Thursday, 23 November 2017

Machining of parts for the frames

Machining parts

Over last weekend, Ben Dingley machined the angles that were previously cut to length on the power hacksaw. 

The angles set up and being machined at Sheffield Park (Ben Dingley)
These were reduced in size from 8 inch to 3.5 inches.  The reason for the machining was that to get the right thickness in the angle, they had to be ordered oversize as the correct size and thickness was not available.  The process began with the angles being flame cut down to reduce the amount of machining that needed to be carried out, and thus save wear, and time, on the milling machine. 
Plenty of swarf produced by the milling operation (Ben Dingley)
Ben managed to machine all 12 of the required angles over the weekend.

Two of the completed angles (Ben Dingley)
There will plenty more machining to be done in the next year or so! and thanks must go to Ben Dingley for machining the angles and Ian Fergusson for overseeing and checking the set up.

Frames

Matt Holloway is well on his way through measuring and checking the frame plates.  He is doing this to ensure that the hole centres marked on the plates by the factory are correct.  As part of this check he is centre popping ready for the holes to be cut.  Once all the checks have been carried out, hole cutting will commence.  Remember - Check (at least) twice cut once!

Other Work

Work is continuing on the smaller parts this includes cleaning and painting of all the parts removed from the original frames ready for placing on the new frames when the time comes.  There is also plenty of measuring and drawing going on for the bunker and tank drawings this work is of a lower priority at the moment but is being done as and when time is available so that the drawings are ready at the right time.

Fundraising

The sales stand is taking a short rest over the dark months.  Apart, that is, for a small stand on Saturday 9th December, at Sheffield Park, when yours truly is in the Signal Box.  We are always trying to devise new and exciting ways of making money for the project and hope to launch a new scheme in the new year.  Don't Forget, Watch this space for details!

Information and How to help







Web Site (P27 page about to be re-launched): www.bluebell-railway.co.uk




Text Donations: 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;
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Thank you for your continued support and interest in the project.


Clive Emsley
Culprit





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Friday, 17 November 2017

Drag Box Rebuild Update

The fixing holes have been drilled in the rear drag box plate.  This was carried out last weekend by Matt and Ben inside the Villa due to inclement weather outside.  The plate had been set up on trestles previously for such a possibility.
The rear dragbox plate fixed securely to the trestles (Ben Dingley)
The mag drill was set up to cut holes of the correct diameter in the correct place as marked out during the material cutting at Tata Steel. This position was checked and centre popped before any drilling took place. this ensures that the holes are correctly positioned.

Set up and ready to cut the first hole (Ben Dingley)
Once the setup and hole positions were thoroughly checked, drilling commenced.  the drill is not a centre drill of the sort found in your average drill set.  It is more akin to a milling cutter but with the helix of a drill.  This gives a much better chance of a vertical parallel hole.  Whilst the cutters are much more expensive that the centre drill, the results by far outweigh this.
All holes cut (Ben Dingley)
This shows the holes having been cut in the correct places and the plate ready for final reaming prior to assembly into the frames at the right time.


It is expected that work will continue on the frames for the next few weeks with plenty of drilling to be done!  Other jobs coming up is the flat packing of the old frames once we are sure all the donor parts have been removed. Once the old frames are out of the way, it will be possible for then engineering team to commence the erection of the new ones, leading to the production of a rolling chassis.


Thank you for your continued support and interest in the project.  Without the support and donations we get we would not be in a position to carry on with the restoration.



Please keep popping back and seeing what we are up to. 


If you would like to donate to help the restoration of the loco, the details are below.  Please donate responsibly and only give what you can afford


Thanks,

Clive Emsley
Chairman Fenchurch Fund and Project Manager Project 27






Web Site (P27 page infrequently updated): www.bluebell-railway.co.uk




Text Donations: 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

















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Monday, 13 November 2017

Rear Drag Box work

Just as an illustration of what we are up against, here is a picture of the rear drag box area before we started the restoration.

The drag box area of the loco from above before we took on the restoration
You should not be able to see the ground below as there should be a half inch thick plate to stop you!  This has been completely eaten away due to coal dust and water forming a corrosive liquid.


The picture below shows the new replacement plate set up ready for drilling.

The half inch plate for the rear drag box ready for drilling. (Matt Holloway)



Thanks for looking at the Project 27 Blog spot
Clive Emsley
Fenchurch Fund Chairman and Project 27 Project Publicity
 
News updates Project 27 Blogspot: http://wainrightsfinestsecr27.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/


Web Site (P27 page infrequently updated): www.bluebell-railway.co.uk


Text Donations: 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.


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Thursday, 9 November 2017

Now we get to the scary bit!

Restoration Report

These pictures come from Matt Holloway and show some of the new parts for the locomotive. These are all at Sheffield Park and are just about ready for drilling to commence (hence the scary bit!).


The frames have been placed on supports outside the Villas, one on top of the other so that all of the common holes can be drilled in one operation.  This reduces the risk of holes being misaligned, and will help no end with the erection of the frames.
The frame plates set up ready for drilling outside the Villas (all pictures Matt Holloway)
The Buffer beams are currently being stored next to the wheels on the sleeper ends with wooden stillages between to keep them out of standing water and separate to prevent water being trapped between the plates.  These will be given a thorough clean and protective coat of paint shortly.


The new buffer beams ready for painting and drilling
The last picture shows the Dragbox plate (part no.27) set up in the Villas as a "foul weather" job, should the restoration team not be able to work on the frame plates outside.  This will rquire drilling and painting before it is ready to be places inside the frames.
The drag box plate set up for drilling as a foul weather alternative job.

Fund Raising Report

We took a stand to the West Sussex N Gauge Group's annual exhibition last weekend.  Plenty of hard work to set it up, but we feel it was worth it in the end.  We were situated between the Bluebell Railway Shop and Harrison Brown Models, so we were in good company.  Our other supporter Morris Models was at the other end of the hall.
The  sales stand set up next to the Bluebell Shop. (Clive Emsley)
In addition to the sales stand we had the small 009 layout of the Lancing and Bramber Railway (L&B) next to us.  This is my layout under construction and it will be seen on our stands through the coming year as a work in progress.
Thanks for your continued interest and support


Clive Emsley
Fenchurch Fund Chairman and P27 Project Manager
Please remember that every penny spent we must provide ourselves






Web Site (P27 page infrequently updated): www.bluebell-railway.co.uk




Text Donations: 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.


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Friday, 3 November 2017

Cylinder Patterns

We received a  couple of pictures from Premier Patterns today which show the completed patterns.  Theses polystyrene patterns will shortly go to the foundry to be used in a sand mould to produce the cylinders for 27.



The completed pair of poly patterns for the new cylinders for 27 (pictures by Premier Patterns)
The cylinders will be cast fairly shortly and, we are told, delivery should be before Christmas.  Once the cylinders are on site they will need to be seasoned for a while, ideally a year , before machining takes place.  the seasoning relieves the stresses in the material and helps to stop distortion during the machining process.
The patterns from the steam chest side - the buff coloured tape seals the joints in the segments
It looks like exciting times ahead, with the frames already being worked on at Sheffield Park and the cylinders due for delivery shortly!


It seems a shame that the hard work in the design and manufacture of the patterns will be no more once the cylinders have been cast!  Still, without it we would be looking at a much longer lead time for wooden patterns and all those cores to be made too!


Hope to see as many of you as possible at the West Sussex N Gauge Club's exhibition at Angmering this weekend, if not please keep popping back to see what we are up to!


Thanks for your continued interest and support in the project without your interest, support and donations we could not continue.


Thank You

Clive D. Emsley
Chairman - The Fenchurch Fund
Project Manager - PROJECT 27
A Sub-Committee of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society
 
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To donate £10 text "FENC72 £10" to 70070
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