Workshop Updates

Baldwin No.46699

The boiler cladding has been manufactured and shaped to fit. In order for this to take place the water tanks have had to be removed.

In early 2022 the locomotive will be taken apart, all the platework will be prepared for paint and the chassis will be put on tressles so work can continue with installing the wheels, which are ready, and the repair and fitting of the motion can continue.

We are looking forward to restarting this project to get it completed sometime during summer 2022.

Carriage Project

Work has begun on the final assembly of the interior of Carriage 11 with the many hand crafted detail parts having been lacquered to bring out a deep shine and emphasise the grain of the wood. With work on Carriage 11 approaching completion in the paintshop, Carriage 12 has entered the works and stripping has begun to prepare the carriage for the same high quality upgrade treatment.

Loco No.8

Loco No.8 is currently in the workshop having some major maintenance work done to it.

The wheels have all been taken out from the frames and have had the tyres re-profiled. The axleboxes have all been overhauled ready to be refitted. The pony truck springs and worn parts have also been replaced.

The cylinders have had new piston heads manufactured, the piston rods have been ground and new piston rings have been fitted. The cylinder slidebars have all been machined and re-aligned before the crossheads (which have been white metaled) can be machined to match. A number of bearings on the valve gear have been replaced and the coupling and connecting rod brasses have been white metaled and machined ready to be fitted in the New Year as the chassis was stripped we have repainted the frames and buffer beam.

All the usual annual servicing work has been done and No.8 should be back in service for the beginning of next season.

Other Projects

The Carriage Bogie overhaul programme has continued with the last push to complete the overhaul and upgrade project with modified suspension to improve ride quality and modifications to ease maintenance, there are four currently in the workshop with one pair receiving brand new axles and wheels, by the end of Januray we will start on the final 6 bogies planning to complete the project by the end of February, the first modified pair were trialled during 2011.

Locos 7, 8, 60 & Margaret have all received cold boiler exams and all have passed, and are ready for steam testing in February.

Margaret entered the workshop to have a few details completed which were outstanding from the restoration, these included manufacture and fitting of an original pattern toolbox, manufacture and fitting of a copy of an original folding driver’s seat, fabrication and fitting of a rear lamp bracket and fitting of an original safety valve bonnet.