Chaldron Progress - Part 10

30th July 2010

Alan continues to make progress on the first chaldron, number L1219. The next one will be L1833, recreating one of the vehicles dismantled at Beamish in the early 1990s. The aim will be for a working set of eight, with one cosmetic (L1115 - this has a split underframe) and two derelict for future restoration - L1220 and L1221. Add to this L189 which is our gate guardian plus L25, L434 and L1357 as three 'type specimens' in original condition and the large pile of spare parts accumulated over the years.

A full list will appear in due course and the whole tale will be printed in a limited edition publication, the availability of which will be publicised in due course (when I've finished writing it!).

Below: Alan aligns the first, lower, planks of the body.

Below: Two planks on each side now fitted - as these are fitted I will record progress to show the quite complex compound mitres needed to fit the planks as well as the unique shape of the Londonderry chaldrons.

Below: An overview of progress, now only weeks from completion!

Below: I also inspected L1357 this week, to investigate some of the original lettering. It is stored in the Regional Museum Store atop three containers so this view is quite unusual! It also bears lettering stating 'Duff Only' - presumably this relates to coal spillages. It may say more, I haven't studied the faded lettering in detail yet...

Below: While on the container I took this view of the RMS interior (or rather, one part of the interior!). Tours of this are likely to run during the Great North Steam Fair so look out for those. Tours are available at other times - contact the Access Team at Beamish via the museum number.
Notable in this view is the living van of Sally Beach, a bow-top Gypsy caravan and beyond this another Gypsy caravan. In the foreground are farm carts and all around are shelves containing smaller items of machinery and domestic collections.

Visitors confirmed for Great North Steam Fair

30th July 2010

Here are the first (in fact most of them) confirmations for the GNSF this September - 2 - 5th...

The successful format of working displays and plenty of activity will apply, with passenger rides at the railway station, three engines working on the colliery railway and a host of road steam, visiting trams and demonstrations across the museum site.

The visitors:

Below: David Buck is bringing his Aveling & Porter Traction Engine Locomotive 'Sir Vincent' - to operate in the colliery area.

Below: Joining Sir Vincent will be Mick Smith's A&P Traction Engine Locomotive 'Blue Circle'.

Below: David Viewing is bringing his 'Steam Dinosaurs' - the remains of two Aveling & Porter Traction Engine Locomotives (it is thought). These will be on display in the 'Steam Dinosaurs Marquee' which will also feature our own Clayton & Shuttleworth portable plus a few other exhibits as well as hosting various displays and activities.

Below: RSH 'Sir Cecil Cochrane' will be providing motive power at the station.

Below: Dave Potter will be operating his o-4-0VBGT 'Paddy' on the construction railway in the colliery yard.

Below: Subject to availability we hope to operate the Clapham Horse Bus.

Below: Manchester reversible horse tram L53 will be making a return visit and will operate on all four days of the event this year.

Below: Leeds 6 is staying at Beamish for the event - an extension of the previous loan which was due to end in August.

Below: The Aylciffe Bus Group will be running another of their fleet, this Bristol double decker, around the site.

Below: Some well known engines to these pages now... Michael Davison's Marshall 'Mary Margaret'.

Below: Neil Corner's Burrell Showman's engine 'Winston Churchill'.

Below: Ian Cragg's Fowler T3 roller 'Whitby Jet'.

Below: Mark Sutherland's Wallis 'Greenwell'.

Below: Guy Rutter's 6 ton Wallis Advance roller.

Below: Peter Corbett's Aveling roller 'Julia'.

Below: Alan Borthwick's Aveling roller 'Ayesha'.

Below: Mike Farmer returns with his Wallis Advance roller.

Below: Another chance to see working motorcycles including this visiting Sunbeam.

Below: The Model Engineers will be hosting a display of model engineering in the Collections Study Room at the Regional Resource Centre. They will also be giving rides throughout the event.

There are at least three other engines that is hoped will attend, to be confirmed or photographs obtained...

The Home Fleet...

All the museum's own working engines that can work, will be in action over the weekend, or in the case of the Waggonway, will be on display when not on passenger turns.
Featuring Coffee Pot No.1, Rambler, The Waggonway, Steam Winder, Steam Mule and the debut of our steam gallopers...

There will also be tours 'behind the scenes' hopefully to include the Regional Museum Store and our new steam workshops (where Lewin No.18 and the Ruston Proctor portable engines are being restored at present). Family activities will also feature as well as all of the usual Beamish attraction!

31gets it's crests!

26th July 2010

Blackpool 31 received the missing crests today - finally completing the comprehensive repaint of this tram. The result lifts it from impressive to stunning!

Below: The overall appearance.

Below: A close up of one of the new vinyl crests and lining underway.

Below: Phil Anderson completes the lining on the other side, this was left in order that it could accurately follow the shape and size of the crest.

Colliery Movements

23rd July 2010

A busy day in the colliery! After the chaldrons were moved to the colliery, Lewin was lifted aboard the lorry ready to be moved to the RMS for stripping of the frames. These need straightening and will be done as a contract job while the motion etc. is overhauled at Beamish.

Below: A sequence of views of the lift.

Below: The other Coffee Pot, No.17, received its new toolbox today - care of Stanegate Restorations & Replicas - ready for the day the engine returns to steam! This is a slow burner job of collecting parts etc. in readiness for that day.

Below: Coffee Pot No.1 in action...

Chaldron Project - Part 9

23rd July 2010

This morning we moved the five chaldron waggons located at the station back to the colliery in readiness for the overhaul and repainting of these over the coming month.

Below: Coffee Pot shunts the waggons into the desired order - despite appearances they are not all the same!

Below: A B&W view of the shunting in progress - nothing really to date this view!

Below: Meanwhile Alan has placed all of the ribs into position and has been cutting and painting the boards ready for fitting.

Below: Back outside, four waggons are taken for a test run...

Chaldron Progress - Part 8

19th July 2010

Below: The five chaldrons currently at the station will shortly be moved to the colliery railway where the two in worst condition will be overhauled and the others repainted. The aim is to have eight waggons available for next season, with them coming on stream from this September - weather permitting!

Below: 1115 illustrated the common problem, with not only deteriorating paintwork, but the top rails being badly rotten. The rest of the body is in good order, though a cross member on the chassis needs replacing.

Below: Meanwhile, Alan has re-wheeled the first re-build and has started adding the body ribs, as seen here. Once these are in place, he fills the gaps with planks until the familiar and distinctive shape appears once again...

Centre engine and truck return!

19th July 2010

This morning Ian and Edward Howard delivered the centre truck from the gallopers, complete with newly rebuilt centre engine. The work has included a new boiler and extensive mechanical overhaul, as well as a new makers plate (see below) - the original having been polished blank! The temptation for a test steaming was too much and by lunchtime Stuart had a fire in the box and a few hours later we were able to see the engine in action for the first time in over half a century...

Below: The new makers plate, replacing the old which had been polished smooth!

Below: A view of the motion and the restored organ engine. We think there are only half a dozen working engines in the country, though would be happy to be corrected...

Below: An overall view of the engine, with the blue ladders serving as temporary access to the footplate.

Below: A short film of both centre engine and organ engine (fed from the same boiler) running:

Ruston Portable and other news!

14th July 2010

Here is a quick roundup of what is currently happening with the Transport & Industry around Beamish...

Below: The Friends are making excellent progress on the reconstruction of the SOS bus. The beading is now being fitted and the end is now in site for this lengthy and extensive project. I hear that there are hopes it might make its debut around the 2011 PftP event - one to watch out for!

Below: The interior of the SOS is very nearly complete, with the addition of period adverts and much of the seating.

Below: Down in the steam workshop, Davy has been building up and straightening buffer block straps for the chaldrons, one in particular having been badly twisted.

Below: The Steam Mule has its tool bx, courtesy of Shaun Kay. It will be de-mountable. Fire iron brackets and a tarpaulin are also planned, once Dave Young has completed the lagging and the pattern making for the crankshaft driven pump - to train on use of bypass valves as commonly found on traction engines and steam rollers.

Below: I've featured this engraving before, but it is a useful reminder of what the Ruston will look like when restored - the aim being for completion by June 2011! Ours has the longer colonial firebox (for a larger surface area when burning wood) but is otherwise very similar, including the brake.

Below: The Ruston and its stillage - a palletable crate into which all the parts can be safely loaded for storage.

Below: This morning Stuart removed the crankshaft and flywheel.

Below: This crack is on the flywheel boss. We have, fortunately, a spare, which can be modified to fit this engine.

Below: The smokebox, showing the door reinforced with the top of a 40 gallon oil drum!

Below: Looking onto the top of the firebox (which is to be replaced). The crown stays are prominent (vertical rods) and the two longitudinal stays are also clear (running horizontally away from the camera).

Below: Again this has featured before, but this general view through the firehole door reveals the poor condition of the box and the quilting on the right hand side, complete with some very crude repairs!