SVR Loco Newsy News / discussions

This is unfortunately "chickens coming home to roost" on the SVR motive power-wise. Still, should add a little variety with hired-in engines when the main season starts. Assuming there are locomotives available for hire this year.

 

How do you mean? I've not paid too much attention to the SVR until I moved south.

 

Now there's a statement that requires amplification.

 

We dont overhaul enough engines in a given timeframe to maintain the fleet at the right size. Have a look at your back issues of SVR News and the warnings by various scribes in the Loco Notes.
Here's a quote from a couple of years ago: ... "But this year and for the next few seasons it is going to become progressively more difficult (in the main operating season) due to loco availability".... "To understand in part the looming shortage of motive power you have to look back nine or ten years to the time when we suffered the "water/coal" problem." ...etc.

I am a loyal SVR member of many years, and indeed hope we can continue to provide a mainly steam operated service.

 

And to further amplify, the railway has several engines under overhaul (2857, 1501, 7714, 813, 34027, 6634 and 4150). While not putting deadlines on any of them, some are reasonably advanced and 2012 (hopefully!) should look healthier than 2011.

It could also be added that a series of unfortunate events has diverted resource and delayed progress on some of these engines; 43106 suffering the derailment at Hampton Loade and then damaging a piston a year later as just two examples.

Patrick

 

4150 is being restored from Barry condition by the owning group - not by the SVR. 2857 is only progressing due to the efforts of the owning group - not the SVR

 

I see from a post on another forum that material is awaited at Bridgnorth to make a new piston rod for 43106, which when received will presumably require machining etc. If it has taken three months and still this material is outstanding, then it underlines how difficult it is to immediately source the correct steel for a job nowadays. UK, South Africa, China, who knows?

 

I assume that the blank for the piston rod has to be forged from a billet before machining. This will probably be done in an area within 30 miles of Bridgnorth.

 

I never knew piston rods were forged! Well, you learn something every day......

 

Don't think they are, when we replaced the piston rods on our Fowler roller we made the new ones from stainless steel, expensive yes, but it saves the problems of water retained behind the packings causing rusting.

This totally stopped blown glands due to rust on the rods.

Cheers Dave

 

Thanks Michael. I meant the 'railway' in its broadest sense!

Isn't some of the work on 2857 being undertaken by SVR staff? SVR News seems to suggest some involvement. Certainly the boiler and much (most?) other work has been undertaken by the group.

Patrick

 

34027 is being overhauled at the owner's expense.

 

Quick updates:

7812 - Collett 'Erlestoke Manor', Ex GWR... suffered a flue tube problem on the West Somerset Railway (see above). She was due to move straight to The Llangollen Railway’s Spring Steam Gala from 8 to 10 April, but they have reported she will not be attending due to mechanical difficulties.

46443 - Ivatt Class 2, LMS-design... She needed some repairs following her winter trip to the East Lancs, but was soon repaired and is now “spare”

82045 – Standard Class 3, BR-design... As reported on another thread the latest news update on 82045 is now available on their website http://www.82045.org.uk/news/82045_news-mar11.html. More recent work saw the drilling and fitting of a number of the various brackets to support running plates and mechanical lubricator etc. along with some of the horn-ties now they all have been spot-faced. Reports have been received that welding of the large complex fabricated smokebox saddle nears completion. Once machining is complete it will be delivered to Bridgnorth for fitting along with the front pony-truck bearing "sub-frame". The Trust is awaiting a quotation from an external contractor for the machining of the firebox support bracket. Regrettably, the horizontal boring machine at Bridgnorth which could have been used by the volunteer team to carry out this job is unavailable. SVRA forum http://forum.svra.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=27705#27705

Patrick

 

Diesel running days now up on SVR Forum, should be of interest.



"On the Severn Valley Railway the diesels operate one diagram each on each of the following dates:

May
14th Class 20
20th Classes 20,42,50,52
21st Classes 20,42,50,52
22nd Classes 20,42,50,52
28th Class 37
June
4th Class 42
11th Class 52
18th Class 50
July
9th Class 37
16th Class 50
23rd Class 52
30th Class 20
August
6th Class 50
13th Class 37
20th Class 42
27th Class 20
28th Class 37
29th Class 50
September
3rd Class 37
10th Class 52
17th Class 42

The timetable on these dates is either table C or D. This means that the diesel turn departs Kidderminster at 09.50 and 13.20, and Bridgnorth at 11.45 and 15.30.

All quoted locos are subject to availability on the day, and please note that locos may be swapped at short notice. For up to date information, please contact the SVR directly.

All per the Fifty Fund "

_________________

 

The fact remains that 2857 would not be anywhere near returning to service if the owning group had not put in so much effort into progressing the overhaul.

 

If I could be pedantic here, the 2857 group ARE SVR staff, just volenteer staff. May at face value seem like splitting hairs, however, there are one or two people who see the paid staff as being entirely seperate to the volenteers, although I'm sure the SVR is not unique in this

 

43106 - Ivatt Class 4, LMS-design... continues her repair of left hand piston and cover replacement following damage in December. The new forging for the replacement piston has arrived and is in the process of being machined (SVRA unofficial forum 14 April).

7802 and 7812 - Erlestoke Manor Fund’s April Newsletter is online with much exciting news and well worth a look. http://www.erlestokemanorfund.co.uk/PDFs/EMF-Newsletter-54.pdf

The Fund continue to help the 4150 group. “Several of the EMF team have also continued to help the 4150 Group with construction of their prairie tank’s new bunker which is now taking recognisable shape near the goods shed at Bewdley. Developing confidence in this work has started to focus attention towards the next objective on that loco namely constructing the side tanks later this year”.

7802, which failed in February, now awaits either an early overhaul or space in The Engine House.

The new tender is on hold while this decision is made.

7812, which suffered a flue tube problem on the West Somerset Railway - new flue now fitted, superheater header & steel steam pipes back in today; copper ones tommorrow follwed by superheater elements. Coupling & con rods remetalled & being machined now. An Easter return remains possible but it will be a tight run thing! Per SVRA online.

(All as reported)

Cheers

Patrick

 

7812 expected to be fit for traffic 21 April (per SVR website)

42968 had a leaking regulator gland on 17 April and was taken out of service and swapped with 46443 - a minor problem but put right quickly before it became major. It was back in service today. SVRA forum

Patrick

 

Sharp Stewart 4085 (1895) 'Dunrobin'... SVR Contract Engineering at Bridgnorth is currently concluding arrangements with Beamish Museum to undertake the preliminary survey on the locomotive 'Dunrobin' on its return to the United Kingdom from its former home at Fort Steele in Canada. The locomotive is expected to arrive at the SVR direct from the docks at Liverpool, were on arrival at the SVR workshops at Bridgnorth, the loco will be stripped down to assess the requirements to return the 1895 built locomotive to steam.

http://www.svr-engineering.co.uk/news/news.html

Patrick