June milestones!!

Work continues at Toddington on various areas of the of the loco

Following are some recent pictures of progress

Prep work on the loco tender in readiness for a new top coat of paint.

This is a loan tender from GWR Collet 3205. I will detail the need for a loan tender in another post soon

All the crinolines have been fitted but still need some adjustments

Loco getting some sunshine on the 1st July. The team are cleaning the outside of the new smoke box in readiness for heat resistant paint

 

The new super Heater Header being fitted to the New Smoke Box. you can also see that the regulator box has been fitted, the front has been removed to allow for adjustments and fine turning.

  

Now we have access back to the BLOG I can update you all on the latest new from CSPL.

Earlier this year our boiler was hydraulic and steam tested at Ian Riley's following the refurb completed by them over the last couple of years.

From the following pictures and words you will see that the main boiler and new ash pan have been put back in the frames.

Boiler being lifted and spun 180 degrees. The new ash pan is then placed under the fire box to be attached

The boiler is then lifted again and the loco frames placed under the boiler 

The boiler is then gently lowered into the frames

 

Note that the front of the boiler barrel is resting on timbers so that the smokebox can be fitted in the next few weeks.

So there you have it at last: boiler in the frames and the whole ensemble being shunted back onto shed.

The following pictures are the regulator box being fitted by the team from Riley's after being recently machined to fit to the new Smoke box tube plate. Opportunity was taken the machine the face plate and front as well as the cone faces for the steam feed pipes.

I will write some further reports of the work that is taking place on the frames and tender........

Regards

Brian Gamlin - Director and Chairman

Sorry I have been away for a long time, there has been access issues to create new updates. This is now resolved and I will post some news very very soon

Brian Gamlin

Chairman and Director

Cotswold Steam Preservation Ltd

Update from Ian Riley's on the Boiler of 2807

 In the last couple of weeks work has started on putting the new sections of 2807 boiler together

In the following pictures you will see the Riley team preparing the front boiler section. This will have the new smoke box tube plate fitted the smoke box flange and then be test fitted to the old sections of the boiler 

I will post updates in the next few days on progress of the work at Toddington (GSWR) on the Frames and Tender

Further Boiler Updates and back on her driving wheels

Well what a crazy year! This will be the final update for 2021 but rest assured work will continue during the Christmas period....

I mid November I made my second visit to Ian Rileys in Bury to look at progress since the last visit in August. Well things have moved along at pace and CSPL are please at the progress to date.

Following are some pictures of progress.

New front boiler barrel section, lots to do to prepare for fitting. This will happen in the New Year

New lower backhead section welded in place, weld tested and past

New Sections of firebox side sheets weld in place, weld tested and past.

New Smoke Box tube plate fully marked out and ready for drilling. Once completed work will commence in the new year to fit this to the new front barrel section and that new section to the existing boiler. 

The loco frames back on they're driving wheels. The loco was moved very slowly in late Nov to check all was ok after the re wheeling. Behind the frames 2807 tender.

WE HAVE TURNED A CORNER

We have turned a significant corner over the last couple of months! Things are going back on the frames and the wheel sets are almost ready to go back under the frames too.

The following update and pictures will highlight events over the last few months. Our teams on Wednesday and Saturdays have been work very very hard to move things forward after the last period of COVID delays.

We still have a long way to go but its great to see bright new, or refurbished, items going back together

The new super heater headers for 2807 and the Dinmore groups 38

Team Tyler cleaning and painting various items

Test fitting the axle boxes before that go back on the wheelsets

The eccentric sheaves, part of the inside motion, being lifted inside the wheelset in

 readiness for them being putting back on.

Back in place!

Re profiled driving wheelsets with their refurbished axle boxes being made ready

for going back under the frames. Note the old brake blocks being used to keep the 

axle boxes the correct way up

Lets get this thing back on her driving wheels!!!!

The next update should have pictures of the mainframes back

on her wheelsets! A massive step forward by the whole team!

Finally we get to Riley's!!

Well, we finally got to meet with the Team at Ian Riley’s Engineering!!

The boiler moved last March, and we finally sat down at their HQ on Thursday 19^th August. Cotswold Steam HGO team travelled up from the south/southwest and were joined by a further CSPL Board member

Work has not progressed at the pace CSPL would have liked due to COVID and not being able to meet with Riley's team face to face. Additionally, Riley’s are only just getting back to full operations post COVID

The boiler is now in various bits:

                Smoke box removed

                Smoke tube plate is out

                Front barrel section detached from the rest of the boiler

                Back head (below fire hole door) has been removed.

Based on further analysis of the smoke box Riley's will be providing a revised quote for its replacement/refurbishment.

A new smoke box tube plate will be manufactured and the go ahead was given for that to take place.

A new front barrel section needs to be manufactured but further discuss needs to take place between Riley’s, CSPL, and British Engineering (boiler inspectors). CSPL will give authority for this to happen very soon, we hope!

With the removal of the backhead we have found a larger that expected volume of old stays and other rubbish! This is proving difficult to remove but will be completed soon so the new back head section can be fitted, and the foundation ring removed

Old and new back head

 New smoke box tube place for 4277, ours will be like this one

Old parts

Our boiler internals

Volunteers Sort - CAN YOU HELP OUR TEAM

 

Can You help Us?

With the easing of “Covid” restrictions it is hoped to make more progress with the HGO of 2807, and this is going to put additional pressures on the regular members of the work-force.

Could you spare some time to assist us by taking on some of our administration work?

Admin Assistant

This is a job which can be done from home in the normal course of events. It requires a person with reasonable computer skills to provide support to the Company Secretary and the Treasurer. The bulk of the work involves the preparation and distribution of Notices of Meetings, Minutes, and Reports both Technical and Financial. On occasion it may involve communication with Depts within the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway and with suppliers. The work does not require any specialised knowledge of Railways or locomotives although an interest in the subject could make the job more interesting. In the future there will be an opportunity to advance to the role of Company Secretary when the present incumbent retires.

Do you know of a person with wood-working skills? We need somebody to help to maintain our Siphon G. It was built at the end of WW2 to serve as part of an ambulance train evacuating casualties from the battlefield.  After the war it reverted to civilian duties conveying milk and fresh produce from the West of England to London.

Joiner/Woodworker

A competent woodworker is required to repair and maintain the Siphon-G which serves as our support and storage vehicle.  The vehicle is similar in size to a passenger coach, and is constructed with an oak frame mounted on a steel chassis, with articulated bogies at each end. The frame is clad in Deal boarding with louvres running the length of the vehicle.  On each side of the vehicle are four pairs of doors for loading and unloading.  In recent times CSPL have renewed parts of the Oak frame, and replaced the cladding boards, and re-made some of the main doors. However this is a timber vehicle and it needs on-going care and maintenance to keep it weathertight.

Periodically there may be requirements to repair/modify patterns for locomotive components.

The majority of this work will be carried out on site at Toddington, so applicants will have to hold a GWSR Work Permit or pass through the GWSR Induction Course.

If you think you can help in either of the positions indicated above please drop an email to

Brian Gamlin- Chairman                brian_gamlin@yahoo.co.uk

Gilbert Kitchen – Secretary          gilbert.a.kitchen@gmail.com