The Foxfield Steam Gala, 17/18th July 2010.

Re: Amstel? Wouldn't put it in Wimblebury's boiler let alone drink the stuff!

Or failing that, is Salmon a runner these days?

 

Re: Amstel? Wouldn't put it in Wimblebury's boiler let alone drink the stuff!

Don't ask that question..... Looks good to me....

 

Re: Amstel? Wouldn't put it in Wimblebury's boiler let alone drink the stuff!

Dubs boiler now finished, 240 PSI reached yesterday. A few leaks to cure over the Easter Hols and then we can ask the inspector to take a look. Work now underway again at Statfold on the cracked cylinder, new ash pan to measure up next week.

I am looking at having the new side rod bearings and rods machined off site over the next few weeks. All good stuff !. Still hope to make the party.

 

Rumour abounds that the Peacock will be back in one piece for the gala and Bagnall 2842 'Croydon No.2's boiler was returned to the frames recently following a successful out of frames steam test. The race to be first past the post in the 4 wheeler race hots up!

 

Good to see the Heath having attention yesterday. Inspector is going to be booked in the next two weeks for hydraulic tests for 4101 & 3694. 3694 was the subject of a time team "dig", after extensive investigation the green motion turned out to be red !.

Two 16t Minerals at CR at the moment, one almost finished restoration to a high std. Old Mr Heath needs to put that internal user yellow stripe back on however !.

On a serious note the remaining 17 "regular" wagons need a bit of TLC - it would be great if we could see something set up through this forum. Now that the sunshine is with us (?) it could be a good time to start a fresh project. We can cycle wagons through C/R one at a time - any offers ?. Gala rewards on offer for those who can help in advance - adopt a wagon scheme ? - random thoughts !.

 

I have conceded on the North Staffs Area internal user yellow stripe this time- Dan's done such a good job he might as well finish it to taste. The yellow stripe (as seenat Holditch etc) will return on another 16-tonner some time!

15 years now since the 'Windbreakers' (haven't used that term for a while) arrived and unfortunately some are deteriorating. By far the best are those which had the insides cleaned, platework descaled and drainage holes put into the floors- these simple steps stop most of the rot and keep the solebars/ framework dry. I understand paint can be provided if someone or a small group is prepared to go further....the long term future of a decent-sized coal train at Foxfield will probably be determined by events over the next 2-3 years.

Thanks to Avonside 1563 for getting the Heath over the pit yesterday- hoping the boiler can be lifted to prepare for inspection before long.

Good to see the team beavering away on 2842 too- lagging going on now.

 

Wagon looking good - with white stripe !.

Boilers for 4101 & 3694 with be presented to the inspector by the end of next week, you will need to ensure that no6 is ready for her lift Jon.

 

Both boilers passed today, out of frame steam tests due in around a week - onwards !.

 

Things have been very busy indeed, both boilers were steamed out of the frames over the b/h weekend. First steam raised on Dubs for a quarter of a century and Whiston for four years. A crane is booked for both boilers in around two weeks, will also be removing the Heath's at the same time. A new ashpan is being fabricated for Dubs and the rods have delivered to the CVR for off centre boring and machining of new bearing castings. Our painting department has covered Whiston in a coat of dust in revenge for the layers of Whiston's paint that now coat most of North Staffordshire.

Bagnall 2842 is not far off its first movement under power for 42 years - if we put out three "new" engines it will without doubt be our best gala to date.

By the end of the month I should have news regarding this years guest engine.

 

Thanks for the update. Exciting times ahead. Of course this means I'll have to come to your gala again!

Cheers,

Paul

 

How many engines? Hopefully the new ones, Meaford, Wimbers, Florence, the thinking man's filmstar and a guest? Plus possibly the BP? I think eight is the previous best I have seen at Foxfield - with a fair wind is there a chance of nine this year?

Looks like you will have run the trains a bit longer into the evening to give them all enough runs! One day we will get a freight in the path of the returning brakevans...just as the sun gets right!

 

I was trying to work out how many locos too. If Hunslet's Finest is right that looks like being a cracker... You'll have to get some of the bigger engines to take it in turn to hang on the back end of the minerals with their handbrake screwed down a few turns to get the acoustics right at this rate!

 

I was trying to work it out too...!.

The current fleet is :-

MEA 2, Florence No 2, Bellerophon, Wimblebury.

New engines in order of current status ( all boilers steamed ) Bagnall 0-4-0ST 2842, Whiston 0-6-0ST Hunslet 3964, Dubs, 4101 0-4-0CT "Dubsy". I think that the first two will make it, the last time will tell but it wont be for lack of trying.

Visitor TBA, as ever a bit special and selected with care, you will want to see the 18 wagons on each day. It will be a preservation first...

Beyer wont be back in time but we may reach eight loco's.

As I wrote in January, Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends.

 

Three proper Austerities??? That would be a preservation first and worth seeing on the bank! But only 7 or 8 engines....will be a cracker!

David I have PM'd you as I don't have your email to hand.

 

Pure speculation on your part !.

 

2842's tank was lowered into position this morning. This afternoon she moved under her own power, light engine up and down the yards several times. first time in 45 year I'm told!


Forget about the discovery of Whistons rods! It appears the majority of the engine has become a victim of the Volcanic dust cloud from Iceland!

 

Great news- look forward to photos!

 

Well this form does work well, I knew the steaming was close but it was a well kept secret !. Well done to the team, first steaming as a complete loco in preservation. Thats five to go at and counting...

The Volcanic dust will have to be removed...

 

'Volcanic dust' sounds like an ARISE award to me!

 

Whiston should be cleaned at the weekend following completion of the preparation of Dubs, I'm fairly certain the owner is with his "other" loco elsewhere this weekend, so his return next week should see a green Whiston again.


Has the Gala organiser considered making it a 3 day event to include the Friday? I don't know what would be required of the volunteers regarding availability to stage an extra day or whether its a good idea or not.

However many railways seem to be doing this now, partly to create extra hours for generating income and to give some people the opportunity to visit if the event clashes with the one weekend they are unavailable, Maybe the Friday could offer a lower fare which incorporates a reduced timetable/loco fleet. Some visitors may only want to see the odd train up the bank or just 1 loco and wouldn't visit at the weekend for the full experience otherwise, Maybe there could be a simply "turn up" night shoot for photographers on the Friday evening with the wagons or the locos on shed, Just an idea, I have no idea about the feasibility of it though.

Other railways have often announced last minute that extra days or even extra galas/events have been added that weren't in the years special events list.

What does anyone think?