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Blandford1969

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Posts posted by Blandford1969

    Severn Valley Railway

    in Preservation

    Posted

    I should have been on the Coal tank on Sunday, but sadly a three line whip has been put out for us to attend my father in laws 65th. The T9 and U pairing should be really good. 1501 is back in having had its smokebox repainted this week following scorching last week due to the door not quite fitting.

     

    Enjoy the weekend, looking at the timetable it looks good.

    Severn Valley Railway

    in Preservation

    Posted

    To explain to those who are not aware or have not been, Bridgnorth has for various reasons not had the level of investment the railway would have liked (certainly those of us based here at Bridgnorth)

     

    The buffet was temporary 30 years ago and is not best placed

    The public have not been able to access the yard and see engines under restoration certainly for about 20 years (but my memory fails me on the exact date)

    The bar itself is fine for quite times, however on busy days it struggles

    The toliets are not sufficent for busy days to allow for them being closed for cleaning (we need more)

    The one footbridge is not sufficent on busy days

    Platform 2 being shorter does create difficulties at times

     

    Over the last 12 months a small group has been working up plans and working with Howels Associates. The challenges that team have faced is Bridgnorth station building is grade 2 listed, and Pan Pudding hill is a scheduled ancient monument and English Heritage will take a strong interest in anything we do.

     

    Following lots of work a set of provisonal plans have been drawn up and the group are now ready to show them to a wider audience. There is a session planned for volunteers on the first weekend in October for us to see the plans. The following weekend the plans will be on show during the launch of the new three million pound share issue.

     

    What I do know is the plans include:

     

    1) A new building to include buffet and shop- this allows an extension to the bar and the waiting room being returned to just that.

    2) A new footbridge which will link to platform 2, and go through the shed so visitors can see the yard and engines being restored - linking to the overflow car park

    3) A new building for mess rooms/ offices and pattern shop - this allows us to make more room in the shed for restoration work

    4) A new interactive museum about the railway

     

    I have seen conjecture that some images used to promote the share issue might be the plans, however I have not seen the plans yet so cannot comment further. I hope this helps on the plans front.

     

    On the loco front

    1501 is now released to traffic ( which we are pleased about)

    The coal tank has arrived for the gala and is working a special today ( sadly I had to give my turn away being on a three line whip to go to my father in laws 65th birthday)

    31806 has arrived and was yesterday seen being moved to Bewdley - it is being based at Bridgnorth for the gala

     

    I am not sure if 30120 has arrived yet.

     

    Duncan

    • Like 2

    Severn Valley Railway

    in Preservation

    Posted

    1501 has had 2 loaded test runs this week and will be having 2 furhter next Monday and Tuesday.

     

    From next Wednesday the 12th to Friday the 14 of September she will be hauling her first passenger trains. These being the 10.25am and 2pm departures from Bridgnorth.

     

    The Coal Tank should be arriving in the next few days, being booked to work a special at the end of next week.

    • Like 2

    Severn Valley Railway

    in Preservation

    Posted · Edited by Blandford1969

    5164 re-entered traffic yesterday following a sucessful test after its wheel turrning. Now attention is turning to 1501 which was lit up yesterday. Testing of this excellent if hot machine is about to commence, hopefully it will be quick and we will have another loco into traffic looking very good lined out with early BR crest.

    • Like 1

    Severn Valley Railway

    in Preservation

    Posted

    As far as I can recall from my last visit to the SVR the 'box at Arley is an LNWR structure - it certainly looks like one (but could be a contractor's design perhaps?). It is however in the original signal box position as near as I can tell from pics and drawings.

     

    Yes the box at Arley is an ex LNW structure (I cant remember where from right now) The colour is probably more to do with how it fades than anything else.

     

    Lovley model of Arley -

    • Like 1

    Severn Valley Railway

    in Preservation

    Posted

    34053 Sir Keith Park will make its first solo passenger run since withdrawl by BR tomorrow on the 11.10am and 2.55 departures from Bridgnorth tomorrow.

     

    It will then be on Sundays 11.10 and 2.55pm departures and will then work all of next week on the same train through next week.

    • Like 1

    Severn Valley Railway

    in Preservation

    Posted

    That's a shame - I rather liked those concrete lamp posts!

     

     

    Regards

     

    Dan

     

    I'm affraid that concrete cancer had just about done in for them, so they were going to have to be replaced anyway

     

    1501 has now been out of the yard to be weighed - the furthest its gone (so far) and 2857 has had its left hand valve replaced and is back in traffic

    • Like 1

    Severn Valley Railway

    in Preservation

    Posted

    7714 has not yet been started to be taken to bits, which I understand will start once 1501 is released to traffic. The work has been slightly thrown by additional work the shed staff have had to do on other locos which had unexpected problems.

     

    We are all keeping our fingers crossed that 77 is back in traffic soon-the panniers are restricted to 270 tons which they can happily do most of the time. only 4566, 47383 and 6443 are restricted to 200 tons.

    • Like 1

    Severn Valley Railway

    in Preservation

    Posted

    Was it 5164 which managed to get a flat on one set of drivers only? Quite a feat, that!

     

    Yes, it is now beleived it was due to a flaw in the tyre that did not show up with the normal tests run. She is a cracking engine.

     

    For those who have not been for some time Biridgnorth station is in the process of being improved by the replacement of the cast concrete lamps with replicas of those which adorned the building (certainly up till 1951- when I have three negs of a railcar special at the station )

     

    There is also a share issue coming, which if sucessful should see the temporary buffet replaced by facilities that the railway should and wants to provide to visitors.

    Severn Valley Railway

    in Preservation

    Posted

    2857 - is now running again after problems with a valve at the end of last week

    1501 is now waiting for running in trials -she has passed her steam tests- and as already said looks superb

    5164 has had a fire in it and is now just about due for testing - its wheels had to be turned which has put it out of traffic for a couple of weeks

    4566 is running

    34053 - is still on test at the moment, hopefully she will be released to traffic soon

    43106 is currently running

    42968 - Has had a fire in her yesterday, which hopefully means the new springs which have been on order for about 8 weeks have arrived

    7812 is currently running

    3650 - from Didcot is having her stay extened until early September

     

    Incidently 7714 is now in Bridgnorth and cleaning has begun prior to her being stripped as the spare pannier bolier now has all the parts on hand so work can recommence on that.

     

    I should also say to enjoy 2968 as she is due to finish at the end of this year (10 years goes so quickly)

     

    hope that helps

    Duncan

    • Like 1

    Towcester

    in Layout topics

    Posted

    The Bylines have some photos of the goods shed / Signal Box and main building, but sadly not the Lucas bridge. It seams that the standard books on the line by the OPC / Oakwood and the most recent (whose publisher I cant remember) do not have any photos which show a side on view of that bridge.

     

    I am sure I have seen another photo somewhere but at the moment cannot find it. None of my negs of the station show the bridge either i'm affraid. If I find the photo that is somewhere in my recollection I will let you know

     

    sorry not to have been able to help more

     

    Duncan

    Towcester

    in Layout topics

    Posted

    Sorry I forgot for more general shots of Towcester have you seen these?

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/train-pix/6952849777/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-evanses/4997075063/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-evanses/4997075317/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-evanses/4997075063/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-evanses/4997075063/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/train-pix/6952850265/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/steamtube/4092644806/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/steamtube/4091883179/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-evanses/4997074927/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-evanses/4997075001/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/steamtube/4091881987/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/the-evanses/4997075243/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/steamtube/4092647212/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/steamtube/4091882305/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/steamtube/4091882641/

     

     

    Then from Britain from above we have also got http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw023766?search=towcester&ref=8 which you can really zoom in on the detail

    SR U Class boiler washout position on boiler barrel

    in UK Prototype Questions

    Posted · Edited by Blandford1969

    I managed to find the answer to this through a bit of web searching. I found an image of the David Andrews U class etch that had been reduced to 3mm. On that i could just pick out the front washout plug that was a mystery and then work out where it was on the front ring of the barrel.

     

    I have now drilled all of the washout plugs, and handrails on the boiler. I fretted out the deflectors last night and now need to finish filling them and then drilling them for the handrails and hand hold before adding the beading.

     

    The next step is to drill the running boards with locations for the feedwater pipes and to fit the boiler and firebox onto the running plate.

     

    After 2 years of not managing to do alot for all sorts of reasons, I am finally starting to make progress again on this ancient U (not that there is much left). I have taken photos and will resurect my U class thread later

    SR U Class boiler washout position on boiler barrel

    in UK Prototype Questions

    Posted

    Hi Guys,

     

    Well, after over 2 years of no modelling I have finally started again on my former 1961 vintage Wills U class kit. I am modelling 31618 as it was in 1961.

     

    I have filled and marked the firebox washout plugs which were easy.

     

    31618 in common with many other Us gained 4 additional washout plugs on the front section of the boiler barrel. The rearmost 2 are more obvious http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnneave/408552179/in/faves-29644579@N07/ (as seen in Barry) . From a side on view these rear ones are just about in line with the top of the splashers.

     

    The other 2 are forward of this and set nearer to the centre line of the barrel.

     

    My problem is I can't find a drawing which shows the location clearly. Can anyone tell me how far along that section of the barrel each of the 2 sets of plugs are and how far from the center line they are?

     

    Many thanks in advance for your help

     

    Duncan

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