NELPG P3/J27

Anyone able to say how the overhaul is coming on at Hopetown? Had a look at their website and no mention of her since there was some work done to her cylinder block last year.

Thanks in Advance

 

On the main NELPG page it says 'subject to appeal', I saw the boiler on a wagon outside at Hopetown last December and when I visited Darlington a couple of weeks ago it was in much the same position nearly nine months on. The magazine has a bit more cheerful progress information though;

"The wheelsets have now been transported to Locomotion at Shildon and will be
transported to Hopetown as soon as time permits; this was done as a part load to
save cost.
The new cylinder block is being prepared for fitting with the drain cocks being
trial fitted and the cladding sheet repaired as this is easier to do with the block
out.
The new cab sides continue to be worked on and a drawing has been prepared
for the new rear buffer beam. "

From http://www.nelpg.org.uk/images/simplelists/nelpg_news/270_august_2012.pdf

 

Reading NEPLG News the K1 2005 seems to have been the main project of late. Also the Q6 3395 & J72 69023 have to be kept in working order & in traffic. So 2392 seems to have been on the backburner lately IMHO it will be a few years before it steams again.

 

Thanks for the replies guys.

 

Mixed news on 2392 in the December NELPG News,first the new cylinder block has been trail fitted between the frames. It will now have a hydraulic test & be fitted permanently. The wheelsets are back at Hopetown & are being painted. Also work has started on the axleboxes etc.
On the other side of the coin the fundraising sub- committee has decided not to try again for a HLF grant for the boiler overhaul. There seems to be to many hoops to jump through, & a good chance of rejection at the end of it. The same people have previously got HLF grants for the Q6 & J72 so know what they are doing IMHO.
In other news the Group Archivist has been appointed as secretary after the previous one resigned because of ill health. He reports it is 40 years since he held this post.
No news on the appointent of a new Treasurer, after the previous long serving one also resigned this year because of ill health.

 

Cheers Maitland. Guessing this decision will more than likely mean it'll be a bit longer before we see 2392 steam again?

 

Hello lil Bear, Iam only an armchair member these days so what follows is MHO only. It will almost certainly delay the finishing of 2392, the HLF grant was for £1000,000. This is a lot of money to find from other sourses IMHO. Also the Q6 3395 is going to LNWR Crewe for firebox repairs which will cost nearly £50,000 & could cost up to £80,000.On the plus side if it is the higher figure it will get a full boiler overhaul & a new 10 year ticket. The J72 69023 is to get a retube at Hopetown costing £15,000 as part of its winter maintenance, so there is a lot of money being spend at the moment. Which is why I think 2392 will be at the back of the queue for abit longer.
PS The figures above came from NELPG news so I hope they are ok quote here if anyone is unhappy with them being on a public forum. The moderators are free to remore them thanks.

 

Thanks Maitland. Good to see NELPG have plenty of work on, and the ability to complete the repairs to the working fleet. Hopefully this stays the same for when 2392 comes around.

 

The latest NELPG News reports the new cylinder block has been fitted to the frames & work continues on the tender. A boiler inspection earlier this year showed that the boiler was in better condition then thought. So three contractors have been asked to tender for the boiler overhaul. It was this would be awarded by the end of the year, but has now been put back to early next year.
A plan has been drawn up that would see 2392 steam again by the end of 2015, if all goes to plan of course!
The big news of course is that a livery ballot form is included with this issue with the results in the next issue of NELPG News!

 

Ill be watching this topic with interest, one of my favourites and really looking forward to its return!

 

News in the February NELPG News that the contract to overhaul the boiler has been awarded. The contract will be split between LNWR Crewe who will do the firebox. While Adam Dalgleish will do the other work & test the boiler.
The plan is to rewheel the chassic by the end of this year & for the loco to steam by 2016.
The livery ballot was won by the BR livery with NER second so the loco will be in BR later livery when it is finished.