Progress on the clubs loco, Wren, continues but it will take all of the closed season to complete its rebuild. The new copper boiler has now been mounted, along with the water tank, and new boiler fittings made. New iron piston rings have been manufactured and the cylinders have been refitted. The wheels, axle boxes and springs are in place as well as the smoke box and chimney. Still to make are the various steam and exhaust pipes that go inside the smoke box, the boiler cladding including a false backhead, and a new fire hole door. It is highly likely that the coupling rods will need rebushing though a final decision on this has still to be made. In my view, getting the loco ready for the next running season is the highest priority on the clubs agenda. There is progress to report on the new diesel project though sadly not a lot. We have purchased a second hand two cylinder diesel engine rated at around 16 h.p. It appears to have had little use and starts very easily on our test rig. Included in the purchase was an alternator which should prove useful and hydraulic motors and pump which will not. The problem with the motors/pump combination is that the motors turn too slowly at around 60 rpm (when the diesel engine is running at 1500 rpm ) whilst we have calculated that we need around 600 rpm at the loco wheels to give the speed we require. Trying to get a 10 to 1 speed increase from motors that are going to be mounted on the bogies themselves is impractical so we need two new motors and a new pump. A local hydraulic company seem keen to assist us but we are still awaiting their advice and practical help. We are no closer to finding out why our existing club “diesel” has a tendency to cut out at high revs but this is mainly because we have not had the time to investigate thoroughly. The rebuilding of the clubs Maid of Kent has progressed since my last report. We now have a chassis that runs on air but a little work is still required on modifying the drain cocks. As previously reported there was an issue with the front drivers not touching the track. This has been corrected by taking a spacer out from between the bogie and its stretcher but as a consequence of doing this the bogie wheels hit the frames when the bogie is turned and the clearance between the bottom of the inside cylinders and the bogie is reduced. The cut outs in the loco frames were modified to allow the bogie wheels to clear the frames and new drain cocks of much small dimensions have been made to cater for the reduced clearance.
I am pleased to report that the extended loop project is now complete other than placing of chippings on the track bed. All the soil that has been heaped up for the best part of three years has been spread in a thin layer, nicely contouring that part of the site, and the side of the cutting that required topsoil spreading at the time of my last report has now been done. This soil spreading work has been made so much easier thanks to the loan of a mini digger by Mark Avill for which the Society is extremely grateful.
The mini digger has also allowed us to make a start on the construction of the turn table, outside the proposed loco shed, which has been in the grand plan for quite a long time now. The excavation work is complete and most of the soil has either been removed from site or is loaded into a skip ready for removal. A small amount of the excavated soil will be retained to backfill behind the pit wall. Details of the actual mechanics of the turntable are still to be finalised but I do not think this will prevent continued construction of the pit itself.
The three parties that were held since my last report were successful despite a little rain at two of them. We attended the Greenhill and Bradway Gala in August which was satisfactory despite reduced takings due I think to the general economic downturn. The event still outstanding for this year is the three day Christmas Festivities in Sheffield’s Botanical Gardens running from 9th to 11th December. This is an evening event which is rather special and atmospheric but I suspect it will be rather cold as well.
We finished this seasons running in the Park at the end of October. Whilst our takings were very low in the last few weeks of the season I am sure that overall we took more this year than last from this source. We have recently completed the installation of a water heater for the sink in the toilet block including a frost stat and heater to protect the equipment. Minor repairs have been completed to the drill quill which had become stiff due to misuse and to the grinder which had suffered a broken belt. A number of concrete slabs have been laid under the track, where it starts to rise up the gradient, in order to correct the undulations which had become apparent. We have not quite got the transition from level to gradient right and further work will be necessary. We have been offered a portable building that was formerly used as an electrical sub station. I understand it looks like a brick building (though it is not brick) with an apex roof. It measures 4mts x 3mts, has double doors at the front and one door at the side. The only requirement on our part is to pay for its transport to our site, which is being dealt with. The Society wishes to thank all those concerned in making this unit available to us. The Society is considering arranging a mini bus trip to another societies open day sometime next year but more information on this will be given in due course.
As usual I would like to thank all concerned for the work done and invite anyone who is thinking about joining us to do so.
