34039 Boscastle WC class

I seem to recall mention of a fabricated (welded) version of the BFB wheels. Any info on those, please?

 

I've read that before, one of the MNs may have had them for a while, but can't recall which.

 

21C18 (as she then was) had the fabricated wheels as built. I've never actually seen it recorded what happened to them, but I don't believe they lasted until rebuilding. One might imagine that a welded BFB wheel could have been prone to cracking.

 

On Boscastle, work has continued with fitting out the front end of the tender and starting to install the braking system.

 

There has been another update for Boscastle shareholders, which details more of the work done on the tender braking system. It is good to see that they are now getting regular information.
Most of which later becomes available to view on the Boscastle website.

 

There is another opportunity to see the progress on Boscastle (- and the other locomotives in the shed) next weekend May 14/15th, as guided visits around the shed are running. See the Boscastle Website for more information, or listen to the station announcements over the weekend.

 

It was good to see Boscastle in the shed and it had been moved forward about 30 feet together with its tender, so that the contractors could work on the end of the shed. However the Shed Tours are now in abeyance until the shed work is completed.
Work on the boiler has paused as Tornado is the priority at present.

 

There has been more progress with Boscastle's tender with lots of pipework ready to be fitted underneath.....


It was good to see the tender close to the cab again.

 

The Boscastle website has had another update with new pictures showing further work on the tender and other parts. Steady progress towards completion!

 

From GCR Facebook page...

THEFT - URGENT APPEAL -

On the evening of 1st July we had a break in and a number of components STOLEN from storage for 34039 Boscastle, this has included a number of important components including safety valves, pins, motion, expansion links, bushes, brake components and pipe work. A full inventory has not yet been completed but it is expected that over £30K to £50k of components have now been taken and believed to be destined for scrap.

If anyone knows any scrap merchants or dealers please let them know and get them to contact us if they get offered any components like this! A reward can be offered if items can be found and returned! We would rather have the items back than any other outcomes!

Please share far and wide!

 

Absolutely gutted by this news..... The restoration team must be devastated - as are, I'm sure, all the supporters of Boscastle and the GCR.

 

Absolutely disgraceful. I hope the missing parts return, although the number of unscrupulous people in this land seems to rise exponentially every day.

Richard.

 

Very much doubt if you'll ever see any of it again. When the LNERCA was robbed at Pickering just after the new sale of scrap regulations came in we were told that most of the more valuable metals like brass or bronze end up directly exported in containers and never see a scrap merchant.

 

Here is the press release together with pictures of some of the stolen parts:-

 

There is an update about the missing parts, on the Boscastle website. Over 80 parts have been stolen.

 

Whilst the team are still recovering from the recent theft, it has been very appreciative of the many messages of support and the various offers of help in different ways. It really shows how the sector "pulls together".
Thank You All.
We are determined that Boscastle will return to steam!

 

Boscastle is all covered over whilst the shed roof is being worked on. Sadly there has been no sign of the stolen parts being recovered and the team are looking to see how to replace them. Obviously the expansion link is proving very difficult to source.

 

Surely the stolen parts are covered on the railways insurance and so can be replaced without having to raise any funds?

 

When did an insurance company pay out the full value of a stolen item? They like taking the premiums, but hate paying out!

 

Whilst it is hoped that there is insurance cover (Still being clarified I believe) the real problem is actually having some parts made from scratch. Also funds are still needed to finish off the boiler and reassembly of the locomotive.