101 Chasewater Railway Museum Bits & Pieces – 1984 – 2
Loco News
Now that we have a new numbering system, it goes into operation. I shall use the numbers but not ask you to refer to the previous post – I’ve got the numbers and locos on the page in front of me – you haven’t!
No. 3 Barclay 1223 Since a change of ownership last October the engine has been completely dismantled above the frames, and the boiler and firebox have been examined by the Boiler Inspector. Members of long standing may recall that this loco’s boiler was virtually condemned some 15 years ago and has stood idle ever since. We must now be in a more enlightened age as, apart from replacement of some 18 firebox stays and welding a small patch on the firebox side and renewal of several smokebox tubeplate rivets, the Boiler Inspector is quite happy for the boiler to be returned to steam. Much of the platework of the loco has been replaced with new – I.E cab, bunkers, footplating and a new smokebox has been fabricated.
A new set of boiler tubes has arrived and those responsible for the loco hope to see it in steam in early 1985 – they must be confident as they’re looking for another loco!
No. 4 Asbestos Following a successful hydraulic test the boiler has at last been reunited with the frames, for the first time in six years. Despite the misguided belief that interest (work) would speed up following refitting of the boiler – this has not yet happened, putting a 1984 steaming in considerable doubt at the time of writing (mid-July)
Despite this, slow progress is being made by one man (without dog!) in assembling a useable set of cladding sheets from the mangy set of originals. Also the cab fittings have been overhauled off-site.
No. 5 Sentinel Since the last report the boiler has passed its visual test and following reassembly was hydraulically tested. On testing the superheater several holes were found, the only remedy being replacement. Without too much difficulty a firm was found who could manufacture a new one and this was duly ordered and delivered – at considerable expense to the owner!
The boiler duly passed its hydraulic test as did the new superheater. Reassembly is well under way with many components being replaced at the same time.
The owner expects to steam the loco later this year and run trials with it to ascertain its suitability for passenger work before considering fitting vacuum brakes.
No. 6 Peckett 917 Slow progress has been made on this loco, recent work being confined to stripping and painting the cab and removal of fire bricks out of the smokebox to reveal a somewhat wasted tube plate. Work should speed up when ‘Asbestos’ (wot – no number?!) is finished.
No.10 Hudswell Clarke 1822 (S 100) First the bad news – during the winter we suffered a spate of break-ins which resulted in the loss of the main bearing brasses as well as a complete set of new ones. Now the good news – the wheelsets have been sent to Bridgnorth for tyre and journal turning and have returned ready for refitting, the axle boxes which will shortly be sporting new main bearings which are being supplied at a good competitive rate.
Whilst this was going on, the owner overhauled the lathe and miller in the loco shed and is now using them to true the horn faces on the axle boxes.
All being well, the frames should be reunited with the wheels before the end of the year, enabling further reassembly to take place under cover.
Following a request from the Honourable Secretary to reintroduce a system of credits for work done, here goes…….
Barclay 1223 – Les, Gorilla and friends. New cab and bunkers – Comex Workshop, Walsall. New Smokebox – Angle Ring Co. Ltd. New boiler tubes – Charlie from Embsay via Newmans Tubes Ltd., Wednesbury.
Asbestos Boiler – Tony and Brian. Cladding – HY. Cab fittings – PCK
Sentinel – Mr. K9
Peckett 917 Les and kids, young Pete and the Wossacks.
Hudswell Clarke S100 Axle brasses – Wednesbury Foundry Training School. Lathe and Miller – Mr. Sale. Wheel Turning – Severn Valley Railway.
Loco Numbers HY.
Black Paint (Someone has been working on the principle that if it’s stationary and rusty – paint it black!) Assorted young kids and men with beards!
Task Force
The new siding mentioned in the last magazine was subsequently found to be unnecessary and consequently was not built.
The Task Force then turned their attention to putting the southern point in for the Brownhills West run round, however, following a survey of the line by West Midlands County Council Surveyor’s Department, further work was suspended until the proposed track plans and gradient profiles were approved by the Railway Inspectorate. As a result, Brownhills West still looks as though a bomb has hit it, though in recent weeks some Task Force workers have returned and started slowly demolishing what remains of the platform in preparation for its long awaited rebuild. Despite this apparent lack of progress we have been assured that all the work – reconstruction of platform, drainage of Brownhills West, run round loops at Brownhills West and Stadium Halt (?), fencing of the line and associated crossing gates will be finished by Christmas (one presumes 1984!)
If this is so then services can be resumed following inspection by HM Railway Inspectorate.
Track Work
During the lull in Task Force activities a hastily formed track gang relaid the point leading to the loco shed some 45 feet nearer to Brownhills West to give a longer siding and also ease the alignment which was somewhat tight. This was achieved within a matter of two months, much credit going to Mr. K9, a man with a beard and a (semi) tame Gorilla who performed Herculean feats of strength (some may call it stupidity) in moving large pieces of point and many concrete sleepers in preparation for Sunday working parties.
Chasewater Light Railway Company Notes
Since the end of the YOP Scheme the Company has slowly sorted out its finances to such a degree that it knows to whom it owes what amounts of money. The two creditors are:
1. The Overdraft Facility taken out at Barclays Bank.
2. Money overspent on the YPO Scheme and owed to the Manpower Services Commission.
To ease matters the Society took stock of its assets and was able to identify several items which were not imperative to keep the CLR project a viable proposition. To this end it was agreed in a series of General Meetings to dispose of:
1. Andrew Barclay Saddle Tank 1223
2. Sentinel Loco 9632
3. LNWR TPO coach
4. LNWR brake coach (Paddy Coach).
Of these items, the first three have been sold with only the TPO going off-site, whilst a deal to sell the ‘Paddy’ has fallen through, though hopefully a new purchaser can be found. Despite the resulting influx of money, the Company still has a sizeable overdraft to pay off, which will hinder any future plans for expansion until it is eradicated. At present the Company has only three forms of income:
1. Donations from the Society
2. Sale of Shares
3. Sale of Shares in DL7
Museum Notes
The only notable acquisition of late has been a wooden shield presented by the LMS to Trent Valley Station following three successive victories in the station gardens competition, 1924 – 1926
Chasewater Railway Museum 