say that work has recommenced on 'Morayshire'!

"After a long hiatus work has recommenced on the overhaul of unique Gresley D49 'Morayshire'. Initial work is focused on getting the boiler to the stage of a hydraulic test early next year. To this end the Boiler Inspector has required that the new flue tubes are replaced and that remedial work is undertaken to the sling stays. The boiler was moved into the works of Locomotive Maintenance Services Ltd this week where, as the photo shows, steady progress is now being made.

This work is only possible thanks to the continued generosity of our supporters. If you would like to see Morayshire back in action, please consider making a donation towards the overhaul fund: www.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/246Morayshire"

Photos courtesy of Locomotive Maintenance Services Ltd.

 

I read this as meaning that the new flue tubes are to be replaced as in "put back into the boiler", not replaced as in "they aren't useable and need complete replacement again". I hope the first of these statements is the applicable one. Hopefully the work required on the sling stays isn't extensive or hideously costly either.

Richard.

 

Hi Richard, unfortunately the flue tubes were damaged when they were expanded (a sharp ridge was left on the inside of the bottle ends) and subsequently failed the independent boiler inspector's examination so they require complete replacement with a new set.

Andrew

 

Bugger. Sorry to hear that. It's nice to hear that work has re-started though, and that progress is being made. One day I'll hopefully catch up with Morayshire, it's a loco I've never seen but would love to!

Richard.

 

Cracking machine, I made a point about 10 years ago on the way to Loughborough with my Dad ‘We ain’t going home until we’ve got Morayshire in!’

 

This seems to bear on the dispute upthread about the work done elsewhere (which I won't name)? Sorry to hear the news.

Noel

 

From SRPS Steam Group Facebook page.

 

Ouch! That looks nasty. I sincerely hope that if a third party did this, they are the ones who will be paying for the replacement flues.

Richard.

 

Ideally they would, but if they're broke … …

 

Isn't that what your Company insurance should be paying out on?

 

Further rectification works now rapidly progressing at Locomotive Maintenance Services Ltd (who kindly supplied the photographs too). The replacement section of the outer wrapper has been replaced again and awaits tapping of new stays.

The bogie axle boxes have also been retrieved from Loughborough and are on their way to Aviemore where our friends at the Strathspey Railway will refurbish them. Once repaired, these will return south to allow the locomotive to be reassembled as a 'rolling chassis' to come home into our new workshop at Bo'ness for finishing.

We've been able to continue with the repairs to Morayshire thanks to the generous support of many - nearly £30k raised since last summer - and if anyone would like to contribute you can do so here: www.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/246Morayshire

 

Further progress on Morayshire at both Locomotive Maintenance Services Ltd and Bo'ness. Work on the boiler nears completion and its hoped that Morayshire's rolling chassis will be delivered to Bo'ness towards the end of the year. The locomotive will then enter the new shed for final reassembly! Images show new firebox skirt being prepared for tapping and an assortment of valves after refurbishment, including snifter valveand cylinder relief valves.

Home straight is in sight but £25,000 is needed to finish the job: you can make a donation online at: www.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/246Morayshire

 

Thread has gone quiet.

Anyone know if there has been further progress? Has the locomotive returned to Scotland or is it still in the Midlands?

 

The locomotive remains in store in the Midlands whilst overhaul of Tornado is finished at Locomotive Maintenance Services, tender is being worked on at Bo’ness. Announcement expected at some point in January on the next steps!

 

Posted within ‘Blastpipe’ today so can now share more widely some fantastic news!


£144,000 Grant to Finish D49 Overhual!

We are happy to announce that in January 2023 we were awarded £144,290.00, which means that we can successfully finish the overhaul of D49 ‘Morayshire’ and see her back running on the B&KR.

At the end of 2022, we submitted an application to the National Heritage Memorial Fund Covid19 Response Fund to help us finish the overhaul of ‘Morayshire’. The funding was awarded due to Morayshire’s importance as an item of national importance and to ensure its continued running as an operational locomotive.

Work will soon start on completing Morayshire’s overhaul once the funding paperwork has been completed. The overhaul will be a mixture of contractor work off site and volunteer work based at Bo’ness. We have been lucky that the funding award will cover the cost
of outsourcing sections of the work, while we undertake other elements in the Engineering Workshop. The timescale for turnaround for the overhaul is 12 months, which means that we will see Morayshire back running on the B&KR in 2024. After a year based at the B&KR we will be looking at hiring the locomotive out to other railways to meet the access requirements of the grant, but do not fear we will still see her at Bo’ness throughout this time.

The NHMF grant covers about 88% of the total costs, with the SRPS contributing volunteer labour to the project. This leaves a shortfall of £20,000 that we hope to raise through generous donations. We hope that people will be willing to help us raise this final amount now that we have managed to secure the majority of funding for the locomotive.

 

Any news- ruours of progress? NYMR visit one day?
I'm really interested which locs the old boiler ran in sure its in a Yeadons I read one... Anyone have the details?
Many possible thanks in anticipation

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14J5EiK5bi/

Loco frames on the move but doesn't say where to.

 

Back to Bo’ness.

The boiler remains at David Wright’s works where it is being finished but through mutual agreement it has been decided the quickest way to get the locomotive into service is for the SRPS to finish & reassemble the bottom end given David’s current workload.

Rough target, as in understand it, is for completion in summer 2026.

 

Progressing nicely alongside the overhaul of the D49 is a LNER train to go with her, something of a 30 year long project! Fortunately the support of a benefactor allows us to have 3 sets of Gresley bogies overhauled by a contractor, the first of which returned to Bo’ness yesterday.

• Thompson TTO No. 13803, built 1946, steel panelled in scumbled teak. Overhauled bogies returned to Bo’ness this week to allow this vehicle to return to service this spring.
• Gresley TK No. 10021, built 1924. Full body rebuild and interior reconstruction completed in 2023, awaiting bogie overhaul, expected to enter service 2025.
• Gresley RB No. 644, built 1937. Full body rebuild and interior reconstruction completed in 2013, awaiting bogie overhaul, expected to re-enter service 2025.
• Gresley BTK No. 62515, built 1924. Undergoing full restoration to varnished teak, project started 2024 and hoped to be finished in 2-3 years.

 

Wonderful, TTO is a new one on me ... Something open 3rd ?