EX OAKHILL 2-4-0- HUNSLET "NELLY"
Ex Oakhill Hunslet "Nelly" as collected from oakhill shows the sorry state after her 20 year hibernation .
Here at last Nelly is finished and ready to be re-united with her tender and then a steam test.
EX OAKHILL GWR CLASS 47XX 2-8-0 4700
Removing the GWR 4700 from storage at Oakhill Manor and as can be seen this engine is in a very sorry state .Many components were removed during the 20 years in storage and we spread all over the place.
When a locomotive comes to me us for restoration it first has to be dismantled ,cleaned and assessed. Once the various re-machining work has been carried out re-assembly can commence. Here we see 4700 in fresh paint after full chassis overhaul ,valve setting and testing.
In the final stages of her rebuild she looks magnificent in her new paint work and lining.
DUNALASTAIR
This loco is one of the projects we are restoring at present and is a 10 1/4" gauge Caledonian railway 4-4-0 locomotive. The loco is over 90 years old and has a long history in the miniature railway fraternity . Pictured here on a private railway in Kent
Here we see the chassis prior to stripping ,cleaning and assessing.
One can see the poor condition of this loco after many years of running with very little lubrication and cleaning !
This view shows the total rebuild and machining of the eccentrics and straps including making new fitted bolts. The eccentrics are split and have shoulders to retain the straps.
This view shows the cylinders and the valves in the frames during valve setting.
Here we see the fitting and piping up of the new 4 into 1 drain cock system I designed as the loco was not provided with any. The reason for the type is due the the leading bogie resting beneath the cylinders and there being no room for conventional drain cocks.
The finished chassis after running on air for several hours .The chassis was then taken to Bob Symes railway where we installed the boiler and tested it the following weekend.
Here she is in steam with my son Dan driving at Bob`s open day .The engine preformed well and has a lovely bark from the exhaust.
GWR 47XX 2-8-0 4701IN FOR OVERHAUL AND PAINTING
In for a much needed overhaul of the braking systems ,new stainless steel fire grate and restoration of the tender including painting and sign writing is Chris Knibbs 4701 which has been working hard on our Berkeley light railway. Here we see the tender in the original paint finish keith Wilson put on back in 1982 and sadly the tender and loco were in storage for many years in an old damp shed!
The first job was to strip the tender back to its frames and clean everything . The original Vacuum cylinder was leaking badly so it was decided to fit PNP railways equipment which works exceptionally well .
After all the work including painting was finished I had to tackle the sign writing. Sign writing has always been a great passion of mine and I think I inherited this skill from my late Grandfather who used to paint all his fairground rides. Sign writing is a art form which has almost disappeared with the in our modern times with computer cut vinyl lettering which is precise and clinical and which lacks all personality and character !
The finished work and the faint signs of the white lines I pit in for alignment and height ,which will be wipe away once the paint has dried.
The finished loco and tender ready for roll out !
WESTERN COMET
Work has been going on slowly in the back ground on Western Comet with the machining of all new wheels, axles and fitting of new bearings and sprockets. This is the leading un-powered bogie assembled for checking alignment of bearings .The bogie will be stripped and painted and final re -assembly.
7 1/4" GAUGE DE-WINTON
We recently completed a re-build of the rare model including the fitting of a new boiler .The original boiler was undersized which lead to poor steaming due to the external firebox system.
5" GAUGE QUARRY HUNSLET
This delightful little quarry Hunslet came into our works in August and although in working order we saw that it could be transformed into something special. Here we see the loco soon after arrival. Once a program of work had been agreed we set about stripping the model including its paint so we could access it build quality. we decided that one of the first jobs was to remove all the boiler fittings and copper pipe, of which most of it ended up in our re-cycling bin.
This view shows the bog standard water gauges which would be re-placed for more to scale 3 cock ones.
One of the items which gave character to these little engines was the Roscoe displacement lubricator fitted to the front of the water tank. Some engines were fitted with two, our engine dating from 1899 only had one. The fitting is non-operational in this case.
Once we had made a new fire-box cladding sheet we thought the steam dome looked bare and untidy without its brass bonnet, So a 4" diameter piece of solid brass was ordered. After it was machined, filed and polished we see the finished result.
Another finishing touch was the fabrication of tank brackets and firing irons.
A close up of the back head showing the scale fittings.
Here we see the finished loco proudly sitting on her new display base with genuine Dinorwic slate! We had new name-plates and works plates made . We decide to name her "Rough Pup".
Rough Pup, Basking in the Autumn sun after her steam trial.
Rear view showing the sliding doors and smart livery.
7 1/4" GAUGE QUARRY HUNSLET
Our latest restoration project came to us from Alan Brett and his family. This loco had been built by his late father who was 77 when her started it. Just goes to show you its never to late to start!! She was built to the well proven John Milner design. Although the loco had been steamed on several occasions it was decided the loco was to have a complete restoration along with a number of improvements.
Here we see the loco in her new livery . New name and works plates were etched and fitted. This picture was taken on the 30th of June and the loco is being steamed for Alan's approval.
The look on Alan's face says it all !
The Brett family re-united with there father's loco. They named the engine "Lady Joan" after there mother, but it so happens there was a Quarry HUNSLET of this name and numbered 1429 of 1922. We laid our test track so they could see her in steam prior to taking her away. She preformed beautifully and there flattered us with all sorts of kind comments.
