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| Newsletter - December 2002 The first year of operation of the appeal fund has raised nearly £5,000 which is very encouraging and will provide much needed cash for the E1 overhaul. However, to ensure the money will be available when it is needed and not restrict progress we do need to increase the rate of income. Having made use of a number of basic appeal methods it is now apparent that fund raising needs to operate on a wider front. To do this will take time and effort as well as some good ideas. This is why the Railway is looking for a fund raiser to coordinate efforts to raise money for the Loco Fund and other projects. This is a chance to make a major contribution to the Railway and help turn some of our plans and dreams into reality, so if anyone feels that this is how they would like to help please get in touch with me, Dick Masters, or any member of the Board, through the station office. The appeal has been boosted by further Driver for a Fiver days, which have been extremely popular, and by donations including the first monthly standing orders. Money from the appeal has been used to fund a number of purchases including the paint for 5637's repaint. A job to overhaul the slide bars, pistons and crossheads from a loco at the Swindon and Cricklade has been undertaken in return for a donation to the fund. The work has been completed and the fund has benefitted by £1000.
A great deal of effort has been put into keeping the 56 running and looking good over the last few months. It had been planned to retube the boiler in the New Year, but the sudden failure of several tubes just before the Santa season forced us to bring this major task forward. It was also decided to bring the 14 monthly boiler inspection forward since it made sense to complete all repairs at the same time. In addition to the retube, ten boiler stays are being replaced and the safety valves and the superheaters are being repaired. Currently the work is well under way and the loco is expected to be back in traffic ready for the Valentine's Wine and Dine in February. A decision was taken in the Summer to repaint the 56 in BR unlined black ready for the Mixed Traffic Weekend in October.
Work on the E1 has been very limited in the last few months since most of our time has been spent either working on 5637 or on the Yankee Tank. However, progress has been made on the horn guide bolt replacement and many of the motion parts have also been repainted. The resident Wednesday boiler team is currently fully occupied on the Yankee Tank but a start has been made on removing the stays from the copper firebox which is now in the Workshop under cover Despite the need to attend to the 56, steady progress is being made on the Yankee Tank, pictured here at Swanage
The Mag drill has again demonstrated its worth being extensively used to drill out the boiler stays. About 200 stays are being renewed and most of these have now been drilled on the outside. The dome cover studs, which were badly wasted, have been removed. The joint surface of the dome has been repaired by building up with weld and grinding flat. New studs will be fitted. After steam cleaning, the frames and motion have been cleaned of residual grime. The centre boiler support has been repaired and the whole area painted with primer. The cab sides and front, which were welded together and were rather unwieldy to handle, have been cut apart. They will be bolted together when the cab is reassembled. New mahogany window frames have been made and generously donated to the Railway by Eric Golden-Hann of Kingfisher Joinery. |
