General News - April 2009
The arrival of a new fork-lift truck has plus hire of a HIAB for a day has enabled various items to be moved and placed on more prominent display - such as the steam compressor seen below. John has also been expanding his tinplate O gauge railway in the 'playroom'! I've also included a pre-painted shot of the roadmenders hut, to reveal what a work of art this really is...
May 5th 2009
I thought a few photos of the rear rolls from the steam roller 'Fiddler' might be of interest. These rolls are unusual in that the tyre, normally a tight fit onto the wheel, is separated by wooden packing pieces. I am told this was typical in Lancashire and North Wales. Unfortunately 'Fiddler's packing had disintegrates so it was deemed prudent to replace the lot. Below are some images of the left hand wheel, with tyre removes (no easy task!). This is a contract job at the Bowes Railway, and is in cooperation between John Moore (metal), Alan Milburn (wood) and John Young (brute force!). It shows how useful and effective these Victorian workshops can be and also gives a glimpse into potential future works that could be carried out there.
Above: The wheel, with tyre removed.
Above: The tyre. Note the holes for securing bolts, this stops the tyre slipping on the wheel.
Above: The other wheel, showing the securing nut and also the construction of tyre, wooden packing and inner wheel. Not a feature on many rollers.
Above: Four of these metal packing pieces (acting in the 'dog & bitch' carpentry style of packing) are fitted to each wheel. All were broken and required specialist cast iron welding to make them fit for further service. If they give trouble in the future, it may be prudent to replace them in SG iron, which is less prone to shattering at weak points.
Above: Securing bolts, new (left) and old! The new bolt subsequently has the head turned to a taper to enable it to rebate into the tyre. Note the brute force required on the old one to remove it!
May 5th 2009
A recent visit to West Yorkshire to inspect a scarifier also presented the opportunity to look around the Armley Mills Industrial Museum where narrow gauge Hunslet 0-4-0WT 'Jack' and standard gauge Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST 'Aldwyth' were seen on display. Jack is in operating condition and an interesting demonstration line is laid in the museum grounds, offering some rural as well as typically industrial scenes for 'Jack' to work within.
The scarifier (below) is a device used to break up road surfaces and this example is towed behind an engine or roller. Some steam rollers had them fitted to the tender. Scarifier work was hard and the roller 'Fiddler' displays many scars from a hard life towing one of these implements. Fiddler and its sister T3 roller were supplied new from Fowler with a scarifier, substantiating these conclusions.
Hopefully we will be able to move the scarifier to Beamish for restoration and use on the non-tarmacced roads on site.
May 5th 2009
I am now picking up Coffee Pot's blog on this thread, for administrative purposes.
Current progress at the boilermakers is such that the cylinders are being trial fitted to the boiler shell. This is a critical stage as the alignment between cylinder and crankshaft casting is crucial. Once this stage is complete, the inner firebox can be fitted, the foundation ring being on order for this.
Above: Coffee Pots boiler in the foreground, whilst in the background a Fowler ploughing engine receives attention to its firebox. Inside is the rivetter, who is heating then placing the rivets, before using an air hammer to shape and close them. The chap in overalls is holding a hammer over the end, to provide some resistance to this process.
24th April 2009
Mark, Darren and Bob have started work on the far end of the colliery exchange sidings. The point in the foreground now sits on new timbers and materials have been stockpiled in readiness for further work to continue. The siding furthest from the photographer was in such poor condition that it has been completely lifted and the space used as a plant access road. It will be re-laid at a later date.
Also on site was the newly completed body for a replica Welsh Highland Railway carriage, destined for the vintage train being assembled to run on the 2ft gauge railway in North Wales. The standard of work is superb and the team are to congratulated on meeting the tight deadline for this - it is due to leave for assembly onto its bogies tomorrow!
14th April 2009
I called in at Bowes today - the hinges and new gates build by John Moore (hinges) and Alan Milburn (gates) are coming along well and work should be finished shortly. Also on site was Paul Young (on his Easter holidays from school) painting the Beamish roadmender's hut. Paul's Grandfather Derek built this, with help from Paul's fatehr John Young - three generations still working on a colliery site using traditional skills!
12th April 2009
Gateshead 10 rests in the warm sun enjoyed at Beamish over Easter weekend. Open top cars tend to prove rather more popular in such weather, with 10 remaining on display for much of the period.
12th April 2009
Michael Davison brought his 1889 built Marshall Traction Engine 'Mary Margaret' to operate over the four days of the Easter period. Working singly and with a living van that Michael and his team are restoring, the Marshall proved to be an enormous crowd pleaser, attracting large numbers of admirers across the museum site. My thanks to Michael, Mike, Graham, Matt and Simon for the care they took in presenting and operating the engine throughout the weekend. Hopefully we will see them back before too long...
12th April 2009
No.22 basks in the warm evening sun after another day's work in Beamish colliery, probably playing to the largest crowds yet.
29th March 2009
It was bound to happen! Whilst 'exploring' some of the recently exposed sidings to the rear of Francis Street, 22 pushed the gauge apart and as a result dropped one driving wheel off the rails. Fortunately we were able to re-rail the loco in only ten minutes, much to the amusement of the appreciative crowd who gathered to witness the activity!
We are no longer using this section of track but I am hopeful that we will be able to relay the whole area relatively quickly, if partnership plans with a local firm come to fruition. Watch this space...
