Worthing Model Railway Exhibition

We had a good weekend at the Worthing Model Railway Exhibition last weekend.  We met plenty of old friends and made some new ones too!

We put on a display of the restoration works we are carrying out at present, including someWe  pictures of the new cylinder patterns being constructed as seen in the previous post.  We had a reasonably good sales event and also managed to put on a small display of model trains that are typical of the Steyning Line, Bluebell Line and Uckfield line (with just a small amount of license!)

 

The models included the new birdcage set by Bachmann with a Fairburn tank pulling, an M7 on a pull and Push set, DEMU, 3 car sets with standard and Ivatt tanks and an N class with a train bound for Shoreham Cement Works!

There were also a selections of military models expertly constructed and weathered by Stuart Bardouleau on display.

Thanks to all who came and spoke with us and popped a shilling in the collecting bucket!

We will next be setting up our stand at Sheffield Park for the Deltic Weekend and then a week later for the Shareholders weekend when you will be able to see the progress on the restoration in the Villa.  Please do pop along and have a chat with us, it makes the day go so much better!

Don't forget we still need to find the cash to pay to complete the restoration!  You can donate at: https://mydonate.bt.com/events/27

Cylinder Patern Progress

We have heard from Premier Patterns today.  The construction of the patterns has begun with the Left Hand side pattern. The process consists of sections being cut from blocks of pattern grade polystyrene and carefully numbered. These pieces will then will be "glued" together to form the complete pattern.
The picture below show some of the pattern components laid out on the pattern makers bench prior to being assembled together.   The bottom picture shows the beginnings of the construction of the pattern following some glueing and some test fitting of the pieces.  In the background of the picture you can see the CNC router which is used to cut the blocks of polystyrene creating a localised snowstorm!

Slices of cylinder pattern awaiting building into a complete pattern

The Left Hand Cylinder Pattern under construction

The pictures were taken by Andy Timmins and are courtesy of Premier Patterns

We have also been informed that the 22mm (7/8) steel plate will be with the profiling department of Tata Steel in Walsall early next week and the cutting process will begin within the next 2 weeks.


We are hopeful that the technical team will be able to visit both factories to view the progress of the works.  Following this we will be able to give you even more detail of the process.

So, things are looking positive for a delivery before November! 

Of course we still need to pay for these items,  especially as we were not initially expecting that the frames would need replacing!  If you are able to help us please E mail us on the address below, or use the text donation also shown below.

Clive D. Emsley
Chairman - The Fenchurch Fund

Project Manager - PROJECT 27
A Sub-Committee of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society

thefenchurchfund@gmail.com

www.bluebell-railway.co.uk

To donate £10 text "FENC72 £10" to 70070

    - you can donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10 just by changing the amount in the text massage.
    - you can also elect to Gift Aid your donation;
    - your operator's standard text charge applies.

An Appeal

We are looking for pictures of 27 (or other P class locos) in SECR, SR or BR liveries.  There is a particular hole in the collection we have of the locos in Southern Black either in Maunsell or Bulleid condition.  If anyone can help us to plug this hole, or supply other pictures we have not seen, we would be extremely grateful.  All pictures will be carefully filed with the photographer/collectors name attached.  If we use the pictures they will be given the correct credits.


If you do have, or know the whereabouts of such pictures we can be contacted at: thefenchurchfund@gmail.com




If you would like to help us restore the loco,We have a BT my donate page and this can be found at: https://mydonate.bt.com/events/27

We can also accept cheques for any value either with or without a gift aid declaration.  If you would like a gift aid declaration form please contact us by E Mail and it can be sent to you. If you are not able to allow us to claim back the Gift Aid, please contact us and we will let you know the best way to donate.

For those of you in the modern age, we also have a text donation page for donations as shown below.
To donate £10 text "FENC72 £10" to 70070

    - you can donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10 just by changing the amount in the text massage.
    - you can also elect to Gift Aid your donation;
    - your operator's standard text charge applies.

Thank you for your continued support and interest in the project, hopefully you will see the fruits of everyone’s labours in around 4 years or so.

Clive D. Emsley
Chairman - The Fenchurch Fund

Project Manager - PROJECT 27
A Sub-Committee of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Societywww.bluebell-railway.co.uk

Works progress on Project 27

Having had a conversation with Matt on Saturday I can tell you that work is progressing well on the restoration project.

Current Works

The eccentrics that were removed from the crank axle a few weeks back have now been thoroughly cleaned and the parts reassembled on the bench ready for machining.  The reason for this is that the eccentrics were worn and slightly oval.  When they have been turned this ovality will be removed.  It is hoped that this will be carried out within the next few weeks and then the non bearing surfaces will be painted before being reassembled onto the axles.

Frames and Cylinders

Tata Steel has told us that the cutting out and marking up of the frames is due to commence during the week beginning 18th of September.  The technical team will be on site to see the process at some stage during this time.  This will be a major step forward in the restoration, and should ensure that the chassis will be fit for a minimum of another 100 yeas service.

The progress with the cylinders is at a similar state and again the technical team will be visiting the Premier Patterns factory to view the progress on the same day as the visit to Tata Steel.  We are hopeful that these parts will be available to us shortly.

For the modellers of you out there!

Hattons models made an announcement at 10:00 this morning that they are to produce a 4mm scale model of the P class locomotive.  They will be modelling both the 1909 and 1910 versions in many liveries.  We are looking forward to seeing all of the models!  See their website for details http://www.hattons.co.uk/NewsDetail.aspx?id=188

Hattons CAD model of 31027 in Early BR Black

Hattons CAD model of 27 as Primrose during the early 1960s.

A few pictures from Matt

As promised, a few pictures showing what has been going on over the last few weeks.  All of the pictures come from Matt Holloway.


Running repairs were required on Captain Baxter's Left side tank following a leak in service. The repair carried out by the Villa Gang consisted of welding a repair patch into the bottom of the tank and making it watertight.  The loco was returned to service in plenty of time to help launch the Elephant Van play coach at Horsted Keynes.

The extent of the patch on the bottom of the tank

Another view of the work

No.3 Captain Baxter at Horsted Keynes launching the play coach!



The task of removing all of the fitted bolts and rivets from the old frames has started. These are being replaced with blue painted temporary bolts to make sure everything is kept in alignment and to keep all the components together.  This will enable us to use the old frames as a reference when erecting the new frames.

The many useable frame components can easily be transferred between the old and new sets, but more importantly, we will use the old frames for reference when carrying out alignment checks on the new frames.  Once we are satisfied that the frame set up is good, the old frames will be "flat packed" and disposed of in the most cost effective manner.

The blue nuts and bolts temporarily holding the frame componentry together

the removed nuts and bolts can bee seen on the end of the packing.



The wheels have been given a coat of high build primer on the visible spoke and hub sections. this emphasises the low points showing through in green.  These areas will be filled with knifing putty followed by a few more coats of filler primer.  the surfaces will be rubbed down between coats and a final rub down will produce a fine smooth finish.  Following this a start will be made on the under coats and top coats before achieving the final finish.

Wheel sets showing the high build primer

Plenty of low spots here!

 

Another example of low spot detection!

And Finally - The great whistle hunt took Matt to Bristol where he espied the whistle in the picture below whilst on a visit to the SS Great Britain.  Originally fitted to the SS Great Eastern, we feel it may be just slightly too big for the P Class!
If you find your self in Bristol, Do visit the ship, it is a magnificent example of Victorian engineering and opulence!

The whistle from the SS Great Eastern

Thank you for your continued support and interest in the project, hopefully you will see the fruits of everyone’s labours in around 4 years or so.

To donate £10 text "FENC72 £10" to 70070

    - you can donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10 just by changing the amount in the text massage.
    - you can also elect to Gift Aid your donation;
    - your operator's standard text charge applies.

Clive D. Emsley
Chairman - The Fenchurch Fund

Project Manager - PROJECT 27
A Sub-Committee of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society
thefenchurchfund@gmail.com


www.bluebell-railway.co.uk

The fund raising goes on!

Thank you for your donations

No.27 in the yard at Sheffield Park in the early 1980s (Photo by Dave Colwell)

Firstly a thank-you to those of you who have already donated towards the cost of the new frames and cylinders, especially for the donations of over £50 (plus gift aid!) a great boost to then coffers!   If you would like to join the others who have donated to the restoration of the loco there are various ways to donate listed below.  


Our sales and information stands will be out and about at the Bluebell and elsewhere during the next few months and here we will have quality merchandise as well as our pickles and preserves on sale.  the list of venues can be found on our previous post.


If you are able it would be good to hear from you and we would be grateful for any donations you are able to make, every penny counts towards the restoration costs. Every penny spent on the loco needs to come from our own efforts.


We have a BT my donate page and this can be found at: https://mydonate.bt.com/events/27

We can also accept cheques for any value either with or without a gift aid declaration.  If you would like a gift aid declaration form please contact us at the address below and it can be sent to you. If you are not able to allow us to claim back the Gift Aid, please contact us and we will let you know the best way to donate.

For those of you in the modern age, we also have a text donation page for donations as shown below.
To donate £10 text "FENC72 £10" to 70070

    - you can donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10 just by changing the amount in the text massage.
    - you can also elect to Gift Aid your donation;
    - your operator's standard text charge applies.

Thank you for your continued support and interest in the project, hopefully you will see the fruits of everyone’s labours in around 4 years or so.

Clive D. Emsley
Chairman - The Fenchurch Fund

Project Manager - PROJECT 27
A Sub-Committee of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Societywww.bluebell-railway.co.uk

August Update

Firstly an apology for not adding anything for a couple of weeks, I have been in Germany looking at the Harz metre gauge system over 120km of railway through glorious scenery including the Brocken Mountain line.



Yours truly after enjoying a stonking run on the 356m climb from
Nornhausen to Drei Annen Honhe over a distance of 46km
(photo by Claire Emsley)

The "fun quest" for an unusual whistle went on, but it is likely that we will find a suitable SE&CR one on Birch Grove!

Forthcoming Sales and Information Stands

As I am early turn in the Signal Box at Sheffield Park on Saturday 9th September, it is likely that there will be a small stand outside the box for the day.  This will not have the full range of stock but if you are about come along and have a chat.  You will also be able to pick up your LBSCR War Service Badge if you have one ordered or even if you haven't done so!


We will be having a larger stand at the following locations:
Sat/Sun 23rd/24th September - Worthing Model Railway Club Exhibition - http://www.worthingmrc.co.uk/mrc/annual-exhibition/
Sat/Sun 7th/8th October - Deltic Anniversary Weekend - Sheffield Park Platform 1
Sat/Sun 14th/15th October - Shareholders weekend - Sheffield Park Platform 1/Loco Yard
Sat/Sun 4th/5th November - West Sussex N Gauge Group Exhibition - http://www.wsng.co.uk/
If you are around why not pop along and say hello?

Recent Activities

The Villas Team have recently been assisting in the repair of the tank on No.3 Baxter so that it was available for the launch of the elephant van at Horsted Keynes recently and also so that it could participate in it's 140th Birthday celebrations on Saturday 19th of August which culminates with a train organised by the Social Sub Committee.


Baxter shunting the elephant van (Picture by Richard Salmon)

Other activities include the usual cleaning of parts and some painting of smaller components.  In addition a start has been made to remove the parts required from the old chassis to put onto the new frame plates when they arrive.  This work involved removing fitted bolts and rivets and replacing them with temporary bolts to preserve the integrity of the chassis.  This is work that will be going o for a few weeks and will accelerate whilst the weather is good, and slow down should there be wet weather in the future!


Hopefully we will be able to add some pictures later.


The manufacture of the frames and cylinders is taking place as I write this and hopefully they will be delivered to Sheffield Park before too much longer.


The total cost of the cylinders and frames is, in round figures £10,000.  On top of this will be the cost of machining the cylinders (expected to be in the region of £7,000 to £8,000).  We are hoping that you may be able to help us by contributing towards the cost of the castings and frame plates.  There are various ways you can donate and these are listed below.

We have a BT my donate page and this can be found at: https://mydonate.bt.com/events/27

We can also accept cheques for any value either with or without a gift aid declaration.  If you would like a gift aid declaration form please contact us at the address below and it can be sent to you. If you are not able to allow us to claim back the Gift Aid, please contact us and we will let you know the best way to donate.

For those of you in the modern age, we also have a text donation page for donations as shown below.
To donate £10 text "FENC72 £10" to 70070

    - you can donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10 just by changing the amount in the text massage.
    - you can also elect to Gift Aid your donation;
    - your operator's standard text charge applies.

Thank you for your continued support and interest in the project, hopefully you will see the fruits of everyone’s labours in around 4 years or so.

Clive D. Emsley
Chairman - The Fenchurch Fund

Project Manager - PROJECT 27
A Sub-Committee of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Societywww.bluebell-railway.co.uk