News from around the works - 2012 |
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January 2012 |
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Press release: 21st January 2012 ‘First stage of Dunrobin restoration commences’
Phase 1 of the project to return the former Duke of Sutherland locomotive will consist of the extensive overhaul of the boiler, which had previously been dismantled at Bridgnorth to enable Beamish to commission a comprehensive survey of what is believed to be the original (though overhauled) vessel. Work will include replacement of the two barrel rings, front tubeplate and lower sections of the outer firebox wrapper; complete re-staying (including new girder and longitudinal stays), a new foundation ring as well as a new smokebox (though reusing the smokebox door, front plate and chimney). At some point in its working life the locomotive has received new boiler barrel sections which have not lasted as well as the rest of the boiler. This work would appear to have been carried out by the Royal Navy just after the Second World War (the Navy having used the locomotive as a shunter for the duration of the War) and features some unusual rivets in the repairs. The copper inner firebox is in very good condition though it will be completely dismantled and reassembled and re-riveted to match the exacting standards being applied to the rest of this project. A mechanical survey of Dunrobin has revealed that the bottom end will require a heavy overhaul as expected, but disappointingly the cylinder block has been found to be in very poor condition with perforations evident and extensive corrosion on the upper surfaces of the casting. Whilst it might be possible to repair and strengthen this, Beamish Keeper of Transport Paul Jarman explained ‘we really need the engine to repay the substantial investment we have made and will continue to make in it, so, to ensure its reliability in the future we are looking to procure a new cylinder block and thus put our minds at ease about its condition and ensure its longevity’. Beamish will also be investigating options for the repair of the side tanks and bunker, which have been found to have substantial internal corrosion. Under close scrutiny the frames have also been revealed to have numerous loose rivets in the spring hangers and hornguides, and some welding carried out during repairs to the firebox in Canada, where sections of the frame were temporarily removed to enable access to the outer wrapper will also require attention. Mr Jarman continued ‘Dunrobin is a very interesting locomotive in very many ways – it has seen very little in the way of intrusive reconstruction over its whole life and as it was ostensibly built to become a ‘preserved’ locomotive it is a wonderful study in Victorian locomotive building’. Duncan Ballard, Boiler Shop and Locomotive Hire Manager at the SVR said ‘We are delighted that Beamish have chosen us to carry out the overhaul of the boiler for them and look forward to starting work on this very shortly’. ‘The boiler has seen remarkably little intervention over the years other than repairs carried out by the Royal Navy, and this makes it a fascinating time capsule in revealing so much about Sharp Stewart’s construction of it 116 years ago’. Work on the boiler is expected to commence immediately and will take approximately 18-24 months to complete. Paul Jarman said ‘Beamish is currently funding all of the work to Dunrobin and the Duke’s carriage (No.58A – currently being overhauled at Beamish) from our own funds so we have to consider all of our decisions very carefully so as to make the most of every penny we are allocated to spend’. ‘2011 has been a good year for the Museum but we must be realistic about what this sort of work costs and how long it takes’. ‘We have a comprehensive Conservation Management Plan for Dunrobin, which follows the pattern established for our other restoration projects (1871 built ‘Coffee Pot’ and 1877 built Seaham No.18 ‘Lewin’) and this provides not only the historical guidance for the project but also gives a framework for recording all of the new information we are continuing to learn as the project develops – it also shows what we have spent all of the money on!’ It is anticipated that some work will be brought back to Beamish for completion in a new Regional Heritage Engineering Centre currently being developed at the County Durham Museum whilst a decision regarding the mechanical overhaul will be made once the availability of funding permits further progress.
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Hunslet 3794, Furness Railway 150 ‘Cumbria’Furness Railway Trust locomotive arrived at Bridgnorth Boilershop late last Summer. Recent work has been focusing on the removal of all the crown stays, a quantity of copper stays. The Copper Doorplate and Tubeplate have both been removed, these will be repaired and replaced as required. The steel doorplate will require two new shoulders fitting, so the old corners will require removal to enable new pressings to be fitted. |
Photos by Duncan Ballard |
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Caledonian Railway 812 Class No828The Scottish Locomotive Preservation Trust Fund locomotive, operated by the Strathspey Railway has been wintering at the Severn Valley Railway following her exploits at the Autumn Gala. Whilst the locomotive is in England, the opportunity has been taken to use the Severn Valley Railway lifting jacks, to enable her wheel sets to be removed for re-tyring. These were dispatched before Christmas to another contractor. The wheels are expected back soon, to enable the locomotive to hopefully star at the forthcoming ‘Steam Railway’ sponsored Gala Event, before possibly moving on to the Llangollen Railway. |
Photos by Duncan Ballard |
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