Goodbye and thanks for all the fish...

20th December 2010

Well, we are drawing to the close of another year and a quick look back through the blog shows this was probably the busiest yet. No need to go over everything we've done (you could buy the blog book - see postings below - for that!). Needless to say a number of people have worked very hard to assist this year and my thanks go to them for really helping make a difference and ensure the performance our visitors enjoy is amongst the best in the World!

Next year there are two exciting events, plus even more regular steam around the site, the Y7, the return in the summer of the NER coach, ongoing restoration projects, visits by engines and of our own to other locations plus all the usual developments such as those we have seen this year. We should also see Dunrobin arrive along with the private saloon. I hope we will be 'side tipping' and maybe even loading the tipper by steam... A number of Friends projects should be complete, including the SOS bus and street sweep. Closest to my heart (maybe curators shouldn't have favourites, but I do and this is it!), there is a chance the Lewin may move under its own power later in the year - and hauling a rake of restored chaldrons with it will be a wonderful moment!

I hope readers will forgive the Douglas Adams reference in the title of this post!

It therefore remains only for me to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Below: Jonathan Clay's painting of the Lewin as it should look by this time next year...

Beamish Purchases Dunrobin!

17th December 2010

We are delighted to announce that after over 12 months of work and discussion we have agreed to purchase Dunrobin, the Sharp Stewart 0-4-4T built in 1895 for the Duke of Sutherland to use to haul his private train over Highland Railway lines (of which company he was a director). The engine was based at Dunrobin Castle in its own shed. A four wheel carriage (No.58A - the day saloon) was also based there and is also coming to Beamish as part of the deal. A bogie coach used by the Duke is preserved as part of the NRM collection and will be on display at the Scottish Railway Museum, Bo'ness, shortly.

The engine was used until 1920 (though this information has still to be confirmed). In 1950 is was steamed 745 miles, along with 58A, from Dunrobin to New Romney for display alongside the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway. Photographs show it en route in March 1950. In 1965 the engine and coach was purchased by a Canadian businessman for inclusion in a museum he proposed in British Columbia. Shortly after arrival in Canada, the pair were sold for $15,000 to the B.C. government, finding their way to Fort Steele, an open air museum which features a working railway.

Dunrobin was used intermittently, also visiting other fairs and events, including Sacramento in 1991 when it met our Locomotion No.1, last being steamed in 2005. In Canada it has been fitted with an air pump, steam generator and a buckeye coupling. It was deemed surplus to requirements and after a chance visit by railway journalist Tony Streeter, it came to Beamish's attention that a sale might be possible.

The need for our own steam locomotive to operate at Rowley has been well demonstrated this season, with the variety of engines hired in costing both in terms of hire fees and haulage. We will have the Y7 next year and Dunrobin will be overhauled to come in alongside this in due course. The overhaul programme will be determined once the engine has been brought back to Beamish, a long journey for such an elderly machine! Whilst it is not of North Eastern origin, it will fit in well with its high-Victorian appearance.

The engine has had some distinguished patrons - the cab having seen figures including King Edward VII, King George V, King George VI, King Alfonso of Spain, Kaiser Wilhelm II and Winston Churchill - though obviously not all at the same time! These figures reflect the Duke of Sutherland's position in politics and explain his desire to have his own private train.

So, what next? We need to go out and prepare Dunrobin and 58A for shipping, and then bring them back, probably next spring. I'd like to have them on display at the GNSF but we shall see if we can make that date. A survey will then be carried out on the boiler, we'll have a look at the loco mechanically then take it from there.

In the meantime, here are some photographs courtesy of Bob Whethman.

Chaldron Progress - Part 15

17th December 2010

Down in the (very!) cold Colliery Engine Works, Alan Milburn is making good progress on the chaldron 'flat' waggon, a barrier vehicle with buffers of both standard and chaldron height to enable more flexibility in our shunting operations when using Coffee Pot No.1 or guest engines. A flat waggon will also be very useful for moving materials. The entire construction is from reclaimed timber and components from the 'spares' pile.

Below: The longitudinals for the flat are seen being prepared on its wheelsets. To the left is one of the substantial cross members for the frame.

Below: The completed L1833, which just awaits its lettering. It is currently trapped in by the flat waggon and winterised steam locomotives so will not see daylight until next year.

Below: Another view of the flat, beyond this is the overhauled L328, now complete.

Below: A general view of our waggon works!

Fish & Chip Shop progress

17th December 2010

Here are some views of the Fish and Chip shop, now that the snow has (to some extent!) cleared and enabled work to proceed. The brickwork seen is the main building, where the preparation and frying take place, while the breeze block structure at right angles will be clad in corrugated iron and be a covered eating area. To the far side of this a lean-to will contain the Berriman's chip van seen before in this blog and now waiting for collection once we can be certain of some clear weather and have got past the busy Christmas event at the Museum.

Away from the chip shop, original fish shop tiling is being conserved and restored, the three coal fired fryers/ranges (two working, one static) are being restored and Shaun Kay has been producing a large number of wooden framed windows for the building.

We are all eagerly awaiting the first frying (in beef dripping!) in the coal fired ranges!!!

Adams Patent Car Elevator

16th December 2010

Adams Patent Car Elevator

Some reference has been made on this blog before to the Adams Patent Car Elevator purchased recently by the Museum and being restored by the Friends. As some background information to this, the following may be of interest:

Automotor Journal in 1910 reported on a 'must have' for any motorist without access to an inspection pit. Two illustrations also appeared in the article (see below). The patent for the elevator was accepted on 26th April 1906, usefully including a number of detailed drawings of the elevator and describing its operation.

The basis of the device are two parallel channels, adjustable in spacing to allow for different card widths, and supported on an inverted 'A' frame, set to one side of the centres. This enabled a car to be driven or winched (a winch is fitted) onto the 1:3 sloping frame for inspection and maintenance. If complete access underneath the car was required, the frame could pivot about the tip of the 'A' frame and be supported to the rear by a very flimsy looking rod.

Castor wheels were fitted to the frame to enable the whole ensemble to be moved once the car was elevated.

By and large the elevator looks both dangerous and awkward! We haven't seen any others surviving and sadly do not know the origin of our example. It will, when completed, make an interesting display piece in the Town Garage and will probably be used to elevate (in ramp form) the SHEW car in order to show the remaining articulated features of the latter.

My thanks to Rory and Sinclair and Ian Bean for the information above.

Project roundup

16th December 2010

Despite yet more snow falling, various projects are still underway. As a sample of what we are doing, here is a brief summary:

Lewin (No.18)

• Work on drawings progressing to completion
• David Young making oil reservoirs for axle boxes, including patterns for cast body and lids
• Project management plan developed
• Injector patterns being prepared
• Numberplate patterns made and awaiting casting
• Research into livery and paints to be used continues

Coffee Pot No.1

• To be fitted with a chimney damper to enable better control of the fire (without an enclosed ashpan there is a tendency to 'blow off' for prolonged periods). Drawings produced and David Young making and machining components for imminent fitting.

Steam Mule and Water Pump

• New brass 'skeleton' made by David Young to enable a sheet to hang over the Mule
• Engine driven pump completed and awaiting fitting and connection of pipework
• Pump to be driven via belt complete.

Ruston Proctor Portable

• In Suffolk for overhaul. Inspection has confirmed need for new inner firebox and front tubeplate as part of this

Newcastle tram 114

• Preparation for repaint underway, of which more to be announced.
• Mechanical overhaul to commence in April

Sunderland 101 (the Blackpool Balloon)

• Beamish Tramway Group to fit a frame to enable trolley pole to be fitted

Chaldron Waggons

• Waggon No.L1833 complete
• Work on flat 'barrier' waggon underway with wheels and bearing pedestals completed and side rails being cut

From the Friends' Workshop

• Repaint continuing of horse drawn charabanc 'Happy Days'
• Rebuild of SOS Bus
• Rebuild of horse drawn street sweeper
• Completion of horse drawn spray cart (started by museum staff some time ago)
• Cycle racks for period cycles to be used by staff to move around the site
• Restoration of Adams Car Elevator (for Town Garage)
• Rebuild of railed bogies for Colliery Engine Works
• Construction of a further wheelbarrow

There are inevitably several things from this list that I have missed out, including two further transport publications due to appear in the spring. However this gives some idea of the work being carried out in the 'quiet' season.

The Y7 is progressing well in Norfolk and was steamed on Tuesday.

Collections on the move

15th December 2010

Work at the RMS continues in connection with the forthcoming movement of collections. In order to provide additional storage space a new shed is being erected to the rear of the existing RMS building. The weather has rather hindered progress, but the land has been cleared and foundations have been dug for the steel uprights.

Below: Two views of the construction site, looking unusual sans snow!

Below: In connection with the moves, the opportunity was taken to extract the former Manchester Horse Bus, which we are transferring to the Heaton Park Tramway. A long abandoned restoration project, the bus will be completed for operation in the Manchester park, working alongside the Manchester Horse Tram L53 - a fantastic combination! There was very little prospect of completing the work at Beamish or ever using the bus at the Museum, and given the absence of a local connection it is only sensible to make it available for others to complete and use. Here are two views of it loaded aboard a Websters lorry, note the bus was mounted on a timber frame in order to jig it during restoration. Also included are the new wheels, restored forecarriage and the remains of the rear platform. A lot of work remains to be done including manufacturing from scratch everything upstairs (and the stairs themselves!).

Water Cranes

8th December 2010

A plan from the archive chest... Cowans Sheldon water columns. I thought this might be of interest to modellers in particular - if only we could still order such things (at realistic prices!) today...

From David Young's Workshop...

8th December 2010

While the snow and subsequent freeze has had a major impact on progress outside, volunteer David Young has taken confinement to his workshop in his stride! The result is the first machined clack valve for Lewin and some substantial progress on the additional water pump for the Steam Mule. The latter is also gaining a brass pole frame that will support a tarpaulin.

Below: The clack valve (or non-return valve to the boiler in alternative parlance) for Lewin. Note that it is the same as those made for Coffee Pot No.1, in fact we are waiting a further three sets of castings for these components as the first batch of three were flawed. One will be fitted to Coffee Pot No.1 for next season, two are for Lewin and one is for Coffee Pot No.17 (one day...). There are also some spare components. The standardisation on this valve ensures we can hold some spares as well as quickly swap between items where mounting holes allow. I expect we would use the same type on Malleable No.5 given the chance! The type is based on No.17's original, which is very similar to those appearing in photographs of No.18 (Lewin).

The valve consists of a body casting, an insert, valve itself, restricting nut and threaded bolt (which controls the lift of the valve and enables the valve to be shut - not fitted on the original but deemed by all operators as a prudent improvement - a stuck clack that cannot be isolated can be problematical).

Below: Meanwhile, the Steam Mule has gained this pump, which works on the bi-pass principle and is driven off an eccentric on the end of the crankshaft. This will enable us to train staff in an important feature found on road engines, and gives the Mule its third means of putting water into the boiler (engine driven pump, hand pump and injector). Once again Dave has excelled in making this component both fit and in the machining work required on a small and involved casting.

The snow thingy!

3rd December 2010

Well, the snow has kept coming, and last night it froze. Hard. For a week or so we have been mulling over the problem of keeping the tramway clear and a snowplough, tram or otherwise mounted would seem an obvious solution. I have taken the curatorial stance that we don't mount anything on the trams themselves, but we do have some old Blackpool EE trucks tucked away. The thought is that one of these, with a weight on top and a decent blade, can be pushed by any tram, or the forklift (or even towed on a strop by a road vehicle).

Meanwhile, Darren and Mark have taken the project forward with this temporary contraption, using a maintenance trolley, pack of breeze blocks and some wood! We'll all be waiting with baited breath to see if it works...!!!

It's ready!

1st December 2010

The previously trumpeted blog book of the year is now available! It is a 40 page (plus colour covers), softback, full colour record of the last 11 months of transport developments, events and restorations at Beamish Museum. Followers of the blog will recall I tested the water re the idea in October. The book is now available and has been produced through blurb.com which is a self publishing website. I have a test copy and the quality is excellent. You can see some preview pages by following the link. Please do order one - interest was high and I hope this proves to be a success, with other ideas for publications in the offing...

You can order a copy through blurb - the link is in the posting below - price £9.95 with all profits going to Beamish Museum... Meanwhile, the snow is still falling hard:

Blog book of 2010 now available!

A Year of Beamish Transport by Paul Jarman | Make Your Own Book