Just Days Left for "Sir Gomer"...
Hi everyone. Regular readers will know of a certain little Peckett 0-6-0ST that is owned by the Shackerstone Railway Society. Once a proud member of the infamous Mountain Ash Colliery fleet, 1932-built "Sir Gomer" has been owned by the Battlefield Line for around 10 years now. She worked off and on between 2003 and 2008, suffering countless problems including valve timing, missed beats, leaking boiler tubes, hot-boxes, leaking stays, lubricator failure and blower ring corrosion. Therefore, in August 2008 when "Sir Gomer" was finally laid up with no hope of finishing its current 10-year ticket, the railway and its Steam Department took action. By January 2009 we had stripped the Peckett completely, with the boiler standing disconnected on top of the frames. The boiler was then taken to Llangollen for extensive repairs, keeping it away until June of that year. Meanwhile, we were busy at Shackerstone cleaning frames, rearranging valve timing and generally tidying the engine up. With the return of the boiler we then set about rebuilding the loco. However, all did not go to plan, with extra problems being addressed as they arose. Throughout 2010, with the Small Prairie No5542 to look after as well as our other loco's and stock, "Gomer"s work slowed up a little, though we still continued to soldier on with her when time allowed. In February 2011 the tank was refitted and now, here we are, in August 2011 and the loco is just days from steaming; THREE YEARS since we took her apart! Today's job was to finish the new Ashpan and put back in the very heavy Firebars. Below, Andy welds the final sections of the Ashpan below the Foundation Ring...
The vast majority of work on the engine, apart from the boiler, has been carried out at Shackerstone by various names. Countless people have had involvement with the engine at one time or another. However, I will admit, that the two people who deserve the most credit are the two Graham's; Mr Hudman and Mr Enser; who have worked tirelessly to ensure that "Sir Gomer" could actually return to steam. Well done gentlemen; my hat off to you, you've done a splendid job. "Sir Gomer" is ready and waiting for steaming in the shed...
As you can see, enthusiasm amongst the Steam Department members is rife as we await the return of the Mountain Ash Peckett. Eddie and Dave both seem gleeful as "Sir Gomer" nears completion...
Much of today's work was carried out underneath the loco, and in the Firebox. In the image below, we can see the area underneath the Footplate floor. The cylinder to the top-left is the Steam Brake cylinder, and the grey firebox is central. Spanning the frames is the Brake Shaft, in turn connected to the Steam Brake cylinder and handbrake. The new Ashpan can be seen below the Brake Shaft, with Pockets' legs just visible inside. With the Ashpan pretty much complete, we replaced the Firebars; which I had the misfortune of having to take out years ago(!); ready for a steaming next week...
Outside the dark confines of the shed, the usual steam service was in operation, hauled by a certain Eastern 4-6-0...
Driver Mark Fairfield and Fireman Neil Boden exchange glances with us as "Mayflower" departs Shackerstone on the final train of the day...
A volcanic departure from "Mayflower" on the 4:15 train...
I left just after the last train left, along with everyone else from the shed. It had been a tiring but successful day and I now await news (hopefully good news at that!) regarding "Sir G"s first steaming after this lengthy spell out of service. If all is well, tests will be undertaken at Shackerstone. Following that, we hope to take the Peckett to Wales in September for a visit to the Pontypool Railway's "Industry of South Wales" Gala, where the Mountain Ash engine will have the opportunity to steam alongside fellow Peckett's "Whitehead" and the infamous "Mardy Monster"; the most powerful Peckett 0-6-0ST ever built. If she does go to Wales (fingers crossed), then I shall be joining her for at least one day out in the valleys. Look out for news on that as it happens. Thanks for reading everyone; good evening...
Hi everyone. Regular readers will know of a certain little Peckett 0-6-0ST that is owned by the Shackerstone Railway Society. Once a proud member of the infamous Mountain Ash Colliery fleet, 1932-built "Sir Gomer" has been owned by the Battlefield Line for around 10 years now. She worked off and on between 2003 and 2008, suffering countless problems including valve timing, missed beats, leaking boiler tubes, hot-boxes, leaking stays, lubricator failure and blower ring corrosion. Therefore, in August 2008 when "Sir Gomer" was finally laid up with no hope of finishing its current 10-year ticket, the railway and its Steam Department took action. By January 2009 we had stripped the Peckett completely, with the boiler standing disconnected on top of the frames. The boiler was then taken to Llangollen for extensive repairs, keeping it away until June of that year. Meanwhile, we were busy at Shackerstone cleaning frames, rearranging valve timing and generally tidying the engine up. With the return of the boiler we then set about rebuilding the loco. However, all did not go to plan, with extra problems being addressed as they arose. Throughout 2010, with the Small Prairie No5542 to look after as well as our other loco's and stock, "Gomer"s work slowed up a little, though we still continued to soldier on with her when time allowed. In February 2011 the tank was refitted and now, here we are, in August 2011 and the loco is just days from steaming; THREE YEARS since we took her apart! Today's job was to finish the new Ashpan and put back in the very heavy Firebars. Below, Andy welds the final sections of the Ashpan below the Foundation Ring...
The vast majority of work on the engine, apart from the boiler, has been carried out at Shackerstone by various names. Countless people have had involvement with the engine at one time or another. However, I will admit, that the two people who deserve the most credit are the two Graham's; Mr Hudman and Mr Enser; who have worked tirelessly to ensure that "Sir Gomer" could actually return to steam. Well done gentlemen; my hat off to you, you've done a splendid job. "Sir Gomer" is ready and waiting for steaming in the shed...
As you can see, enthusiasm amongst the Steam Department members is rife as we await the return of the Mountain Ash Peckett. Eddie and Dave both seem gleeful as "Sir Gomer" nears completion...
Much of today's work was carried out underneath the loco, and in the Firebox. In the image below, we can see the area underneath the Footplate floor. The cylinder to the top-left is the Steam Brake cylinder, and the grey firebox is central. Spanning the frames is the Brake Shaft, in turn connected to the Steam Brake cylinder and handbrake. The new Ashpan can be seen below the Brake Shaft, with Pockets' legs just visible inside. With the Ashpan pretty much complete, we replaced the Firebars; which I had the misfortune of having to take out years ago(!); ready for a steaming next week...
Outside the dark confines of the shed, the usual steam service was in operation, hauled by a certain Eastern 4-6-0...
Driver Mark Fairfield and Fireman Neil Boden exchange glances with us as "Mayflower" departs Shackerstone on the final train of the day...
A volcanic departure from "Mayflower" on the 4:15 train...
I left just after the last train left, along with everyone else from the shed. It had been a tiring but successful day and I now await news (hopefully good news at that!) regarding "Sir G"s first steaming after this lengthy spell out of service. If all is well, tests will be undertaken at Shackerstone. Following that, we hope to take the Peckett to Wales in September for a visit to the Pontypool Railway's "Industry of South Wales" Gala, where the Mountain Ash engine will have the opportunity to steam alongside fellow Peckett's "Whitehead" and the infamous "Mardy Monster"; the most powerful Peckett 0-6-0ST ever built. If she does go to Wales (fingers crossed), then I shall be joining her for at least one day out in the valleys. Look out for news on that as it happens. Thanks for reading everyone; good evening...
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