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Bluebell Motive Power

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by Orion, Nov 14, 2011.

  1. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    It's been a fairly substantial mechanical overhaul - all the motion down, loco off its wheels etc. The following was the loco report I put in the last BN (but it got gazumped due to a mix up in who was reporting what!) That was late November; there'll be another update in the next Bluebell Times out next week:

    Since the last full report on ‘Sir Archie’, considerable progress has been made, and at the time of writing (late November) the chassis is now all but complete. The following work has been completed:
    • The inside valve gear has been reassembled. The middle connecting rod is in place, fitted with a new big end bearing.
    • The pipe work between the frames is in place, including the steam brake supply, atomiser steam supply, the steam sanding gear pipework and draincock operating pipework. The lubrication pipework (running from the mechanical lubricators to the various oiling points) is all complete.
    • Under the cab, the steam supply pipework to the electric generator has been re-fitted. The generator itself – a distinctive part of the Bulleid sound – is being refurbished. It is intended to use the AWS battery box under the smokebox door to house batteries which can be recharged by the generator, meaning that crews preparing the loco on dark mornings will have a source of lighting even when the loco is not in steam. The loco will have bulbs for the six headcode positions front and rear, a light on the tender to assist coupling, a light under the cab for the injector overflows, gauge glass lights and a light to show the reverser cut off. Investigation of suitable modern bulbs is under way.
    • The threads on the front cylinder covers for the pressure relief valves have been re-cut, and the valves have been fitted.
    • New die blocks for the valve gear have been made off-site and are undergoing final machining. There is a subtle curve on both faces to match the curve of the expansion link in the valve gear.
    • The mechanical parts of the brake gear – i.e. the brake hangers, pull rods etc. – have been refitted to the locomotive. The steam brake cylinder has been overhauled with new piston rings.
    • The flat parts of the running plate over the bogie and over the driving wheels have been refitted.
    • The coupling rods and outside connecting rods are being refurbished.
    On the boiler, the boiler stays are all fitted. The next step is to roll the boiler over from its side and fit the tubes and flues.
    It has progressed some more since then.

    Tom
     
  2. JMJR1000

    JMJR1000 Member

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    Seems a bit odd to me that Sir Archie needed such a extensive mechanical overhaul, seeing as when restored it only ran for just about 2 to 3 years between restoration and withdrawal due to issues with it's boiler, which I knew a lot of work has had to be put into it. But why so much work on the rolling chassis? Was the initial first restoration of the locomotive not viewed to be adequate in general when the Boiler with being worked on after withdrawal?

    Glad it's getting addressed all the same mind you, certainly once complete Sir Archibald Sinclair should be in fine fettle and of great use to the Bluebell Railway for many years to come. Certainly would be great to see it running alongside Blackmoor Vale too in the future, which I know that's a big aspiration for many.
     
  3. Paul Grant

    Paul Grant Well-Known Member

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    No point in sending it out with part used mechanics when it's going to need attention paid relatively soon to the boiler ticket. Just start fresh and zero (as far as possible on a steam locomotive) everything.
     
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  4. ruddingtonrsh56

    ruddingtonrsh56 Member

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    TBF isn't part of the reason the S15 saw more limited use in the second half of its boiler ticket because other mechanical components weren't 100% renewed at the last overhaul and had less use left in them than the boiler did?
     
  5. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    It's never an easy decision. For example, the S15 has basically been stopped due to tyre wear - but it did run over 50,000 miles on this ticket. If you had elected to change the tyres at the last overhaul, you would have thrown away 50,000 miles of useful life of a very expensive component. My feeling is that not changing them then was the right decision, but means the loco has been stopped a year or two early. One of the things I have tried over and over to explain in Bluebell News reports is that mileage is important, and a "ten yearly" is no such thing ...

    Tom
     
  6. alexl102

    alexl102 Member

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    May I ask - is Manning Wardle Works no. 641 Sharpthorn still on the Bluebell Railway, and what does the future look like for it? Is there any prospect at all of it ever running again?
     
  7. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Still at the Bluebell. My personal view is that it is very unlikely to get returned to steam; however there is interest in a cosmetic overhaul and better display.

    Tom
     
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  8. JMJR1000

    JMJR1000 Member

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    From what I understand because of it's age it's consider well worn out and fragile, so would take a LOT of work to restore it to steam, and even then there's the problem of what use the Bluebell could find for it. It's having a hard enough time as it is having use for it's other more prolific smaller engines, with the only notable exceptions being Fenchurch and P Class No.27.

    Fenchurch had a lot of work done on it last time, so I'm guessing it's considered the least arduous of the smaller engines to return to service.

    No.27 has the Villas Gang working on it, having taken it on as special project that the railway itself otherwise wouldn't have time and money to do on it's own, just as they did with Fenchurch before it.
     
  9. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    New cylinders and an all-but-new boiler going into Fenchurch, so its not a small job. (178 would have been easier). No. 72 has significant historical reasons for needing to be done now.

    Tom
     
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  10. JMJR1000

    JMJR1000 Member

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    Oh I wasn't aware it needed new cylinders and so much work doing on the boiler, though as you say with this year being the big 150th anniversary for Terriers, makes full sense why they would prioritize it. Possibly to be painted into improved green livery from what I understand too, which will be great to see on Fenchurch seeing as right now it's the only one that can as close as possible authentically wear it, correct? As it was converted as close as possible to original A1 spec.

    Is it still looking hopeful it'll be completed in good time to participate in whatever celebrations are planned this year Tom?
     
  11. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    They'll be a brief update (and some other loco news) in tomorrow's Bluebell Times. On timescales: it feels to me that there is a lot of work to do, but OTOH, the railway has published a Terrier event for 29 - 31 July.

    Tom
     
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  12. JMJR1000

    JMJR1000 Member

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    Ah well can only hope for the best that they can finish before then, an event I'm assuming the Bluebell plans/hopes on bringing in a good few other Terriers to join Fenchurch, perhaps to rival the last time they hosted a big Terrier celebration event some years ago.
     
  13. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Being a tad smaller than an A4 (let alone two A4s), do Terriers fit in W12 containers? :Hungry:
     
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  14. Dunfanaghy Road

    Dunfanaghy Road Well-Known Member

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    I think what you need, assuming that I've understood correctly ;), is a Mafi carried on a Roll-on Roll-off ship.!
    Pat
     
  15. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    From the latest issue of The Bluebell Times:

    Bluebell Railway Trust Acquires No. 65

    O1 Class No. 65, built in 1896, is the last surviving South Eastern Railway locomotive, rebuilt by the SECR in 1908. It has been owned by the Lewis-Evans family since it was bought from British Railways in 1963. After a chequered early history in preservation, it was brought to the Bluebell in 1997, although continued to be owned by the same family.

    At the end of last year, we were advised that the family wanted to sell the locomotive. Although the Bluebell Railway was the family’s preferred buyer, there were several other potential purchasers who would have been very keen to acquire it.

    We are pleased to announce that The Bluebell Railway Trust, the charity that supports the Railway, has been able to buy the O1 and to secure it for the Railway. The Trust now owns three SECR locomotives - the C class No. 592, the H class No. 263 and now the O1 class No. 65. Each of these locomotives is ideal for our operations and, when coupled with our stock of vintage carriages, they present a wonderful sight not only for our visitors, but they are also in high demand for filming.

    The precise details and terms of the purchase have to remain confidential and therefore we can only reveal that the amount paid was substantial and reflects the historic nature of the engine and its value to the Railway.

    A detailed article about the very interesting history of the O1 together with information on how people can contribute to the cost of the locomotive will appear in the February edition of The Bluebell Times.
    See https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/issue-29.pdf - also updates on the overhauls of No. 72 and 34059, and maintenance on No. 30541.

    Tom
     
  16. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    Excellent news, always struck me as a reliable performer so good to know her future at the line is secure.

    Going back to Sharpthorn, always struck me she was an obvious candidate for SteamWorks?
     
  17. alexl102

    alexl102 Member

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    Thanks for the update on Sharpthorn. Hope it can find some love one day. I love Industrials but appreciate there isn't a huge amount of work for them.
     
  18. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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  19. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    That's some list of boilerwork! The photo of the wheelsets, immediately below boiler-less Fenchurch, prompts a question. I recall serious wheel issues (if memory serves) at the time of the loco's centenary. How were those resolved? Are the present wheelsets one, or one and a half century old?
     
  20. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    I believe the leading wheel set is new (replaced in the late 1990s) and the other two sets are original (i.e. 1872).

    Tom
     
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