7820 Dinmore Manor - The Blog

This blog will follow the heavy overhaul of 7820 through to its return to steam. The chassis is being overhauled at Tyseley Locomotive Works whilst the boiler is being overhauled at Ian Riley's workshops.
We are working hard every weekend to bring together the hundreds of small pieces that require refurbishing to get the loco back into working order. Follow us to keep up todate with the weekly progress and who knows if you like the look of what you see you may even be tempted to join us and help put 7820 back in action.

Tuesday 7 October 2014

7th October 2014 - Tender Progress

 
 
       Whilst 'Dinmore Manor' travels far and wide in this
                    green and pleasant land, in a little corner of Gloucestershire
      that is forever Swindonian, slow but steady progress
 is being made on her 'new' tender
 
 
 
           Life expired piping from the tender is being sorted to act
     as patterns for new pipework. A section connecting to
 the vacuum cylinder, which is also being replaced,
 looks a little worse for wear

 
The section connecting to the reservoir cylinder
will be remanufactured


 
 
 

 
 
Two sections of steam heating pipe to be replaced
 

                                        On the brake shaft, the heavily corroded bearing sleeves
                                                                 have been removed


 
 
On the brake hangers, the dowel pins that hold the
pads that restrict the brake blocks movement
have been removed so that new pads can be fitted

 
One of the old pads can been seen after removal
from the brake hanger. 50 years of rust and corrosion
made them stubborn to remove
 
 
The supporting angle iron that stretches across the
  main frames and supports a host of pipes just behind
and below the drag box has been straightened and
trial fitted

 
Some of the new plate work and stiffeners for the
drag box are being trial fitted
 
TO BE CONTINUED
 

Saturday 9 August 2014

Saturday 9th August 2014 - Midland Site


                                                   TENDER WORKING PARTY


                                         Work has continued on machining the large quantity
                                         of bushes required for the brake rigging. Work was                                       
                                         undertaken on the journals of the brake weighbar
                                        shaft to remove the heavily pitted sleeves which can
                                        be seen after removal. New sleeves will now be
                                        machined and heat shrunk onto the journals and the
                                              support bearing will be machined to suit.

Sunday 3 August 2014

Saturday 2nd August 2014 - Midland Site



                                                     TENDER WORKING PARTY


                                          In the great Gloucestershire outback, we continue
                                          to hone our bush craft on the tender brake rigging



The new pin has been drilled for the securing split pin
 and the bracket has been re-bushed and this brake
 hanger bracket is ready for cleaning and painting
 
 
With the six brackets well on their way to completion,
attention turns to the next item, the brake hangers.
One is set up for machining to shell out the old top
bush prior to replacement 
 
 
The boring bar being set to machine the old bush
as concentric as possible to the original bore
in the bracket before chiselling out the remains of the bush

 
The top end of the hanger bracket with the bush removed

 

 
 
 
The hanger bracket is 3" wide but had been bushed
from both sides with half bushes as can be seen from
these old bushes.

Sunday 27 July 2014

Saturday 26th July 2014 - Midlands Site

 
 
TENDER WORKING PARTY
 


 
Our gas cylinder trolley has completed is overhaul
 and is now resplendent in a coat of engine green

 
The three brake beams have been re-bushed where necessary
and friction washers added. These now require the top hat bushes
on the beam ends. Just another 12 bushes of the 70 plus 
                                              required to complete the brake rigging.

 
New pins and bushes for the brake hanger brackets
underway

 
One of the heavy components of the brake rigging
is the weigh bar shaft which fits beneath the front
end of the tender. This shaft is in particularly poor condition
requiring sleeves on both ends and new bushes and pins.
 

                                      The removal of the old bushes where the beam connects
                                      to the pull rods and adjusting screws proved to be a lengthy
                                    task as in a previous life the bushes had been welded in place.
                                    Six hours on and a few choice expletives and the four bushes
                                    finally succumbed. The faces now require the weld removing
                                              and yet more bushes and friction washers made


 
The new pin in place that connects the shaft to the
vacuum piston rod 

 
and a new pin for the hand brake connection. The
corroded condition of the one end journal can also be seen.
That will have to wait for another day!

 

Tuesday 10 June 2014

Saturday 7th June 2014 - Midlands site


                                                        TENDER WORKING PARTY

 
    With the recent humid weather and rain, some much
needed gardening was undertaken to clear the prolific vegetation


                              Another casualty of the damp conditions was the gas cylinder trolley
                             where the base framework had corroded through - some TLC and
                                                   welding will soon restore it to service

 
    In amongst the gardening and equipment repairs, work continued
   on the tender brake gear as the adjusting screws were cleaned
 and dismantled for inspection

Sunday 1 June 2014

31st May 2014 - Midlands Site


                                    Hi folks - long time since we were in touch regarding
                                    Dinmore Manor's new tender but with the locomotive
                             now operational, attention has turned once again to the tender.


                                     A very stubborn pin on the intermediate brake beam had
                                     resisted previous attempts with a propane torch to free it
                                   and major surgery was required to remove the offending pin

 
 The thread was first cut off the pin and the shank was
   then drilled to leave a thin wall. The drilling produced
 a blind hole which allowed a punch to be inserted in
 the hole and a large 'knockometer' drove the pin out.
The remains of the two halves of the pin are seen
 alongside the link it once retained.


                                   The four pull rods are seen with the new pins inserted.
                                  The pins have been drilled with grease lubrication holes
                                                   to reduce wear and tear in service.

                                                              TO BE CONTINUED

Sunday 18 May 2014

17th May 2014 - A Day to Remember


                        
                                For the first time in preservation, two operational locomotives
                                of the Dinmore Manor Locomotive Group were paired up to
                      double head service trains on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway


                                    7820 and 3850 run round their train at Toddington Station

 
The locos have a 'splash' of water at the column at Toddington

 
    Having reversed their order, 3850 leads 7820 as they
depart from Toddington Cheltenham bound

Wednesday 23 April 2014

Saturday, 19th April 2014 'Return to Steam Special'

 
      7820 trundles light engine through Toddington Station en route 
 to the loco yard having stabled the stock of an afternoon
 service train


                                  Just after 6.00 pm 7820 returns to haul the Dinmore Manor
                                                            Return to Steam Special

 
   Approximately 130 Shareholders and Contractors joined the
    Special for a pleasant trip in evening sunshine much enjoyed
 by all who took part

Monday 7 April 2014

Caption Correction


Apologies to Driver Andrew Beale for incorrectly calling him Ian Beale - driving a Manor is infinitely preferable to running a cafe in Eastenders!

Saturday 5th April 2014 - Gloucester / Warwickshire Railway


         DINMORE MANOR ENTERS REVENUE SERVICE

 
               Leaving Winchcombe on the 10.00 am service from Toddington to Cheltenham Race          Course, 7820 climbs to Greet Tunnel on her first public revenue earning trip

 
                  Driver Ian Beale keeps a watchful eye as he eases 7820 towards the tunnel.
 Note the tea can - proper job!
 
 
Steam billows from the roof as 7820 makes steady progress through the tunnel
 
 

                          Although not a race day, this Black Beauty runs round at Cheltenham
                                            - so we have reached the end of the beginning!

Wednesday 19 March 2014

16th March 2014 - Toddington



                                                       ALL STEAMED UP
 
     The tender of 9017 has arrived at Toddington and is receiving
 some attention both internally and externally

 
  7820 is still paired with the Hawksworth tender and is in light steam
      as attention is focussed on the lubrication system in readiness for her first
 move under her own power


                            Having lifted the engine to the correct height above rail level by
                            adjusting the spring hanger bolts, the crucial task of weighing
                                                       each axle load is undertaken

 
       With volunteers crawling all over the engine and underneath,
          jacks under the buffer beam and in light steam, quite correctly
       the lamp bracket carries the warning instruction to all that
she is NOT TO BE MOVED


                               Finally, late on Saturday afternoon in the fading light and with
                               cylinder cocks open, she moves triumphantly along the yard under
                              her own power after nearly 10 years of storage and restoration.
                                                   Some finishing work is required but
                                              DINMORE MANOR is alive and kicking!!!










Wednesday 12 March 2014

7th to 9th March 2014 - Toddington


                                                     INSURANCE STEAM TEST

 
 On Friday, paired with a Hawksworth tender kindly loaned by the
 7903 group, 7820 is prepared for her steam test

 
Steam up and blowing off
 
 
Final setting of the safety valves is undertaken during the steam test


 
  Measurements for the spacer tubes on the safety valves
 can now be taken, manufactured and fitted once the
steam test is complete
 
 
With the gauge at 225 p.s.i., 7820 passes her steam test with flying colours
 
 
         On Saturday, 7820 stands in the sunshine in the company of 5542.
        Running plating is being refitted whilst final setting of the
 piston valves is undertaken
 
 
   A new lubrication pipe is manufactured for fitting to the
regulator box inside the smoke box

 
  Steam chest cladding, which should have been fitted prior
   to the boiler being lifted in, has been modified to allow
it to be fitted after installation of the boiler

 
Steam pipe casing is cleaned ready for fitting

 
Steam pipe casing and seat hinges being prepared for fitting
 
 
    Inside the shed, 4270 will join 7820 as part of the GW steam
 fleet whilst work has started on 7903's 10 year overhaul
 

                                 Plenty to do when 7820 is back in service as 2874, one of DML
                               Group's Churchward 2-8-0's, waits its turn in the restoration queue.
                                               So if you are at a loose end for a few years,
                                                           you know where we are!!!!!!!!!!!!