567 Victorian 4-4-0 New Build

I thought that the workshop is now open as the Main Line article mentions that a capstan lathe is being installed in a re-arranged position?

 

I got the impression that access was only allowed to sort the place out so that it complies with the ORR/H&S requirements to allow reopening, rather than actually do any "work" in there. No doubt some sort of official inspection will need to take place before the go-ahead is given for use again.
The Carriages Trust don't seem to have been allowed back in to work on Barnum 228 as yet, and I would imagine that they would be a group who will announce that fact once they can start work again.

 

At last - things are progressing:

As the Ruddington workshop is closed due to necessary updating per ORR H&S requirements etc, all work is being done outside... mid week work sessions are planned

Trailing Headstock trial fitted - this will enable Running Plate framework to be offered up
Bogie wheelsets painted
Work Party to 'dig out' tender prior to work - old tank will be removed in-situ
Slipper Blocks have had White Metal poured in - now awaiting machining (when Machine Shop reopens)

AGM Saturday 23 October

 

Thanks for the update. Is the AGM in-person this year or another Zoom affair?

 

Thanks LGa, good to see that things are, in fact, progressing.....but it would be nice to hear from the "official" 567, who are frustratingly silent with deferred and delayed newsletters. I believe it is a real, in person, AGM at Ruddington....perhaps......

 

Minimum 2 weeks formal notice to be given to Members for an AGM, I would have thought, so hopefully we will receive something by this Saturday.....

EDIT: And as if by magic, it appears in the e-mail Inbox within 15 minutes of posting this!!

 

A 567 Newsletter and AGM info...........The power of NP!

 

It was good to read, in the latest newsletter, that the number of 567 supporters is continuing to increase, with number 201 recently signed up. The AGM should be interesting and hopefully the rate of progress on this project will continue to accelerate as most of the restrictions have eased.

 

A piece about clearing/securing the tender last weekend has appeared on their FB page as well....

 

AGM / Supporters meeting at Ruddington tomorrow. It will be good to get more information about 567 progress and also hopefully a bit more about NHR matters.

 

Looking forward, I can't quite believe it's been two years since we were last able to visit in person.

 

Short update on their FB page about yesterdays meeting which should be viewable even if you dont "do" FB.... https://www.facebook.com/groups/GCR567Loco/
Plan is to accelerate the sourcing/construction process aiming for a completion date for the project in 2027 - ie 6 years time. Interesting to hear yesterday just how involved the various engineering calculations actually are on key mechanical components before you can even think about producing the items in question.

 

Ambitious.

 

The keynote of yesterday's AGM (at least the main message I took away from it) was that now that members of the project leadership team have stepped back from also being involved with the Railway, they can concentrate more on locomotive construction, and the pace of build will benefit from that.

 

Thanks Johann - however for some reason my system cannot access the FB page - it says I must log in and I am not on FB.
It is good to read that there is a completion date and that they are getting back into manufacture. Yes, it is ambitious, but the engine is basic and may, in many respects, be considered a big wheeled RSH industrial with a front bogie!

 

Would there be any merit in restoring the tender in the short term, as a relatively easy/cheapish big item that could be used with the frames to try to show progress and therefore boost income

 

That was the plan 18 months ago, but given the space constraints (+ storing components) at Ruddington (even without the other problems there during the last year), it was felt that going for the "rolling chassis" option would be the optimum way forward, as at least manufactured parts can be attached to that as they are produced.
They are still affected in a big way by the workshops there being totally off-limits for any work until the place is sorted. The NHR are concentrating on "getting trains running" (which doesn't sound likely until next year), and the workshop aspect is well down the list.
The tender may still get something done to it, but it needs to be stripped down to just the chassis, saving any useful parts from what is left of the body. Plans have been drawn up for the new tender tank body, so that could go ahead if sponsorship was forthcoming for it, but then it has to go somewhere for storage until the chassis is restored....

 

Despite a long silence, I am told that a newsletter will be coming out this month to supporters. Obviously there has been a huge upheaval at Ruddington with ORR/Covid/ change of GCR(N)/NHR board etc, which must have taken so much time and energy. However the situation is now more settled and so this project should now spring back into visible progress.

 

When I called in at Ruddington the Saturday before last to visit the Heritage Cafe and see if anything else had changed on site, I got the impression that the workshop must be back in use again, given the amount of black smoke eminating from a chimney in that general area....
There appeared to be people working in the main restoration building as well, wheres on previous visits they had only been working outside

 

Well the Newsletter has appeared and there has been some progress but so much time has been involved with the general Ruddington situation and trying to get the workshop back into operation, 567 has had to be on the "back foot" it appears.