The Final Furlong

Saturday saw feverish activity at Toddington to finish off the winter maintenance programmes on the operational fleet of locos in readiness for the commencement of steam services this coming Saturday and the Cheltenham Race Course Festival on the 12th -15th March. In fact it's worse than that, as there is one of the ever popular Fire & Drive courses booked for Friday, so at least one of the tender locos needs to be ready for then.  Before we get into that though, I'm informed that not everybody is as well clued up on Monty Python as they should be and part of the blog entry entitled Things that go bang will have gone whizzing over some people's heads.  Don't fret, the concept of Norwegian blue air compressors pining for the fjords will suddenly make sense if you view the dead parrot sketch. You get good value for money on this blog, steam and comedy classics too.  What more could you possibly ask for?

Anyway, it is a while since we had any news of 2807 and her progress this winter.  When pressed on the matter, Geof Adlington obliged by swiftly producing a written report within minutes of being asked.  If only all of my journalistic endeavours met with such a prompt response.

2807 basking in a rare bit of sunshine on Saturday

Works this winter on 2807 have included replacing the safety valve springs.  During my occasional forays onto the footplate, I've noticed that several of our locos are prone to blow off light and there is something of an art to knowing just how close you can allow each loco to get to the red line on its pressure gauge before you really do need to get the injectors on.  Sometimes that is quite some way before the red line is reached.  Points are definitely deducted if you allow a loco to blow off, so I'm pleased to be able to report that the new springs were checked during a steam test and were seen to start lifting at 220 psig and fully blow at 226 psig.  Of course I'll have no excuses now.

The new safety valve springs

Apparently they have some even stiffer square section springs to hand which they'll fit later this month.

The valve gear was inspected, but found to be perfectly ok and simply put back together again.

Inspecting the valve gear

Similarly measurements on the con-rods revealed no wear had taken place, though a loose lubrication pad was found on the left hand cross head which was replaced and which will hopefully cure the excessive oil consumption that had been a feature of the last season's running.

Steam heating is regarded by passengers as more of a necessity than a luxury at this time of year and prospective customers will doubtless be relieved to learn that the Mason's valve which failed late last season has now been stripped down and fixed.  

A broken tapered pin that secured the reversing arm to the wayshaft was allowing to much side play in the reversing arm.  It should have been a simple job but turned out to be quite problematic.  Part of the job involved replacing a bush which had to be heated cherry red before being inserted and then being allowed to cool and contract into place.  Unfortunately nobody thought to take a picture at the time, so you'll just have to make do with this view of the finished article.

Finished reversing arm and wayshaft

The winter break hasn't allowed the renewal of all the tapered motion pins and the expansion link bushes however at least the right hand side has been done.

As an experiment, 2807 is being kitted out with chrome alloy firebars, which if they are as good as the manufacturers claim will not only last the life of the boiler, but in all probability clean the grate as they go.  I was rather disappointed to discover that chrome firebars don't shine like the chrome plate on bath taps and showed absolutely no sign at all of being self-cleaning.

Non self-cleaning chrome alloy firebars

Finally as regards 2807 and continuing with the theme of this season's hi-viz fashions, I think we have finally found a winner.  Geof.... at least I think it's Geof in there, models the very latest  sensation on Toddington's equivalent of the cat walk. 

And you thought that shoulder pads were over-done in the eighties!

There you have it, the latest in designer fashions, Churchward's finest.  If the chap who runs the shop on Toddington station's platform 1 has got his wits about him he'll be placing an order for dozens of these as they are sure to sell like hot cakes!  Rumour has it that a certain Kate & William have placed an advance order.

Elsewhere about the department, the coal dock and ash disposal dock are taking shape.  Several more posts were required to be concreted into place.  Mark Young commenced the proceedings by trimming an unwanted flange off of a girder that was going to be pressed into service as a post.

Flange removal in progress

 Concrete sleepers are just a little too heavy to be easily manhandled into place, so a little mechanical help was employed.

Dropping a concrete sleeper into place

Ade Showell seems to be happy that the new post is vertical

Meanwhile work was still progressing on Foremarke Hall, which is where I ended up spending much of my day.  The right hand buffer needed some work doing to it, so in best Blue Peter tradition, rather than work on it, here is one that John Cruxon had prepared earlier:

Being too heavy to cart about in one piece, John had fetched it along as a kit of parts that just needed some minor reassembly.  I'd always been curious as to how a buffer was constructed and how they come apart, well now I know.

Getting the old buffer off wasn't too difficult, the bolts that held it in place however required some gentle persuasion.

John Cruxon being persuasive.  Note the broken lead hammer which had turned out not to be quite persuasive enough.

Cliff Faulkner cleaned up and primed the area previously concealed by the old buffer

It was a bit too cold for painting really, but needs must etc

The firebars that Clive had fitted last week were apparently not fitting too well at the front and didn't have quite enough room to expand.  As a result they all had to come out again, a new support had to be crafted for the front end and then everything needed putting back together again.  

This involved some cutting...

.... and some welding

Part of the process involved fetching one of the new long chrome alloy firebars out 2807 to check out if it fitted ok.  After all the turkey & so on back at Christmas, I am pleased to be able to report that I can still just about squeeze myself in through a GWR firebox door with only minimal recourse to mild expletives.  I didn't even need to apply grease to my overalls to help me slide in.

And finally,  Sean Nielsen, the GWSR's senior firing instructor informed me that he would have no difficulty at all in eluding my camera all day.  Well how could I resist a challenge like that! After a few half-hearted attempts with my point and shoot camera to lull him into a false sense of security, I sneaked off to the boot of my car where I had rather more serious weaponry stashed away.  The result:

Oops, he spotted me

Doing his best to spoil the shot

Eventually, what passes for normal

Yes, yes, I know,  I've shot myself in the foot as regards any hope of becoming a fireman, however if Sean was to be believed I didn't have much hope anyway.

First in Laverton Loop

John Cruxon, Locomotive manager of 7903, Foremarke Hall has kindly provided this update on a post winter maintenance test run:

"With work still to complete and with the assistance of Neil Carr, on Monday 25th Feb Foremarke took a proving run to Laverton stop board and back to Toddy a few times before entering the loop to do some shunting for the Permanent way team. This took place following the overhaul of the valves and piston rings, what is known as a Piston & Valve examination."

Once again, interesting variations on hi-viz styles this season

"This is Foremarke’s third occasion of going to Laverton but the first for her and any ex BR mainline steam engine’s to enter Laverton loop, an industrial steam loco has already been there. As can be seen from the front there is cladding to be fitted as well as a buffer beam to paint. In addition there is the usual list of odds and ends to finish. My thanks go to the team who helped make Monday a success."

It almost looks like we've got a section of double track again

Things that go bang

The last few weeks at the GWSR kicked off with something of a bang.  Now there are good sorts of bangs and there are bad sorts of bangs.  Fireworks on bonfire night for instance would come under the heading of good bangs.  Connecting rods in air compressors busting out through crank cases however would definitely come under the heading of bad bangs.  Given that it is February rather than November, guess which type of bang that I'm referring to. Mercifully the GWSR has more than one air compressor, but this particular one has probably compressed its last.

Little end gone big, big end gone bigger, con rods gone bang!

Norwegian blue air compressor, pining for the fjords

"It's not pining, it's passed on. This air compressor is no more. It has ceased to be. It's expired and gone to meet its maker. This is a late air compressor. It's a stiff. Bereft of life, it rests in peace. If you hadn't nailed it to the perch, it would be pushing up the daisies. It's rung down the curtain and joined the choir invisible. This is an ex-air compressor."


The winter maintenance programme on Foremarke Hall took a step forward on Saturday as numerous members of the steam loco dept busied themselves on the outstanding tasks.  Adrian refitted the injector cones and Clive refitted the firebars into the grate.  2807 has now been fitted out with Chrome alloy firebars which should, if they do what they say on the tin last the rest of her 10 year boiler ticket.  This of course means that there were now plenty of firebars available for Foremarke Hall.

Spotlight on Clive, centre stage in Foremarke Hall's firebox

Clive refitting firebars

Meanwhile up at the pointy end of Foremarke Hall, more people than were strictly necessary were busy refitting the valve covers.  I'll confess to have lost the plot a bit as to the exact sequence of events now however the left hand one went on, came back off and then went back on again.  

Phil keeps a close eye on the valve cover's nuts and washers

Paul Greasing the valve cover gasket

Ben fitting the valve cover and the fingers of  the otherwise camera shy Sean

Rumbled

Having removed it again, replacing one of the bushes

Steve refitting the valve cover again

Foremarke Hall being taken to the water tower... you can lead a Hall to water but you can't make it drink

Elsewhere, 8F, 8274 has had her valve gear refitted and Nick was to be found cleaning up the connecting rods prior to them being varnished and refitted.

Nick cleaning 8274's connecting rods

Sometime during the preceding week, work has been done on the coal dock with works to add an ash pit to the end of it.

Coal dock & ash pit taking shape

Yours truly found gainful employment on the external refurbishment of the mess coach.  Over the years, the mess coach has become.... well messy.  The clue is in the name really.  The task in hand now is to turn it out in a tasteful chocolate & cream livery in time for the Cotswold Steam Celebration gala  in May. It was far too cold to permit any painting to take place (snow flakes fell but failed to settle for most of the day) however there was nothing to stop a concerted effort in sanding down the coach's exterior in readiness for painting when warmer weather arrives.

Jamie rather noisily sanding what is allegedly a quiet coach

Tina applying rust inhibitor.

Dan applying rust inhibitor too, though for some bits it's a bit like closing the stable doors after the horse has bolted.  I find the 'No Brakes' notice a little disconcerting

Andy Beale taking a break with some 'thirst inhibitor'

Speaking of Andy, he was collared a little later in the day whilst walking past our resident Merchant Navy.  In his own words, this is what transpired:

"I made the mistake of walking past SR 35006 just as one of their team was trying to manhandle a long irregular pipe into the cab. Was I doing anything for a few minutes.... 2 hours later we had satisfactorily installed that and many of the steam pipes from the boiler manifold to the injectors? These had been bent to shape a couple of years back and some were finally going on for their final fit. Unfortunately a certain 25 mm odd conduit pipe which houses the whistle actuating rod now fouled two of the injector steam delivery pipes so some more tweaking is required. It's now coming on week by week with the painters doing their bit as well, with the main driving wheels now receiving attention."

Andy also noticed something which had eluded me.  Ex GWR, 2-8-0T, 4270 now has a chimney attached.  He even kindly took a photo to prove it:-

4270, now with chimney. Photo courtesy of Andy Beale

 

8F 8274 Winter Maintenance Update

Like all the rest of our operational locos, Stanier 8F, 8274 (TCDD 45160) has been undergoing winter maintenance.  She was the last loco in service over the Santa/mince pie special season, running the bulk of the turns between Christmas and New Year.  The fact that the other locos effectively got off to a head start on winter maintenance has spurred the members of the Churchill 8F group on to catch up.  On Saturday I caught up with Mike Hoskin and his team to bring you a report on what the progress that has been made.

The first thing to note is that she is now back in her LMS guise as opposed to Turkish one.

Istanbul not Constantinople, 8274, not 45160

Aside from the cosmetic changes, the rocking grate has been removed and cleaned ready for reassembly. most bars show signs of burning but the grate has performed very well requiring only a small number of replacement segments.  Most of the segments are still the originals from 2010 when the loco first went into traffic.

Mostly removed rocking grate

Ade Showell rebuilding the grate (photo courtesy of Paul Richardson)

Paul Richardson & Chris Brooks passing parts of the grate into the firebox for reassembly

All the rods have been removed for attention to the thrust rings and new rings are being produced and to a different design to try and resist wear. Work is still in progress and will take another few weeks yet. It's quite complicated and precise work.

Removed rods

New bush on the right trailing wheel

The dome cover has been removed and the regulator valve assembly lapped in and steps taken to reduce the wear on the pilot valve seat. this has now been reassembled and signed off.

Dome cover removed

The removal of the right hand cylinder valve to replace a suspected broken ring revealed one of the ring stops had worked free resulting in not one, but two broken rings. The opportunity was taken to give the whole valve spindle a makeover, the work of which is now complete and is ready for reinsertion into the valve chest.

Valve chest awaiting the return of the valve spindle

Various other small tasks have been undertaken such as the repainting of the running plate and the inside of the tender.

Repainted running plate

The tender

For reasons that were not clear to me, 8274's tender was included in a shunting operation taking place on Foremarke Hall, every time I went near it to grab a photo it seemed to be on the move again.

Hopefully she'll soon be fully back together again and looking just as good as when she first entered traffic in 2010

Running as 45160 in the 2010 winter gala