Jinx

Iovely photos, of the shredded wheat "at work" on the Middy diesel day, but watch this space, we are working on the possibility of getting the loco to the old factory for the 2020 centenary, I for one would love to see it run on it's old rails, and transport is easy, anyone who may have contacts with the Welwyn crowd might be able to help to organise this. Contacts via the MSLR. JINX

Osgood Many thanks for posting the photos of the loco at Fleggborough, I was really hoping for some as we do not have any from that time. Really good ones as well, and you are right it does look a little better now, plus it runs perfectly now too. Jinx

All The shredded wheat loco now completely finished, photos available at www.mslr.org.uk Jinx

JFOOKS Try neal@nealdavis.co.uk Jinx

All Latest update, on the shredded wheat shunter, finished, all except the sign writing (tomorrow) and 1 buffer awaiting new spring. Have added vacuum brake system for coaches, but otherwise as near as possible to its condition in 1934 when outshopped from Fowler, apart from the McClaren engine which was fitted in 1954. Runs sweetly. Due to be moved to the mid Suffolk Light Railway after the late may bank holiday. Jinx

AMJ The McClaren In this loco is a two cylinder, which was totally siezed in every respect. The cylinders and pistons were destroyed getting it apart, although they were badly frost damaged anyway. Luckily we had access to a five cylinder McClaren which used two two cylinder blocks and a single. This engine was a runner so we have used one block and pistons from it, plus the cylinder heads. The crank of course was different, and this has been reground, with the big ends and main bearings being white metalled and currently the crankcase is away being line bored. Reassembly as soon as the crankcase comes back. Still on target for running in June. Jinx

All The picture of the loco on Jason's post is the one we have of the loco at Nabisco in 1960. By then it had been modded to the diesel. The engine originally was petrol and rated 40 Hp. The McLaren diesel is also rated 40 Hp. This loco was one of the very first possibly the second or third made of this design. The photo of the brass model shows a much later version with the high gearbox cover at the front and the windows have now been made sloping. The high gearbox cover was because the later models used a 80Hp engine that demanded a much bigger gearbox. The Shredded Wheat loco (number 20337) has a foot operated clutch whereas later models used a hand lever. The original livery was mid green superstructure (slightly lighter than GWR green with twin lining in straw the outer line twice the width of the inner. The shredded wheat co ltd on the cab sides was a little odd as the Co and Ltd were shown as Co and Ld with the small letter raised with a dot under the small letter. However when Nabisco took over it was repainted in a slightly different green, less glossy with red single lining and the shredded wheat CO LTD now conventional, (still in straw) however it was then later re named NABISCO FOODS in red on the cab sides. These changes were found during the restoration as they never seem to have removed the old paint just painted over. The loco was famous for derailing and there was a crew of chaps at the factory responsible for putting it back on. In fact we suspect that Fowler's may have been aware that it might be easily derailed as there is a sliding Jack in a proper stowage in the cab which was supplied with the loco. Also the brake blocks had been replaced sometime in the 1950s but bizarrely they were too wide and this resulted in the left hand coupling rod colliding with the block which severely bent the coupling rod. I have a photo of the loco still in use in the 50s with the rod still bent and it was like that when we received it. New correct blocks and a straightened rod now fitted. Jinx

Gordon I will try to work out how to transfer pictures, but I am a bit new to this technology. Jinx

Some while ago questions were asked in these blogs about the shredded wheat shunter. Well we are just completing a total restoration of the original 1933 Fowler that was at Welwyn garden city site until 1974. It was sold on to various sites as a static display and finally ended up in private ownership in Norfolk. It was almost unrecoverable due to its standing in the open for 45 years or more. However nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it. The loco came to us in November 2018 and has had a total nut and bolt restoration. We are just waiting for the final components of the rare McClaren diesel engine to be manufactured and then it will be completed as it was in 1956. When outshopped it had a Fowler sidevalve petrol engine but was re-engined by Fowler to diesel in 1956. The loco will be used on the mid Suffolk Light Railway hopefully from June onwards. The o gauge model (Ixion I think) is virtually an exact copy of this loco. If anyone out there wants more information, I have its complete history, drawings and a works photo from 1933 taken at Fowlers prior to delivery, plus information on liveries. Nabisco changed the livery after they took over in the 1950s, I also have a black and white of this as well. Kind regards Jinx