MHR Restorations and Overhauls

Actually something is already happening on that front as Chris le Corney and I had an E-Mail from a friend in preservation "oop north" offering us two items on a medium to long term loan:

Watch this space.

Kind regards
Chris:

 

Excellent news! (in time for the Autumn Gala?)

 

Erm not sure as they require a little tidying up at the very least in the first instance.

Regards
Chris:

Duty Driud, it you want to see what they are and all the info , please give me a ring on one of the two numbers I have at the bottom right of the wagon page in M H news, tell me your E-Mail address, and I will forward them to you.

CW:

 

Chris - PM sent

 

I for one wouldnt care, after all farm vehicles etc are never going to be spotless are they! :lol:

 

Ah , you received my E-Mail then OK?

Kind regards
Chris:

 

Just discovered this time-lapse video of the removal of the footbridge from Kings Cross!

http://vimeo.com/2813129

Depending on positioning, it will make an easy route between the engine shed area and the miniature railway/picnic area if it extends to the top of the embankment.

 

Not until after I posted!

 

Latest issue of The Railway Magazine (out tommorrow) has a report on the progress on 925 Cheltenham and says that she will be in service on the MHR in March/April next year. I knew they were getting on well with her but thats impressive stuff from the team working on her if she does come out by then.

 

As far as I can see from the Blogs, it's mostly "paintbrush restoration" so no reasonn why it shouldn't be quick; before anyone jumps in, there's nothing wrong with paintbrush restoration if that is all that is necessary!

 

I certainly agree.......... as the old saying goes DON'T FIX SOMETHING THAT IS NOT BROKEN..............

 

This is a pic I took of Cheltenham last week when I visited .They certainley are a busy bunch there wonderful workshops and a great line to visit

 

I don't think the tyre re-profiling, axlebox white metalling, hornguide/motion/ crankpin measuring and setting up, new piston/valve rings etc. were carried out with a paint brush!:becky:

Seriously though, they have a good bunch of people working there all focused on the goal with no distractions. A well laid out plan of works with the expertise of some ex BR steam fitters and the facilities of Eastleigh on site and of Ropley not far away. I'm not surprised that it is coming along quickly although I am surprised by the estimate of next spring.

 

to call the restoration of 925 a painbrush restoration is being a bit harsh, i for one dont think that the NRM would call it that, what you have here is an engine thats been kept in good condition since withdrawal and was given an overhaul not long before it was withdrawn,and to boot given a lot of new or reconditioned parts when it was prepared to be put into york so it has largely been a clean it off measure it up , its within clearances , put it back together job but its being done right first time and properly , of course it helps having ropleys boiler workshops nearby and experienced staff who know how things need to be done and proper project management.

engines dont just get rebuilt by them selves , it takes someone ensuring that the fund raising takes place, that parts that need attension are sent to the best place at the best price and that the progress is organised so that what might seem a very fast job only seems that because the planning worked how it was suppossed to with no long hold ups Ropley isnt any different than any other railway workshop , they dont have any secret ingredient , only a very good work force but they do seem able to turn out an engine every 2 years or so

 

925 actually. I doubt very much that Cheltenham received parts off other locos prior to being preserved. The MHR team are giving it, what could be described as a thorough overhaul.

 

from what i have read, she was given an light overhaul and repaint just prior to being preserved and eastleigh put quite a few new and overhauled parts on during this as they were clearing out the stocks of spares that they held at the time obviously this didnt include the boiler though , ive ammended the number, silly me

 

She steamed in 1980 at Rainhill but not sure if they did light work on her or was steamed in the condition that Martin says above.

Hopefully I can get to see her in steam as I last saw her at the NRM in 1998.

 

I can understand whatv 61624 means by a paintbrush restoration. Eastleigh will predictably be doing a thoroug job but the loco had what was effectively a light overhaul back in the 60's and hasn't effectively turned a wheel since (Rainhill excluded). Locos don't wear out nor deteriorate significantly when kept undercover, for the most part, in ideal conditions. The overhaul is largely going to be one of strip, clean, examine, measure and put back, if all OK, which much of it will be. I'd be surprised to hear that the boiler work was significant. Early Barry restorations were much like this, once you had obtained any missing parts.

 

Deleted

 

34058 "Sir Frederick Pile" has arrived at Alresoford following recovery from the AVR another bullied for the railway!

Regards
Connor