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!

 

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

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

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

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

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!