Tuesday 19 March 2019

Progress is moving swiftly!

Restoration News

There has been a fair amount of progress on the frames and parts that are to be bolted or riveted onto the frames in the last few weeks.  As we reported a couple of weeks back, the frames are now erect and bolted up.  These bolts are temporary to allow the squareness and levels to be adjusted.  Riveting has now been scheduled and this will commence in a couple of weeks with a hope for a rapid conclusion to the process. The work is to be carried out by some of our volunteers, led by Matt and Ben, who are taking time off work and giving their time freely to help out. 

The bolted up frames with the footplate brackets also added. 
All of the bolts seen in the picture are temporary and will be replaced with rivets.  There are also many more holes that will be home to rivets.
Other works that have been carried out include cleaning up of various parts that go between the frames.  These have been given a coat of bonder primer to protect them, whilst any bearing surfaces have been protected with oil impregnated bandages.

Sean Smeeth posing with some of the motion and brake rigging.  Later in the day he cleaned and painted the brake shaft.
The work on these parts is on-going and will be top coated before they are installed between the frames. Again there is plenty more to be done before too much assembly can take place, although this should not take too long in the scheme of things.
The brake shaft before cleaning and painting took place.

Sales News

During the Branch Line Weekend we braved the elements on the platform at Sheffield Park with our sales and information stand. Even allowing for the weather our efforts paid off handsomely over the two days.  We did loose a gazebo to a sudden gust of wind on Saturday, but there were no injuries so we left on a fairly positive note!  On Sunday the weather was less gusty and we did even better than Saturday. 
The gazebo with a minor temporary repair before the structural damage later in the day!
Due to the weather we were unable to get our full range out, but had a selection of items to sell.  We would like to thank all of our customers who braved the elements to support us. Our thanks also go to Andrew Waller who travelled down from then midlands to help us out for a few hours, and thanks to him also for the donation of some stock to sell on the stand.
The stand on Sunday was a little fuller and our customers were also able to spend more time speaking and buying, indeed we almost sold out of pickles and preserves!
The stock dwindled on Sunday!
To donate on line, please go to our BT MyDonate page:
 
or use the QR code below.


PLEASE NOTE
The BT My Donate page will be removed by BT on the 30th June.  However, we will have another donations page up and running by that time! 

If you would like to make a regular donation, please ask for a Standing Order form by email to the address below.
Please also use this address for enquiries and offers of physical help.

thefenchurchfund@gmail.com

This Project is entirely self funded and relies on your donations and sales stand purchases for the work to continue









Thursday 14 March 2019

Branch Line Weekend

Just a quick reminder that we will be at Sheffield Park on Platform 1 this weekend for the Bluebell Railway Branch Line Weekend.  If you are about, why not pop along and support us in our endeavours to return SECR No.27 to traffic.  We will have plenty of stock and news for you, it may be possible to see the loco being worked on in the yard (this depends on Atlantic House being open).
No.27 heading South to Sheffield Park with two SECR carriages in tow. (David Christie)
I am sure you would like to see the loco working as much as we do, and to help us to reach the stage of a working locomotive, we need all the help we can get!  Please donate as much as you can afford, no matter how small, it all makes a difference.  Or if you have items that you would like to donate for our sales stands or items suitable for auction (model railways or  railwayana, we would be pleased to receive them.

To donate on line, please go to our BT MyDonate page:
or use the QR code below.


PLEASE NOTE
The BT My Donate page will be removed by BT on the 30th June.  However, we will have another donations page up and running by that time! 

If you would like to make a regular donation, please ask for a Standing Order form by email to the address below, please also use this address for enquiries and offers of physical help.


thefenchurchfund@gmail.com

The Project is entirely self funded and relies on your donations and sales stand purchases
for the work to continue



Friday 8 March 2019

First Fund Raising event of the year!

We will be attending the Wealden Railway Group's annual MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION at the Steyning Centre this Sunday (10th). (Postcode BN44 3YH)  It is situated next to the Fletchers Croft car park which has unlimited free parking on Sunday.


The exhibition is open from 10:00 until 16:30 and it will cost £3.50 to enter.


It would be good to see you there if you are able.


Our next sales stand will be at the BLUEBELL RAILWAY Branch Line Weekend on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th.  We will be on Platform 1 at Sheffield Park.  It may be possible to arrange visits to the restoration project, but this is to be confirmed.


No.27 at Sheffield Park in 1970 (Picture Keith Salmon)
 We are looking forward to seeing No.27 running at a Branch Line weekend in the not too distant future, with your help.




I am sure you would like to see the loco working as much as we do, and to help us to reach the stage of a working locomotive, we need all the help we can get!  Please donate as much as you can afford, no matter how small, it all makes a difference.  Or if you have items that you would like to donate for our sales stands or items suitable for auction (model railways or  railwayana, we would be pleased to receive them.

To donate on line, please go to our BT MyDonate page:
or use the QR code below.


PLEASE NOTE
The BT My Donate page will be removed by BT on the 30th June.  However, we will have another donations page up and running by that time! 

If you would like to make a regular donation, please ask for a Standing Order form by email to the address below, please also use this address for enquiries and offers of physical help.


thefenchurchfund@gmail.com

The Project is entirely self funded and relies on your donations and sales stand purchases
for the work to continue




Friday 1 March 2019

More news of winter work

Engineering update

It's been a little while since our last engineering update, but despite the weather we have been moving forwards on many fronts! Our main thrust has focused on setting up the frames and ensuring their square-ness in anticipation of riveting! Also whilst the winter weather has been against us we have been busy making a start on re-furbishing various parts of the motion. Cleaning, inspecting & re-machining where necessary. Off site the cylinder block is progressing well and should be ready for collection within the next month or two!


After a successful 2018, keeping to our predicted time line, and with the initial erection of the main frames we hope to achieve even more in the forthcoming year!  

The plan for 2019 has been formulated and we hope to carry out the following before the end of the year. 

We will be continuing to set up and square off the frames which will allow us to ream the holes and rivet the frames together into one chassis unit.  Once this has been done we will be able to set up and fit the new cylinders between the frames and secure them with fitted bolts. 


The next task will then to finish the machining of the horn guides and fit them to the loco chassis. this will allow us to look forward to being able to have a rolling chassis . 


The rear drag box will also need to be assembled and riveted in place.  This will give the rear end of the chassis good stability.


Whilst this is going on we will also continue with the painting of the remaining wheel sets and a start made on painting the new chassis.

Another process necessary before the production of a rolling chassis is the re-metalling of the axle boxes.  This will be carried out in the main works using our own labour.  They will also need to be machined round following the addition of the new white metal.



There are also items to be manufactured such as  new valves, horn wedges, slide bars and leading horn liners.  These will be water cut or cast and all will need machining. 

We will also be drilling and fitting the new running plates and side valances, all of which will lead to our aspiration of a rolling chassis. 

Our 18 month "look ahead" includes working towards re-wheeling, the manufacture of side tanks using as much of the originals as sensible and the manufacture of a new bunker most of which has succumbed to the ravages of the weather.  We will start to look into the reproduction or overhaul of a set of SECR pattern buffers for the loco which will return it to a more original appearance. A start will be made on the miles of pipework that is needed for the loco, our start will be on the vacuum and steam heat pipes.

The engineering team will also start work on refurbishing the motion and repairing any parts that need work.  A set of springs will also be required to complete the chassis.

Cleaning up, machining and painting

One of the Valve spindles being cleaned up on the outside bench.

Removing studs from one of the horn guides

One of the final holes being drilled in the frames using the mag drill

The slide bars ready for inspection

One of the cylinder covers in the parts cleaner with the works managers permission

The frames during the setting up period
 
The first part of the rear drag box in place

Both buffer beams being bolted together with the wheel sets in the background
 
Horn guides and keeper plates following initial cleaning and painting
Slide bars and valve spindles cleaned and protected

Valve and cylinder covers awaiting a first coat of Bonder Primer
Trial fitting the covers on the old cylinder block to confirm orientation


Milling a relief into one of the angles




Preparing to remove the piston from the piston rod by removing the securing nut

The securing nut removed but piston rings still located within their slots

the piston and rod assembly being set up on the hydraulic press



Setting up one of the valve spindles for skimming

Getting ready to skim the valve spindle

One of the horn guides setup on the shaping machine ready for a skim
The machine in action



Checking the diagonals using a trammel
Close up of one of the trammel marks
 
The lubricator cup from the top of the steam reverser nicely cleaned

The middle driver centre line marked on the LH frame
 





The laser alignment measuring device being used for setting the axle box centres opposite

The class designation plate cleaned and painted and ready to go back on the frames!

 Machining the Eccentrics



The jig for turning the eccentrics being manufactured
The jig being turned down to size
The jig cap being turned down to size
More machining on the vertical boring machine
The Jig cap on the vertical boring machine

Cutting the keyway to locate the eccentric
The first eccentric being set up and checked for round
 

The eccentric having been made concentric!
The eccentric having been machined waiting for some protective grease.

 Machining the Cylinders

The RH cylinder block on the machine at Statfold Barn



Looking through the bore of the RH cylinder





The other end of the RH block

Looking at the faces and bore
Showing the bore and machined faces
 
The valve ports having been machined

The LH cylinder casting having been removed from  the machine


Thank you for reading this far, please continue reading as it may help our work.


The work will be reliant on available funding, the more we can raise the more work we can do.

I am sure you would like to see the loco working as much as we do, and to help us to reach the stage of a working locomotive, we need all the help we can get!  Please donate as much as you can afford, no matter how small, it all makes a difference.  Or if you have items that you would like to donate for our sales stands or items suitable for auction (model railways or  railwayana, we would be pleased to receive them.

To donate on line, please go to our BT MyDonate page:
or use the QR code below.


PLEASE NOTE
The BT My Donate page will be removed by BT on the 30th June.  However, we will have another donations page up and running by that time! 

If you would like to make a regular donation, please ask for a Standing Order form by email to the address below, please also use this address for enquiries and offers of physical help.


thefenchurchfund@gmail.com

The Project is entirely self funded and relies on your donations and sales stand purchases
for the work to continue


Thank you for your continued support of the Fenchurch Fund and The Small Loco Group (Known together as PROJECT 27)  It is much appreciated.