Tuesday, 18 May 2010
The K1 is back!
After cylinder repairs last week, NELPG's K1 2-6-0 No. 62005 was in steam today for trials at Shildon. If all is well, it will leave on Saturday for a week's running in on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway before heading for the summer season at Fort William. Here's the by now obligatory "coal drops" shot!
Monday, 17 May 2010
Major step forward for Smith Rodley
This afternoon, the restoration of the 5 ton capacity Smith Rodley steam crane in the Shildon workshops took a big step forward when Richard & Johnny fitted the jib for the first time. It's only on for a trial basis, whilst we measure up for new ropes, check alignment etc, but it does look good - as well as giving us an idea of the size of the completed item. Here, with the jib suspended from the gantry crane and the other end on the fork lift truck, Johnny helps to align the jib whilst Richard tweaks the other end.
Soon afterwards, all is lined up and the locating pins put in. Richard & Johnny take the strop off the end of the jib and rest the middle of it on some sleeper packing.
Long isn't it? Painting next...
Soon afterwards, all is lined up and the locating pins put in. Richard & Johnny take the strop off the end of the jib and rest the middle of it on some sleeper packing.
Long isn't it? Painting next...
Sunday, 16 May 2010
A Derbyshire Dalliance
Friday saw Helen Ashby & I heading for the Midland Railway at Butterley to discuss working together in the future. After a very productive meeting, we were given a comprehensive tour of the railway's Swanwick Junction site, including the vintage train in the museum where head of Carriage & Wagon, Simon Evans was pleased to show us the restored stock, including 3rd class coach number 78 of 1866, a superb restoration job.
Helen & I inspected Kirtley 2-4-0 158A, part of the National Collection, with a view to working with the MRT to draw up a Conservation Management Plan.
Pioneer 1500v dc electric loco "Electra" shares the display tracks with a selection of Midland, LMS and British Railways stock.
Indulging my industrial loco interest, it was nice to see this unique Markham of Chesterfield 0-4-0 saddle tank "Gladys".
Once part of the NRM collection, this LMS "porthole" brake was transferred to the MRT's ownership and it now resides in the museum at Swanwick.
Regular readers of this blog will know that I do like to see restored wagons too, and this Midland Railway crane runner is no exception, having been symapthetically restored, with much original material retained.
50 year old "Peak" diesel electric number D4 "Great Gable is housed in the museum whilst it celebrates its anniversary of outshopping from Derby works.
The pioneer Midland Railway Pullman carriage body "Midland" gave us much thought and discussion over its future stabilisation, conservation and display.
In the heritage carriage & wagon workshop, we were able to see this example of original Mindland Railway paintwork, which has informed recent restoration works.
Across the site is the shed of the Golden Valley Light Railway, wherein we saw this 1997 built 0-4-2 inverted saddle tank, based on a Bagnall design and constructed by Allen Civil, newly repainted and renamed.
As a member of the Ashover Light Railway Society, I have followed the story of the rescue of one of of the original carriage bodies and its move to Swanwick - here it is under sympathetic rebuild - much of the old material has been kept, including the boards which state "Ashover Light Railway" along the upper body.
There is something for everyone on the site, and in the Road Transport Gallery, I discovered this 1890s Aveling & Porter steam roller, not dissimilar to our own machine at home, so I took a few minutes to look at the differences, details and similarities.
If it's buses that float your boat, there are plenty too...this being a particularly nice one which took my eye.
The NRM are looking forward to a positive relationship with MRT - I for one look forward to going back to follow up progress and see how we can move forward in partnership. Our thanks as ever to the officers of the Trust who gave up a whole day to discuss, explain and show us their activities.
Helen & I inspected Kirtley 2-4-0 158A, part of the National Collection, with a view to working with the MRT to draw up a Conservation Management Plan.
Pioneer 1500v dc electric loco "Electra" shares the display tracks with a selection of Midland, LMS and British Railways stock.
Indulging my industrial loco interest, it was nice to see this unique Markham of Chesterfield 0-4-0 saddle tank "Gladys".
Once part of the NRM collection, this LMS "porthole" brake was transferred to the MRT's ownership and it now resides in the museum at Swanwick.
Regular readers of this blog will know that I do like to see restored wagons too, and this Midland Railway crane runner is no exception, having been symapthetically restored, with much original material retained.
50 year old "Peak" diesel electric number D4 "Great Gable is housed in the museum whilst it celebrates its anniversary of outshopping from Derby works.
The pioneer Midland Railway Pullman carriage body "Midland" gave us much thought and discussion over its future stabilisation, conservation and display.
In the heritage carriage & wagon workshop, we were able to see this example of original Mindland Railway paintwork, which has informed recent restoration works.
Across the site is the shed of the Golden Valley Light Railway, wherein we saw this 1997 built 0-4-2 inverted saddle tank, based on a Bagnall design and constructed by Allen Civil, newly repainted and renamed.
As a member of the Ashover Light Railway Society, I have followed the story of the rescue of one of of the original carriage bodies and its move to Swanwick - here it is under sympathetic rebuild - much of the old material has been kept, including the boards which state "Ashover Light Railway" along the upper body.
There is something for everyone on the site, and in the Road Transport Gallery, I discovered this 1890s Aveling & Porter steam roller, not dissimilar to our own machine at home, so I took a few minutes to look at the differences, details and similarities.
If it's buses that float your boat, there are plenty too...this being a particularly nice one which took my eye.
The NRM are looking forward to a positive relationship with MRT - I for one look forward to going back to follow up progress and see how we can move forward in partnership. Our thanks as ever to the officers of the Trust who gave up a whole day to discuss, explain and show us their activities.North Eastern wanderer returns
Early last week saw a new locomotive delivered to Shildon, but not one that is part of the Collection. We are establishing a partnership with the Locomotive Conservation and Learning Trust http://www.lclt.org.uk/ to restore the North Eastern Railway designed J21 0-6-0 tender loco No. 65033, once a long term resident of Beamish museum. It is planned to get the engine under cover as soon as possible and assess the rebuild programme this year whilst finance is sought. A major strand of the bid is to include the learning potential for both schools and trainees who will work on the project. Donations are of course welcomed, and details can be had on LCLT's website.
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Moonraking...
Yesterday and today saw Chris Beet & I heading south to visit Steam - The Museum of the Great Western Railway at Swindon - in Wiltshire, hence the moonraking of the title, a local legend. The NRM has a number of artefacts on loan there, not least several items of rolling stock. It is situated in part of the former GWR works in the buildings to the left of this photo which shows the electric traverser once used to access some of the workshops.
I had not visited since 2004 and Chris had never been, so it was an ideal opportunity to meet the staff there and also acquaint ourselves with the collection items housed there. A selection of the smaller items at Steam are stored in an area called The Storehouse, very similar to the Warehouse at York, but full of Western Region and GWR related artefacts only.
The story of Swindon is intractably the story of Swindon folk, and the displays have many delightful cameos, such as these two foundrymen having a break - the set dressing makes this look like any corner of the works from its working days.
Another innovation is that of showing (or shewing,as the GWR would have written it) a GWR 42xx tank loco in dismantled state under overhaul, with female labourers and fitters as would have happened in World War 2. A fascinating display on building and repairing locos, there is a similar section on carriage building. For those who really want to know, the loco is 4248.
I needed to undertake a Conservation Assesment of the AEC GWR Railcar No.4 which is housed at Steam, a 1933 built machine from the first series of such vehicles. I fell for its marvellous interior...
...which included this super little buffet - I wonder if it ever broke even given the relatively small number of seats in the single unit railcar?
Swindon pride is exemplified in the Castle class loco 4073 "Caerphilly Castle" which is shown as a stand alone example of Swindon craftsmanship and lovingly cared for along with the rest of the locomotives by the dedicated volunteer "Tuesday Gang".
Here's the Dean Goods, what a lovely engine this is...
At the other end of the date spectrum is 9400, a Hawksworth designed pannier tank from the 1940s, when the Dean Goods of the 1890s was still in service.
Occupying prime location at the platform and station display is the last one of all, the last steam loco built for British Railways, built at Swindon in 1960 and thus 50 years old this year, class 9F "Evening Star".
After an overnight stay in the town and an evening walk around the railway village, we headed back north today via Didcot Railway Centre, 14 minutes by train from Swindon and another loan partner for us. This year is the 175th anniversary of the Great Western Railway, and Didcot, based in the former GWR loco depot, has just completed a mammoth 9 day festival celebrating the fact. Here, one of the visitors, 7827 "Lydham Manor" from the Dartmouth Steam Railway, is seen at the entracne to the shed, with other rolling stock to the right.
Another pair of visitors included Bill Parker's prairie tank 5521, seen here with newly reliveried GWR icon "City of Truro" running in 1915 livery as 3717 - and Chris & I were delighted to see this one of ours as it's the first time we'd seen in since repainting.
The shed exudes steam shed atmosphere and the two Castles here, 5029 "Nunney Castle" on the left and 5051 "Earl Bathurst" on the right could have come straight out of the 1950s in this shot.
A further view down the shed shows how closely the Great Western Society have captured the feel of a GWR locomotive running shed.
In the workshop, we were interested to see progress on another GWR icon, 4079 "Pendennis Castle", being overhauled after its return from Australia. In 1923 this had been displayed alongside 4472 "Flying Scotsman " at the British Empire exhibition, so it was good to see that there is a chance we might be able to pair up these two famous engines again in the not too distant future.
Finally, we took a look at the newest engine on site, and one built mainly at Didcot, the broad gauge replica "Firefly". Words cannot describe the broad gauge set up on site now - go and experience it for yourself, there's nothing like it.
I had not visited since 2004 and Chris had never been, so it was an ideal opportunity to meet the staff there and also acquaint ourselves with the collection items housed there. A selection of the smaller items at Steam are stored in an area called The Storehouse, very similar to the Warehouse at York, but full of Western Region and GWR related artefacts only.
The story of Swindon is intractably the story of Swindon folk, and the displays have many delightful cameos, such as these two foundrymen having a break - the set dressing makes this look like any corner of the works from its working days.
Another innovation is that of showing (or shewing,as the GWR would have written it) a GWR 42xx tank loco in dismantled state under overhaul, with female labourers and fitters as would have happened in World War 2. A fascinating display on building and repairing locos, there is a similar section on carriage building. For those who really want to know, the loco is 4248.
I needed to undertake a Conservation Assesment of the AEC GWR Railcar No.4 which is housed at Steam, a 1933 built machine from the first series of such vehicles. I fell for its marvellous interior...
...which included this super little buffet - I wonder if it ever broke even given the relatively small number of seats in the single unit railcar?
Swindon pride is exemplified in the Castle class loco 4073 "Caerphilly Castle" which is shown as a stand alone example of Swindon craftsmanship and lovingly cared for along with the rest of the locomotives by the dedicated volunteer "Tuesday Gang".
Here's the Dean Goods, what a lovely engine this is...
At the other end of the date spectrum is 9400, a Hawksworth designed pannier tank from the 1940s, when the Dean Goods of the 1890s was still in service.
Occupying prime location at the platform and station display is the last one of all, the last steam loco built for British Railways, built at Swindon in 1960 and thus 50 years old this year, class 9F "Evening Star".
After an overnight stay in the town and an evening walk around the railway village, we headed back north today via Didcot Railway Centre, 14 minutes by train from Swindon and another loan partner for us. This year is the 175th anniversary of the Great Western Railway, and Didcot, based in the former GWR loco depot, has just completed a mammoth 9 day festival celebrating the fact. Here, one of the visitors, 7827 "Lydham Manor" from the Dartmouth Steam Railway, is seen at the entracne to the shed, with other rolling stock to the right.
Another pair of visitors included Bill Parker's prairie tank 5521, seen here with newly reliveried GWR icon "City of Truro" running in 1915 livery as 3717 - and Chris & I were delighted to see this one of ours as it's the first time we'd seen in since repainting.
The shed exudes steam shed atmosphere and the two Castles here, 5029 "Nunney Castle" on the left and 5051 "Earl Bathurst" on the right could have come straight out of the 1950s in this shot.
A further view down the shed shows how closely the Great Western Society have captured the feel of a GWR locomotive running shed.
In the workshop, we were interested to see progress on another GWR icon, 4079 "Pendennis Castle", being overhauled after its return from Australia. In 1923 this had been displayed alongside 4472 "Flying Scotsman " at the British Empire exhibition, so it was good to see that there is a chance we might be able to pair up these two famous engines again in the not too distant future.
Finally, we took a look at the newest engine on site, and one built mainly at Didcot, the broad gauge replica "Firefly". Words cannot describe the broad gauge set up on site now - go and experience it for yourself, there's nothing like it.
What's that doing in the workshop?
Visitors to York may well be surprised to see the Stirling Single in the workshop since last Friday. I'm afraid thoughts of a return to steam are somewhat premature, but the truth is that the loco is being prepared for its starring role in the Railway Children production in London this summer. The axles were ultrasonically tested and passed on Friday and this week after gauging on Monday, some repairs were being made on the tender frame to make the loco fit to be towed on Network Rail to Waterloo where the play is being staged. If you couldn't get to the production in York the past two summers, try and catch it in London, it's an award winning gem of a play. 
No.1's place in the Great Hall has been taken by Hardwicke for the time being, another late 19th Century racer.
Saturday, 8 May 2010
After the dust has settled...
A very quick canter through the North Eastern Giants of Steam weekend. I'll let the photos speak for themselves in the main except to say that there were some 21,100 visitors over the three day event, the busiest that Locomotion has been since it opened in 2004.
Sunday morning began at 7.30am with a photo session - early in the morning so we could let folks get pictures without crowds and create some unique photo opportunities. 60163 stands on the sidings alongside the former banana warehouse in what is becoming a classic Shildon location.
We then lined up the J72 to meet the A1...
And the visitors began to arrive about 9.30 when the J72 moved over to start the passenger service
During the afternoon, Alan Middleton and Tim Owen of the Furness Railway Trust got short of supplies, so went shopping by train and are seen departing from the Goods shed with their Co-op bags!
At the end of the afternoon before the A1 did some demonstration runs, we lined up the oldest and newest working standard gauge steam locos in the world on Locomotion's sidings - a first for both engines.
The general scene across the museum apron during the Monday afternoon - the sun finally came out after a downpour at lunch time.
I was fortunate enough to be rostered fireman for the A1 during Monday afternoon, this is the view from the footplate as we moved off the apron and on to the sidings. How many people?
Just to prove that I did do something useful - thanks to Peter Neesam for the photo
To round things off, we held a final evening photo session on the Monday, and took the A1, V2 and J72 up to the coal drops for more classic opportunities. Here the V2 has its moment of glory.
Then we disposed of the locos and went home and collapsed! A fantastic weekend and thanks to all concerned who helped in any way.
Sunday morning began at 7.30am with a photo session - early in the morning so we could let folks get pictures without crowds and create some unique photo opportunities. 60163 stands on the sidings alongside the former banana warehouse in what is becoming a classic Shildon location.
We then lined up the J72 to meet the A1...
And the visitors began to arrive about 9.30 when the J72 moved over to start the passenger service
During the afternoon, Alan Middleton and Tim Owen of the Furness Railway Trust got short of supplies, so went shopping by train and are seen departing from the Goods shed with their Co-op bags!
At the end of the afternoon before the A1 did some demonstration runs, we lined up the oldest and newest working standard gauge steam locos in the world on Locomotion's sidings - a first for both engines.
The general scene across the museum apron during the Monday afternoon - the sun finally came out after a downpour at lunch time.
I was fortunate enough to be rostered fireman for the A1 during Monday afternoon, this is the view from the footplate as we moved off the apron and on to the sidings. How many people?
Just to prove that I did do something useful - thanks to Peter Neesam for the photo
To round things off, we held a final evening photo session on the Monday, and took the A1, V2 and J72 up to the coal drops for more classic opportunities. Here the V2 has its moment of glory.
Then we disposed of the locos and went home and collapsed! A fantastic weekend and thanks to all concerned who helped in any way.
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