Timetables have now been published for the West Somerset Spring Gala 2012.
The Trust can confirm that 71000 sales will have a stand at Minehead station for both weekends.
On offer will be a comprensive range of 71000 memorabilia to include ties, sweaters, caps, DVDs, mugs and much more.
We look forward to meeting you there.
Monday 30 January 2012
Friday 27 January 2012
71000 faces challenge to take part in ELR Gala
Last weekend's ELR Gala threw up a few challenges for the team. We met on Friday night at Bury to test the new systems we have installed over the past few months. Adrian Meakin and his team had the loco ready for testing, with a nice glowing fire and 150psi on the clock. We started the air pump, and within seconds it was clear we had a leak. Gary Shannon crawled in and traced it to a new fitting on the "wet tank" outlet. A couple of attempts to secure it failed so we had to remove the whole pipe - tricky over a pit with plenty of light but damn near impossible outside with torches and no pit, but we managed.
It was a faulty cone fitting so we had to remove it and braze on a new one with more struggling to refit the pipe. Then another test and another leak but much smaller this time (you can't hear the little ones till you fix the big ones). This one was in the steel pipe from the compressor head to the aftercooler. There are a number of joints which I welded, two of them had a pin hole in them. Devastated, we removed this pipe too, calling time on the night's activities at 9.30 pm. We still had to move the engine after explaining we would not be ready first thing in the morning. The three of us trudged into the Trackside at 10pm and instantly cheered up!
An early start saw us waiting for one of Riley's welders to turn up to repair the pipe as the ELR's machine burst into flames welding our tender tank the week before. A two hour wait and no sign of Riley's man meant I would have to weld it again. Of course, we had to obtain permission to use one of Riley's machines so another wait then! Now with the new spirit of cooperation we enjoy, not only can we use Riley's welding machine, but also his benches and grinder!
Obviously I carried out my best weld ever, and when we tested it, first with dye penetrant fluid, then on the engine, no leaks were found.
So, ready to go then? No, not quite. A full brake test found a steam leak from the small ejector vacuum pipe inside the 'S' bend between the duplex valve and the boiler trunking, half way up the left side of the firebox. Investigation found the pipe to be fractured due to fatigue. This pipe is very long and expands around 3/4 inch in length when you open the steam valve, all of the expansion is taken up in the 'S' bend, just a matter of time then. With little hope of having a suitable length of 7/8 inch steam pipe, joints and cone fittings, we had to fail the engine. It was late morning, and none of us having had any breakfast, we were pretty low by this time. While I went off in search of food, Gary and Liam went in search of copper pipe and fittings which amazingly they found!
Next job with the loco in the shed, smoking it out, Liam removed the rearmost trunking section (not pleasant when it's just been beautifully painted) to find a joint section, about a foot in from the offending bend, with this split with some oxy-acetylene, a new section could be made. We bent the new pipe to match, brazed the new cone on, which is required to screw the pipe end to the duplex valve. Derek Turner machined the joint coupling on the lathe, and when this was finished, Gary and I brazed the new pipe on in situ, wobbling around on ladders, half way up the boiler. A quick test with steam proved the repair to be sound Another half hour fiddling saw the trunking back on. A further half hour saw our loco off shed and away to take the 16.05pm train to Ramsbottom. A fantastic sight and a fantastic effort, thanks to all involved.
Simon Holroyd, Deputy CME
It was a faulty cone fitting so we had to remove it and braze on a new one with more struggling to refit the pipe. Then another test and another leak but much smaller this time (you can't hear the little ones till you fix the big ones). This one was in the steel pipe from the compressor head to the aftercooler. There are a number of joints which I welded, two of them had a pin hole in them. Devastated, we removed this pipe too, calling time on the night's activities at 9.30 pm. We still had to move the engine after explaining we would not be ready first thing in the morning. The three of us trudged into the Trackside at 10pm and instantly cheered up!
An early start saw us waiting for one of Riley's welders to turn up to repair the pipe as the ELR's machine burst into flames welding our tender tank the week before. A two hour wait and no sign of Riley's man meant I would have to weld it again. Of course, we had to obtain permission to use one of Riley's machines so another wait then! Now with the new spirit of cooperation we enjoy, not only can we use Riley's welding machine, but also his benches and grinder!
Obviously I carried out my best weld ever, and when we tested it, first with dye penetrant fluid, then on the engine, no leaks were found.
So, ready to go then? No, not quite. A full brake test found a steam leak from the small ejector vacuum pipe inside the 'S' bend between the duplex valve and the boiler trunking, half way up the left side of the firebox. Investigation found the pipe to be fractured due to fatigue. This pipe is very long and expands around 3/4 inch in length when you open the steam valve, all of the expansion is taken up in the 'S' bend, just a matter of time then. With little hope of having a suitable length of 7/8 inch steam pipe, joints and cone fittings, we had to fail the engine. It was late morning, and none of us having had any breakfast, we were pretty low by this time. While I went off in search of food, Gary and Liam went in search of copper pipe and fittings which amazingly they found!
Next job with the loco in the shed, smoking it out, Liam removed the rearmost trunking section (not pleasant when it's just been beautifully painted) to find a joint section, about a foot in from the offending bend, with this split with some oxy-acetylene, a new section could be made. We bent the new pipe to match, brazed the new cone on, which is required to screw the pipe end to the duplex valve. Derek Turner machined the joint coupling on the lathe, and when this was finished, Gary and I brazed the new pipe on in situ, wobbling around on ladders, half way up the boiler. A quick test with steam proved the repair to be sound Another half hour fiddling saw the trunking back on. A further half hour saw our loco off shed and away to take the 16.05pm train to Ramsbottom. A fantastic sight and a fantastic effort, thanks to all involved.
Simon Holroyd, Deputy CME
Saturday 21 January 2012
New spark arrestors fitted
Fire risk, caused by sparks from the chimney and hot cinders from the ashpan, has been a problem that has existed since steam motive power became a reality.
Fortunately, the Duke lends itself to being covered underneath by various types of meshes so the risk of fire from the ashpan through hot cinders is not a big issue.
To prevent the emission of sparks from the chimney the Duke has a dual spark arrestor system fitted around the chimney assembly to attempt to ensure that any particles passing through the arrestor would be so small as to not start a lineside fire.
The meshes on the Duke's arrestors are now being replaced after 8 years of good service.
Support crew member Ken Wilcock has already completed one of the two interlocking screens and is now on with the second.
71000 on the North Wales Coast: 1990
Fantastic pacing shot of 71000 on the North Wales Coast. Shot from the A55 on the 19th December 1990.
This and many other fabulous clips are on this fantastic PSOV DVD.
Two hours and five minutes of non stop Duke action.
This DVD can be purchased from the Trust during January 2013 at a discounted price of £12 plus £1.50 postage to all UK mainland addresses.
Please make cheques payable to Phoenix Heritage Rail Ltd (the trading subsidiary of the Trust) and send to:
David Brown
Phoenix Heritage Rail Ltd
11 Stirling Close
Woolston
Warrington
Cheshire
WA1 4DW
Monday 16 January 2012
ELR launch for newly painted Duke
71000 Duke of Gloucester has spent its entire life in preservation, painted in two pack acrylic spray paint. The first time this was done in the late 80s, the finish was very durable and looked superb. A repaint in 2004 was not such a success with the loco starting to look rather tatty, so we decided on a partial repaint to see us through to the end of the engine's ticket. This time it is being brush painted like it was in BR service - only better! The boiler, running boards, buffer planks, piano front and tender have all received attention.
The work has been entrusted to Ian Hewitt and his team at Heritage Painting who have battled the elements over the Christmas period to get the job done, with the deadline for completion being the January 21st/22nd Winter Steam Gala at the East Lancs Railway. The finish is superb, better than we could have ever hoped for and, whilst not quite finished as I write this, we are very exited at the prospect of seeing the finished article next week in the sunlight, as we prepare for a weekend's running.
See you there
Simon Holroyd, Deputy CME
The work has been entrusted to Ian Hewitt and his team at Heritage Painting who have battled the elements over the Christmas period to get the job done, with the deadline for completion being the January 21st/22nd Winter Steam Gala at the East Lancs Railway. The finish is superb, better than we could have ever hoped for and, whilst not quite finished as I write this, we are very exited at the prospect of seeing the finished article next week in the sunlight, as we prepare for a weekend's running.
See you there
Simon Holroyd, Deputy CME
Saturday 14 January 2012
ELR Winter Steam Gala
The Duke of Gloucester's next appearance will be at the East Lancashire Railway's Winter Steam Gala on 21st and 22nd of January 2012.
At the gala there will be a sales stand selling a range of 71000 steam memorabilia.
New for the gala will be a 71000 branded tie, a 71000 embroidered sweater available in large and extra large and a new booklet on British Caprotti valve gear.
Of particular interest is the offer for sale of a number of items from the Trust vaults including one limited edition framed print by Mark White commissioned by the Trust in 1996. The print below has been presented to the Trust by Mark.
Also on offer is a large framed print of the "Children in Need Special" with 71000 hauling the first steam train out of Euston in 1995 since the end of steam.
Not only will there be 71000 branded memorabilia but also new items such as framed prints, DVDs and books of general steam interest all at very reasonable prices.
Credit and debit cards are welcome so you will be able to take advantage of our tremendous offers.
All proceeds go toward the upkeep of the locomotive and all our staff are unpaid volunteers.
At the gala there will be a sales stand selling a range of 71000 steam memorabilia.
New for the gala will be a 71000 branded tie, a 71000 embroidered sweater available in large and extra large and a new booklet on British Caprotti valve gear.
Of particular interest is the offer for sale of a number of items from the Trust vaults including one limited edition framed print by Mark White commissioned by the Trust in 1996. The print below has been presented to the Trust by Mark.
Also on offer is a large framed print of the "Children in Need Special" with 71000 hauling the first steam train out of Euston in 1995 since the end of steam.
Not only will there be 71000 branded memorabilia but also new items such as framed prints, DVDs and books of general steam interest all at very reasonable prices.
Credit and debit cards are welcome so you will be able to take advantage of our tremendous offers.
All proceeds go toward the upkeep of the locomotive and all our staff are unpaid volunteers.
Tuesday 10 January 2012
Friday 6 January 2012
Tuesday 3 January 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)