avonside1563

Sounds like a hold for now is the right thing to do, just keep it on the back burner as stock becomes available.

A big moment in the rebuilding of the Main North Line following last November's earthquake.

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/final-link-welded-main-north-line-rebuild

Chasewater or Tanfield are probably the best options, Chasewater if they are prepared to clear out the big shed as they have lots of undercover accommodation and Tanfield have their carriage shed that they have put exhibitions on in before. At Foxfield we don't have the right facilities as the main museum isn't fully concreted yet and it would be exceptionally difficult to create a safe environment. However if it was help locally we could combine it with discounted travel.

Sometimes it came down to availability.Some manufacturers would part build locomotives to stock orders when they were quiet which meant they could give a short delivery date when someone wanted a locomotive delivered quickly. W.G. Bagnall were a proponent of this, 2221/1927 'Lewisham' (now preserved at the Foxfield Railway) being a case in point as the frames were laid down in 1922 along with a sister locomotive and work progressed as an infill job over the next few years until an order came in.

Seems there's a definite maybe on a partial re-opening to through freight from Picton to Christchurch.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/national/95374850/South-Island-rail-line-could-open-for-freight-within-the-month

Only 57 people out of an RMweb membership of thousands have voted in this poll. Perhaps industrial railways aren't very popular after all? Most of those Hornby Pecketts probably ended up trundling around any old layout, or are tucked up in their boxes by collectors, or those hoping the models will increase in value so they can sell them to collectors in the future. What a waste.

Perhaps it's because it's in the Industrial modelling section and therefore too specific for most people to browse this section.

I suspect all industrials were either black, or so dirty they looked black.

 

Have two or 3 lilleshalls in a siding would probably look more the part than the previous colourful trio.

 

That said the the book of the MSC there's a lovely aerial view showing their sheds full of shiny brass and obvious colour even if it was black and white.. pre war the country was a different place.

 

Latest Hornby magazine says they will be here in October, but it says that about Trevone too, and that's already here.

Not at all, plenty of places took pride in their fleet up to the end of steam, all the brewery railways in Burton and British Aluminium at Burnitsland spring to mind straight away.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/12a_kingmoor_klickr/5756549290/in/album-72157665954155644/

I have arranged to visit Foxfield on Saturday to photograph and measure the following parts of Henry Cort their W4 Peckett.

a) Wheels

b) Slide bars and brackets.

c) Crosshead

d) Cylinders

e) Brake arrangement at the back of the chassis.

f) Steam brake cylinder

g) Bottom of the firebox.

h) Between the frames.

The cab steps are already included in the kit.

 

Can any one think of anything else that may be useful.

 

Gordon A

Unfortunately I'm not at Foxfield this weekend as I'm at Welland Rally with Bellerophon. Henry Cort is back in the museum building but nearest the door so it could be possible to pull her outside if someone is available to do so. I will see if there is anyone who can do that for you Gordon and let you know if they can.

The gala was very successful, well attended to the point that we had to drop the Knotty coaches from the timetable due to capacity issues on Saturday and Sunday! We managed to field all 7 engines for Friday and Saturday but Wimblebury was failed on shed Sunday morning due to a couple of issues that had come to light over the previous two days so we were down to 6 on Sunday, not a bad turn out though. Thank you to all who came along and supported us. Apologies to anyone who was hoping for a pint in the One Legged Shunter, unfortunately we had to close it due to staffing issues on Saturday. However we are taking advantage of this to complete the cellar refurbishment and some essential works in the bar itself to ensure it will be top notch when it reopens in early August.

Thoughts have now turned to the Autumn gala and a potential guest engine is being lined up at the moment. Watch this space!

Accidents happen on even the best run railways, it is unfortunate that there seems to be a spate of incidents but that is often the nature of the beast. At least the incidents have all been free from injury.

A lot of industrial concerns also used a beam across the bottom of the frames to reduce the damage sustained during derailments as in the photo linked of one of the Castle Donnington locos

https://www.flickr.com/photos/69947186@N08/6358132743

The Knotty trust have had their latest grant application approved so work can start in earnest on the accessible Brake Third for the rake, but it still won't be enough to cope if we have another weekend as busy as this one. We may look at introducing a pre-booking system for the Knotties at galas to avoid overcrowding although we did manage to fit 88 in the two coaches on Sunday

That big Bagnall needs to visit the Foxfield and do some proper work.

We're working on it, but they're both quite elusive!

I went yesterday and had a really good time. Its worth the walk from the station (Dillhorn) down to the colliery site, about 10 to 15 minute each way, this is the first time I have walked down and watching a double headed train thrashing up the bank was glorious!

 

DSC_1888.JPG

 

Found a number of engines in the sidings there ready to blast up Foxfield bank with a freight train.

DSC_1874.JPG

The Dubs crane tank looked superb.

 

A really good day and excellent work by the volunteers.

 

DSC_1873.JPG

Only one criticism, the catering at the main station was chaotic, I qued for 20 minutes and finally gave up. The problem being all meals were being cooked to order with limited staff. Catering can often provide good profit margins at preserved sitesk, Foxfield need to think about ways of increasing its food throughput.

The catering is franchised and not in direct control of the railway but they were aware of the issues. We were also slightly embarrassed at the number of visitors following our exposure on BBC Midlands today which caught us out! On Saturday and Sunday we had to stop running the Knotty coaches as they didn't have capacity for the sheer number of passengers!

Thanks to all who cam along to support us, I'm sorry I wasn't able to stop and talk to those who said hello, in all it was a successful weekend and a big boost.

I would be interested to know the reason for putting this coach back into service in this condition, and the risk assessment made prior to releasing it. However we will have to wait for the RAIB investigation and report to learn more. What it does show is the need for constant vigilance from all operational and maintenance staff whether it's national network or a heritage railway. How many involved in railway operation are thinking "There but for the grace of God go I"

Sir Gomer arrived yesterday afternoon and looks good alongside the other locos. We're hoping that an issue with Eustace Forth's regulator can be sorted easily so she can appear over the weekend.

Sir Gomer has arrived and the vinyls for transforming Whiston into Dilhorne No3 are being picked up later. All looking good and we're hoping that a late minute issue with Eustace Forth's regulator will be easy to sort.

Timetables for the gala now uploaded in the Foxfield gala thread in Preservation.

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/117085-foxfields-50th-anniversary-year/?p=2781936

Here's the timetables for Friday 14th and Saturday 15th/Sunday 16th

Summer Gala Guide 2017 Fri14.pdf

Summer Gala Guide 2017 Sat15 Sun16.pdf

Below is a photo of Sir Gomer in action at Shackerstone, she (he?) will be arriving on Wednesday and steam for an acceptance/clearance run on Thursday then out and about at 9.30am on Friday (yours truly at the helm). Timetables will be uploaded tomorrow for those who are interested

Drove alongside the Weka Pass railway along SH7 driving from Christchurch to Hanmer Springs on our first day in NZ. Unfortunately not running so I missed out on seeing A428 in action. The line runs for 12.8km from Waipara to Waikari and the photo is at the upper terminus of the line at Waikari.

Kent Electric No2 with Eustace Forth alongside sporting freshly applied plain green livery with wasp stripes ready for the gala next weekend

Kent Electric No2 with Eustace Forth sporting freshly applied plain green livery with wasp stripes ready for the gala next weekend

Just over a week to go to the start of the THREE DAY!! gala.

 

Preparations are well advanced, Wimblebury is now in plain blue livery and has had her original pressure gauge repaired and refitted and the timetable is being finalised and will be up on here once it is checked.

 

19620196_10211729219897469_8798398484545931705_o.jpg

 

19657469_10211714952860802_3899209174408654390_n.jpg

 

Come and say hello, I will be happy to chat if I can, I will be driving all three days! (I'm going to need a week to recover, specially as I have the early turn on the Saturday for a charter with Sir Gomer starting at 7.30am at the colliery!)

Roster now changed and I'm not on the early turn on Sir G on Saturday... phew!

Just over a week to go to the start of the THREE DAY!! gala.

Preparations are well advanced, Wimblebury is now in plain blue livery and has had her original pressure gauge repaired and refitted and the timetable is being finalised and will be up on here once it is checked.

Come and say hello, I will be happy to chat if I can, I will be driving all three days! (I'm going to need a week to recover, specially as I have the early turn on the Saturday for a charter with Sir Gomer starting at 7.30am at the colliery!)