May

May is turning out to be a very busy month for the group / loco once again. As I’m writing this update the ‘new’ bogies are being loaded at CF Booths of Rotherham. Tyre turning has been booked in for the 18/19th of the month (pictures to follow!) Various tasks will have to be carried out on the bogies before they can be installed under the loco. This will include tyre turning, ultra sonic axle testing, motor cleaning and inspection, re-blocking, steam cleaning, greasing and so the list goes on…

The distributor has been returned from overhaul and is awaiting fitment / testing as and when time permits. Daniel Jenner has carried out some inspection / cleaning work on the main generator whilst Chris Barrow and Allan Harris have been busy stripping our two spare traction motor blowers prior to overhaul.

We have had a meeting last month regarding membership of the group, this issue is taking a bit of time to sort out as we are having to concentrate on the bogie change at present, however details will be released over the coming weeks which should coincide with a revamp of our ‘Home Page’!

254 has dropped onto some class one workings this month, some of the first in preservation (apart from the railway’s diesel gala’s) see the home page / roster page for further details. July 13th Stag & Syphon Charter timetable has been written and is awaiting approval before being published, this should appear on the site within the next week or so. There is still plenty of tickets available if you haven’t got yours already!
 
Work on the ‘new’ bogies is progressing well, tyre turning has now been completed and the thin flanges cracks and flats have been turned out and there is still plenty of metal on the tyres for future turns should the need ever arise. These tyres should out last all of us now!

All axles passed Ultra Sonic Axle tests (UAT) today (28/05/09). Thanks to everyone that helped remove axle box covers and end caps, much appreciated. On a bit of a downside, we have noticed some cracked welds / damage on at least one of the horn guides which appears to have happened during the scrapping process. The bogies will now be shipped to our workshops for welding / inspection before transfer to Tunbridge Wells and eventual fitment to 254. We will probably end up removing traction motors to undertake this work, this will be a good chance for us to undertake a full bogie overhaul which will include pins & bushes replacement, Horn guide liner renewal if necessary, full traction motor cleaning and inspection, painting etc etc.

The bogie change is now looking likely to take place at the back end of the operating season /year. 254 remains in service on her old bogies at present.