Time Team are at it again!

Original SECR Paint Discovered

Whilst starting to clean up one of the sand boxes on Sunday, Jim Turtle not only discovered sand that has been in the sand boxes for at least 45 years, and possibly from BR days, but he also discovered the original Ashford applied paint. Whilst knocking off the "Corn flaked" paint, and rubbing down what was below, several liveries were discovered.

Jim Turtle rubbing down the sandbox revealing various liveries (Pictures by Clive Emsley)

We are certain that the SECR livery we have found is indeed the original one as it seems to be below a layer of black, green and further black layers before the top layer of SECR style livery applied in 1962.

It is fairly obvious which layers were added in which order and by careful cleaning it will hopefully be possible to see the livery history of the locomotive.

The initial rubbed down area clearly showing the SECR lining disappearing below the later paint applications

In the picture above, you can see the original lining disappearing below later layers of paint.  It appears that the lining was covered by a layer of black when the loco was painted plain green during the SECR pre First World War period, and during it's ROD and grey liveried time. This can be seen around the centre of the picture at the edge of the rubbed down area.  There then appears to be Maunsell Green applied which again can be seen towards the centre of the picture and to the right about half way up.  The final layers of paint are black as applied in SR, BR and early Bluebell days.  The state of the original paint is remarkable bearing in mind it was applied over 100 years ago!

The original paint will be, where possible, protected following further careful research to determine the layers of paint applied.

Other work that has been carried out

A fair amount of preparation and painting on various parts has been carried out over the last couple of weeks and a jolly fine finish has been achieved during the work.

One of the Vacuum pipe dummies given a high sheen finish.

The vacuum pipe dummy has been stripped to its component parts, thoroughly cleaned and painted up to top coat.  This has been given a high gloss finish to protect it whilst in storage.

Footstep supports

The footstep supports have been given a thorough clean and have been painted black. these are located behind the footstep to give some triangulation and hold the step steady.

The footsteps and guard irons

The footstep backing plates have been painted up to primer stage following a thorough clean.  The top step angles are still attached as they are in reasonably good condition.  The lower ones have been removed and will be re-manufactured shortly.  All of the cast treads have been broken and a new set will need to be cast.  Whilst this happens, it will be investigated if any other SECR step castings need to be replaced, and if they are the same size as the ones on the P class. The guard irons also seen in the picture have been given two or three coats of filling primer to take out the pitting that has occurred over the years.  this has left a beautifully smooth finish and will look magnificent when painted into black gloss. 

One of the hooks to stow the coupling on when not in use

The hook in the picture is actually in very good condition, hardly any rust on it.  this will be stripped of the old paint before being brought up to the standard of the previously seen vacuum dummy.  This and many other small part restorations will keep us busy over the winter months, when we can only work indoors.

Thank you for reading this far I hope you have found it interesting.

Clive D. Emsley
Chairman - The Fenchurch Fund

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

http://wainrightsfinestsecr27.blogspot.co.uk/

 

Why not support us by making a donation at

http://www.justgiving.com/Project27
Or for Text donations Simply text "FENC72 £10" to 70070 to donate £10
    - you can donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10;
    - you can also elect to Gift Aid your donation;
    - your operator's standard text charge applies.

A little stream reverser update

A couple more pictures from Ben Dingley

Ben has completed the manufacture of the studs which hold the hydraulic valve to the cylinder on the steam reverser.  This has allowed a trial fitting of the valve to the cylinder.

The studs fitted and the valve trial located upon them to check clearances and fit (Pictures by Ben Dingley)

With the majority of the major machining work now done it is a matter of time before the reverser can be reassembled properly and tested for the fit and resistance of the moving parts.

Amongst the bits still to do, or get, before a "proper" reassembly can take place include the delivery of a new set of piston rings from an external source and a new piston cover casting which will need to be machined to tolerance once it has arrived and seasoned.

A new Hydraulic seal is required to be manufactured from leather. This will hopefully be made in the Loco Workshop at Sheffield Park in the near future.  

We need to source a new brass oiler, which sits on the top of the cylinder, but unfortunately has been lost, or used on one of the other SECR steam reversers. Whilst this is a small and relatively inexpensive part, it is vital to the restoration of the loco.

A new link rod, which is part of the operating linkage will have to be manufactured or the original one located.  Again it is possible that this could have been used on one of the other steam reversers.

Once these parts are located or made, it will be a case of re-assembly and testing.

The Valve and cylinder assembly on the test bench.

Please keep popping back and taking a look at the progress as the blog is constantly changing as work proceeds.




We are still concentrating on creating a set of cylinders for 27 (and 178) and this will be our main thrust for a while.  We are always grateful to receive help with paying for parts, minor or major, and a set of cylinders is certainly one of the major parts of the loco!




There will be a project 27 stand at the Giants of Steam Weekend where, hopefully, we will be in a position to show you the progress on the loco in the last 21 months.  We will be setting up the stand close to the frames and on the way to Atlantic House, which is also open during the weekend.




Thanks for reading this far!




Clive D. Emsley
Chairman - The Fenchurch Fund
Project Manager - PROJECT 27
A Sub-Committee of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society
www.bluebell-railway.co.uk
http://wainrightsfinestsecr27.blogspot.co.uk/

Why not support us by making a donation at
http://www.justgiving.com/Project27
Or for Text donations Simply text "FENC72 £10" to 70070 to donate £10
    - you can donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10;
    - you can also elect to Gift Aid your donation;
    - your operator's standard text charge applies.

Update 12th October 2016

BUFFERS!

it is the aim of Project 27 to return the loco to it's Southern condition as A27 in lined Maunsell Green.  As part of this we are aiming on replacing the existing SR buffers which were put on the loco as it passed through Ashford Works in 1960.  The new ones will be a set of SECR "bottle" buffers as seen on H Class 263 and in the picture below.  Unfortunately we do not have enough spare buffers of the right style to use, so we will have to have at least one new set made.

27 in the Maunsell era with the SECR Bottle buffers (photo from the internet)

Matt has been busy surveying one of the spare buffers and producing a set of drawings and rendered 3d CAD models.  These are truly stunning!

One of the spare SECR buffers stripped for measuring and surveying (Photo Clive Emsley)

The spare buffer was stripped to its component parts and accurate measurements taken of each components. As can be seen in the photograph there is over 100 years of wear on the components especially the buffer shank.  

With these measurements and other research a design drawing was produced of the buffer components and these were added to a general arrangement drawing.  Matt then worked his usual magic on these drawings and has produced some stunning 3d CAD models of the buffer.  They almost look like photographs of a real buffer!

Rendered 3d models of the buffer components (Image by Matthew Holloway)

When the CAD image is compared with the photograph of the original buffer it is possible to see the amount of wear the shank has suffered over the last 100 years or so.

A cutaway of the assembled buffer showing how the parts fit together (Image by Matthew Holloway)

The cutaway model proves that the parts fit and in which order.  This is most invaluable when planning the assembly (if we get that far!) 

3d model of the assembled parts fully rendered. (Image by Matthew Holloway)

The final image shows the fully rendered 3d CAD model of the assembled buffer. A fantastic effort by Matt to produce such a professional result!  A true taste of things to come.

In my opinion, it would be good to see these buffers on all three P class locos on the Bluebell (and  on 753 on the KESR!).

Whilst we expect to recreate these buffers it is a little way down the list at present, the current main priority for parts manufacture is the set of cylinders.  This is expected to cost in the region of £15,000 for a "ready to fit" set.  this is made up of having the rough castings produced and the machining to size within tolerances.  We still need to raise the majority of this amount to be able to go ahead and order the castings.  If you are able to help with the cost please feel free to donate to Project 27 for more details of how to help please go to the Project 27 page on the Bluebell Railway website or E Mail the fund at then address below.

Thank you for reading this far and for taking interest in the project.

Clive D. Emsley
Chairman - The Fenchurch Fund

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

http://wainrightsfinestsecr27.blogspot.co.uk/

Why not support us by making a donation at

http://www.justgiving.com/Project27
Or for Text donations Simply text "FENC72 £10" to 70070 to donate £10
    - you can donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10;
    - you can also elect to Gift Aid your donation;
    - your operator's standard text charge applies.

News of the Steam Reverser overhaul

An update from Ben Dingley

Ben has been busy but has found time to let us know what he has been up to with the overhaul of the Steam Reverser.  In a previous post it was seen that a new steam side piston was being turned.  Since that post Ben has turned up the top cap which sits on top of this piston to retain the rings.  The piston rings have been ordered with help from Sheffield Park Loco workshop.

The top cap for the steam side piston (all pictures by Ben Dingley)

Den and Ian Furguson have lapped in the steam valve using engineers blue to show high or low spots.  This follows the machining of the valve and grinding of the port face sometime ago.

Starting to lap in the steam valve

The steam valve and faces having been tried using "Engineers Blue"

The steam valve has now been reassembled and the control links fitted onto the new valve rod. This controls the flow of steam and whether the piston goes up or down which in turn sets the engine in forward or back gear. 

The reassembled steam vale (minus a couple of nuts!)

The cover box you can see in the picture below in red oxide will now be returned to the railway for painting into top coat in the same manner and to the same standard as the cylinder covers seen in an earlier post.

The assembled steam valve with a test fitting of the cover prior to being painted

Ben has cleaned up all the screws which hold the cylinder cladding covers that have been seen in earlier posts.

The screws cleaned up and trial fitted to the cylinders

Over the summer Ben was lucky enough to find the valve which controls the hydraulic cylinder. This had been missing since the project began and was an important find, thanks to the workshop for helping with this. This was cleaned in the shot blaster and reunited with the rest of the reverser.

The control valve from the hydraulic cylinder having been cleaned and reassembled

The dismantled valve showing the thread which needed to be restored

The valve had a damaged thread which was gently filed using a thread file to restore its profile. This took time and was a carefully done so as not to damage the thread further and to ensure it fitted together well.

The screw thread file used the number "11" refers to the "teeth per inch"

Having got the thread sorted, attention was turned to checking the valve was seated probably using more engineers blue. We were lucky here and there was no excessive wear the valve seated well and this has now been reassembled.  

The valve having been tried using engineers blue

The studs which hold the hydraulic valve onto the cylinder were missing, owing to the valve being removed many years ago so Ben is now turning up 4 new studs to replace these.

the four studs being tried in the cylinder casting

Please look out for more updates and other posts on the blog and on Facebook

Thanks for reading this far.

Clive D. Emsley
Chairman - The Fenchurch Fund
Project Manager - PROJECT 27
A Sub-Committee of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society
www.bluebell-railway.co.uk
http://wainrightsfinestsecr27.blogspot.co.uk/

Why not support us by making a donation at
http://www.justgiving.com/Project27
Or for Text donations Simply text "FENC72 £10" to 70070 to donate £10
    - you can donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10;
    - you can also elect to Gift Aid your donation;
    - your operator's standard text charge applies.

STOP PRESS!

Fareham Model Railway Weekend

Due to the generosity of Adrian Harrison of Harrison-Brown Models and the kindness of the organisers, PROJECT 27 had a presence at the Fareham Model Railway Exhibition last weekend!

Adrian had taken a selection of our stock to sell on his own stand, but owing to another trader having to pull out he negotiated with the organiser to fill the hole.

The Project 27 stand at the Fareham Model Railway Weekend (Photo Adrian Harrison)

Our thanks and gratitude go to Adrian from Harrison-Brown Models and the organiser of the show for letting us fill the gap!

For more details on the goods and services offered by Harrison-Brown Models please go to:

http://harrisonbrownmodels.co.uk/

Clive D. Emsley
Chairman - The Fenchurch Fund

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

http://wainrightsfinestsecr27.blogspot.co.uk/

 

Why not support us by making a donation at

http://www.justgiving.com/Project27
Or for Text donations Simply text "FENC72 £10" to 70070 to donate £10
    - you can donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10;
    - you can also elect to Gift Aid your donation;
    - your operator's standard text charge applies.

First of October Update

More work on the frames

Work has started on the small patch repair of the right hand frame.  Our welding expert, Ian Collins has made a start on the weld repair of the frame.  The pictures below give an idea of the progress to date. 

The new patch to replace the poor quality weld (All pictures by Clive Emsley)

The work is far from complete and the weld will be built up in the remaining grove around the patch.  Monitoring of the area around the repair of the frame is constant and is carried out following each weld. Hopefully this will not show up anything of great worry.




Another angle (from the rear of the frames)

The work will be progressing as Ian is available hopefully this can be done fairly quickly and attention can be turned to the other crack which requires less repair.

Other Works

Work has continued on the smaller parts that have been removed from the frames and are in the Villa's painting and storage area.  The first set of steps have been given their first coat of protective paint on the back and the front is awaiting rubbing down, priming and undercoat before applying a gloss green coat.  This work, and work on other small items is progressing well.




The back of the first set of steps to be worked on

Of course, we are a totally self funded group, and every penny we spend on the loco we need to raise ourselves from sales or by receiving donations.  If you feel that you would be able to help our project, please feel free to donate anything large or small to the fund. Details of how you can do this are listed below.


For "Gift Aid" donations please see the Loco 27 web page on the Bluebell Railway site or E mail for a form to donate to us via the Bluebell Railway Trust (E mail address below)


Donations that cannot be gift aided can be made by cheque (payable to the Bluebell Railway) and sent to: Project 27 (The Fenchurch Fund), Bluebell Railway, Sheffield Park Station, East Sussex. TN22 3QL


We also have a just giving page and text giving is also available:

http://www.justgiving.com/Project27
Or for Text donations Simply text "FENC72 £10" to 70070 to donate £10
    - you can donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10;
    - you can also elect to Gift Aid your donation;
    - your operator's standard text charge applies.

Our E Mail address for any enquiries (including invitations to attend model railway exhibitions) is thefenchurchfund@gmail.com


We are also on Face book look out for Project 27


Thank you for reading this far and please come back for another look later!


Clive D. Emsley
Chairman - The Fenchurch Fund

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

http://wainrightsfinestsecr27.blogspot.co.uk/