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Newsletter - May 2004

Appeal

The advent of the new season and the reopening to the public of the shed will hopefully see an increase in the flow of donations to the appeal fund. It is a major boost to allow the public back into the shed from where they can also view the workshop.

Discussions have started on the approach to the restoration of the roof. The aim is to provide a structure which will resist the acid environment created by locomotive smoke and last considerably longer than the previous one which showed signs of distress after only ten years. Consideration is being given to an engineered timber design which is also in keeping with traditional loco shed construction. The cost is likely to be well beyond the ESR’s current resources and so an application for a Heritage Lottery fund grant is being considered. This would combine well with a grant to restore the E1 since the shed of course provides shelter for the engine. News of progress on the application will be reported here.

This Newsletter and other pictures also appear on the ESR’s new website www.eastsomersetrailway.com

 

LB&SCR E1 No.110

There has been little work conducted on the E1 over the last few months due to 30075 taking priority.. However, since 30075 continues to progress rapidly, it will not be long before it is completed and attention can again be turned to the E1.

 

USA Tank No.30075

Progress on 30075 has continued with no reduction in the pace. Following fitting of the new front tube plate the boiler tubes have been installed, regulator fitted, the smoke box fabricated and fitted, the chimney aligned and fitted and the various boiler fittings bolted on. After filling the boiler with water for the first time, there followed caulking and more caulking of stays, rivets and lap joints to slowly reduce the number of small leaks. Inspector John Glaze came in to perform the formal hydraulic and out of frame steam tests which were both passed successfully. Final assembly is well under way before the commissioning test and repainting following which the loco will enter traffic.

30075 has got a brand new ashpan. It is seen here being lowered into the frames by Keith, Derek and Steve prior to the boiler being fitted.

The main loco springs which were sent away for overhaul by Owen Springs finally arrived just as the boiler was being made ready to be lifted back into the frames.

 
New steam pipes have been fabricated by Mike English in Hull. The neat installation of the pipes connected up to the header T piece in the smokebox is shown above.
The new smoke box was fitted in place and secured with dome headed screws to give the appearance of rivets. The front ring was welded on and cut outs made for the steam pipes and chimney. Here Dave is grinding back a weld seam.
At last the day came when the boiler could be lifted off the Lowmac, which had been its home for the last 5 years, and reunited with the frames. All went remarkably smoothly on the day with the boiler lifted in place and the two side tanks moved ready to refit in just an hour.
Refitting the cab sides and roof provided a few head scratching moments for Steve and Keith.

When the cab was removed the welds holding the cab together were cut out so refitting could be made easier by bolting.

 

 

GWR 56xx No. 5637

5637 The 14 monthly boiler exam generated extra work for the workshop staff. Several stays were found to have failed and in all thirty stays were replaced in the side sheets. A number of lap joint rivets were also replaced with patch screws. Apart from this, the 56 has continued to perform reliably.

 

Andrew Barclay 0-4-0T No.705

The main steam pipe which failed during the Santa Specials last December was found to have badly corroded at the front end. A new bottle end was welded to the pipe which was then refitted and the loco is back in traffic.