Locomotive News - June 2011
The Sunday Gang
The Sunday gang started back in the winter months of 2009. Under the instruction and supervision of Andrew Summers and Len Pullinger a small, select group was recruited to push forward the restoration and return to steam of No. 24 'Calbourne'.
Working every other weekend good progress was made although more immediate operating duties, including cleaning the engines, took over during the summer. During the winter of 2011 the group was expanded to include younger volunteers, this time working on No. 11 'Newport'.
Good progress is again being made and work is also taking place on Hunslet Austerity No. 198 'Royal Engineer'. This is an ideal opportunity for our younger generation to learn about the engines and to put their skills to the test restoring them and firing them.
Andrew Summers
O2 Class W24 Calbourne
In traffic. Will be in steam for '40 Hours of Trains'.
A1/X Class W8 Freshwater
Available for traffic and will be in steam for '40 Hours of Trains'.
A1/X Class W11 Newport
Work is progressing with volunteer effort during the week, although progress has slowed as most of the volunteers are now involved in loco operating duties for the daily service. The tanks and covers have been shot blasted and painted and are now awaiting repairs. Work has started on the boiler to make ready to go into the frames.
Hawthorne Leslie W37 invincible
Preventative maintenance undertaken and remains out-of-service.
Barclay W38 Ajax
New mud hole doors have been fitted and steam test passed. Currently undergoing A exam ready for return to traffic.
Hunslet Austerity 192 Waggoner
Running well after major winter work to the axle boxes, valves and motion. Currently the mainstay of Railway's daily service along with No.24.
Hunslet Austerity 198 Royal Engineer
Out of service undergoing major work. Wheels have been re-profiled at South Devon Railway Engineering and are due to return on the 22nd June. Meanwhile work has gone into cleaning up the frames and removed parts, ready for re-fit. Also awaiting valve and piston checks.
BR Class 03 D2059
General repairs ongoing, some new faults found and undergoing attention.
BR Class 05 D2554
Diesel pump has been sent away for reconditioning.
Andrew Barclay Diesel Shunting Locomotive 235
In service as shunting loco.
40th Anniversary Gala – 28th, 29th & 30th May 2011
The very busy and successful 40th Anniversary Gala saw our two Island engines, 'Calbourne' and 'Freshwater' working alongside the two guests; LBSCR E4 B473 'Birch Grove' from the Bluebell Railway and LSWR Beattie Well Tank 30585 from Buckinghamshire Railway Centre.
An intensive working timetable, with locomotive duty changes on each Gala day, gave our visitors an impressive variety of locomotive and rolling stock combinations. A large number of locomotive crew and support staff were required to deliver the event, as the pictures below demonstrate.
Since the Gala around 50 videos of the event have been published on You Tube - well worth a look if you were unable to be there in person.
-