News

No. 21C123 New Inner Firebox Appeal
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Blackmoor Vale Plate
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To enable No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale to be overhauled and returned to traffic it requires a new inner firebox costing £200,000
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Further Details spacer Donation Form
  West Country Inner Firebox

6th March 2024

Normandy Landing!

No. 96 Normandy has been moved into Atlantic House for her overhaul. No. 32424's tender was first removed and then No. 96 was pushed onto the low loader which was then repositioned so that No. 96 could be off-loaded into Atlantic House.

No. 32424 Beachy Head will be reunited with her tender and they will then go into the maintenance shed.

Credit 96 & 30583
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  No. 96 Normandy with LSWR Adams Radial Tank No. 30583 in bright sunshine (4th March).
Credit 96 Being Loaded onto Ramp
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  Class 09 Shunter D4106 pushing No. 96 onto the low loader using SR Queen Mary Brake Van as a barrier.
Credit 96 Loaded
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  No. 96 tied down ready for the move.
Credit 96 Positioning
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  Repositioned for the final move into Atlantic House.
Credit 96 in Atlantic House
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  No 96 Normandy out of the rain inside Atlantic House.

22nd February 2024

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

Below are some photos taken last week of No. 34059 in the paint shop at Horsted Keynes plus, at the bottom, one showing it moved outside whilst Pullman Car 54 has more varnish added!

Credit 34059 Paint Shop
Credit 34059 Paint Shop
Credit 34059 Outside Paint Shop

17th November 2023

Down the line with '59

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair has successfully undertaken a fully laden trial. Most of the problems encountered have been corrected and it sounds as if the original valve settings, which were retained, are still OK.

Credit 34059 Sheffield Park
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  34059 in light steam in Sheffield Park yard with the new inner firebox in cream paint for 21C123 Blackmoor Vale in the background.
Credit 34059 Sheffield Park
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  Taking water at Sheffield Park.
Credit 34059 Sheffield Park
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  Entering Horsted Keynes Station on another test run, ready to exchange tokens.
Credit 34059 Sheffield Park
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  Waiting to leave Horsted Keynes. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale lit by the Autumn sunshine.
Credit 34059 Sheffield Park
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  34059 being checked over at East Grinstead.

20th October 2023

No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale

The new inner firebox for No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale is being protected by a coat of red oxide primmer at South Devon Railway (Engineering).

Credit 21C123 Inner Firebox spacer

The part painted new inner firebox.

Credit 21C123 Inner Firebox spacer 21C123 Inner Firebox Credit
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  The inner firebox before the painting.  

12th October 2023

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

Wednesday 11th October saw the first loaded test run to East Grinstead of No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair, which now has the smoke deflectors and nameplate brackets attached.

With the arrival of the two guest Bulleids, No. 21C127 (34027) Taw Valley and No. 34070 Manston, for the Giants of Steam event this weekend the opportunity was taken to take pictures of their respective footplates to show the slight differences between the rebuilt 'editions' plus an original.

Also below are a couple of pictures showing the difference between the Davies & Metcalfe injectors fitted to 34059 and the South African injectors of 34027.

Credit 34059 Sheffield Park
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  The arrival of the token for the loaded test run to East Grinstead.
Credit 34059 East Grinstead
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  Arrival at East Grinstead.
Credit Sheffield Park Yard
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  Sheffield Park yard with No. 34070, No. 34059 & No. 21C127 (34027), plus the No. 80151
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34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair's footplate.

Credit 34027 Backhead spacer

21C127 (34027) Taw Valley's footplate.

Credit 34070 Backhead spacer

34070 Manston's Footplate.

Credit 34059 Injectors spacer 34027 Injectors Credit
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  34059's Davies & Metcalfe injectors.   34027's South African injectors.  

6th October 2023

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

On Wednesday 4th October 34059 made a trial trip to East Grinstead and back.

Credit 34059 Sheffield Park
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  Getting ready for the trip to East Grinstead.
Credit 34059 Backhead spacer

With 230 psi showing and in possession of the single line token.

Credit 34059 Horstead Keynes spacer

Approaching Horsted Keynes.

The lack of glass in the windows makes photography a lot easier!

Credit 34059 Alongside 21C123
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  Alongside a rather unkempt 21C123 Blackmoor Vale at Horsted Keynes.
Credit 34059 Kingscote 73082
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  Standing at Kingscote with 73082 Camelot on the service train.
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Getting the road to East Grinstead, which 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair has never travelled before.

Credit 34059 East Grinstead
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  34059 entering the station at East Grinstead for the first time ever!

2nd October 2023

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

On Wednesday 27th September 34059 moved under it's own power for the first time since 2011.

There are many more items to sort out but it was good to see positive progress after all this time and effort!

Credit 34059 Drain Cocks
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  The drain cocks being opened.
Credit 34059 Moving in the yard
Credit 34059 Moving in the yard
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  The two pictures above show 34059 moving in the yard.

27th September 2023

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

On Monday 25th September the boiler pressure was brought up to the mark with the safety valves lifting. The boiler inspector has 'passed the boiler' as suitable or use.

Previously the engine had be brought into the yard and lit up. A number of snags were noted, most of which have now been rectified. Work also continued on the injector pipework and a warming fire was lit with the intention of increase pressure up to working pressure.

Credit 34059 Steam Test
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  Above and below; the safety valves lifting.
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Credit 34059 Shefffield Park Yard
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  34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair in Sheffield Park yard before the steam test.
Credit 34059 Firebox spacer 34059 Smokebox Credit
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  A warming fire.   Smoke just visible from the chimney.  
Credit 34059 Injectors
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  The control linkage for the water injectors are now in place.

6th September 2023

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

We are still adding the final touches!

Credit 34059 Smokebox
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  The newly fitted smokebox door.

30th August 2023

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

A few more photos of the overhaul of 34059. New items on the footplate include the reverser and the injector linkage is now up and working. Also a stainless steel spark arrestor has been fitted.

Credit 34059 Reverser spacer

The reverser has now been fitted.

Credit 34059 Injector Controls
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  The control linkage for the water injectors are now in place.
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The attachment of the linkage to the injectors.

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The drawbar is now 'nutted' between the engine and tender. Note the spanner size to tighten up the nut which is shown in the picture below.

Credit 34059 Spanner
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The stainless steel spark arrestor in place.

21st August 2023

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

Work on 34059 continues apace with the cab now back in place and bolted down after it had been removed to assist with the pipework runs. The ashpan and superheater elements have been fitted and much of the work in the smokebox is complete. The timber has been ordered for the footplate floor.

Credit 34059 Drivers Side
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  View of the drivers side – the reversing shaft has yet to be fitted.
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Most of the cab fittings are now in place.

Credit 34059 Backhead
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  Backhead fittings.
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The injectors and pipework.

Credit 34059 Front spacer 34059 Smokebox Credit
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  Smokebox with the crossbar fitted, which holds the door's dart.   The smokebox interior with steam pipes and petticoat in place.  

5th July 2023

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

The boiler and smokebox has been lifted onto the frames, minus the ashpan, with the deflectors and cab put into place to check everything fits. The boiler will be lifted off again to have the header and ashpan fitted plus the smokebox permanently attached.

Credit 34059 Boiler
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  The boiler being lowered into place.
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The foot of the firebox showing the slide arrangement.

Credit 34059 Boiler
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  The smoke deflectors in place.
The cab in position.

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34059 Firebars Credit
Credit 34059 Boiler
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  34059 in Sheffield Park yard, with it's tender positioned behind, alongside 73082 Camelot.

13th June 2023

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

The smokebox has been united with the boiler which has now been painted in heat resistant aluminium paint.

Credit 34059 Painted Boiler

The steam combine has been completely overhauled along with the associated Klinger valves and fittings - see photo below.

Credit 34059 Steam Fountain spacer 34059 Steam Fountain Credit
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  The steam combine undergoing a hydraulic test. The combine controls steam to the injectors, boiler pressure gauge and other cab fittings.   This picture, which was taken in 2008, shows the steam combine in position.  
Credit 34059 Boiler
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  The steam supply to the combine is ultimately from the main shut off valve mounted on the front to the firebox – ringed in this photograph taken on 21st April 2009.

1st June 2023

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

Yesterday saw the successful out of frames steam test on the boiler of No 34059 in the presence of the boiler inspector, Peter, Hawkins.

The boiler will now be painted with aluminium heat resistant paint and then mounted on the chassis with the work then centred on the pipe work and other fitting out to complete the project.

Credit 34059 Steam Test
Credit 34059 Steam Test
Credit 34059 Steam Test

11th May 2023

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

Below are a few pictures showing progress with the boiler, grate and reverser. Cladding painting is progressing with the smoke deflectors now awaiting undercoating.

Credit 34059 Boiler
Credit 34059 Boiler
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  The two pictures above show the boiler on the 20 ton trolley wagon with a warming fire and caulking in progress. No steam test yet.
Credit 34059 Grate
Credit 34059 Grate
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  Above are two pictures showing the the frame for the fire bars being assembled. The wooden patterns for the BR standard firebars are shown.
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Comparison between old and new firebars.

Credit 34059 Reverser spacer 34059 Reverser Credit
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  The reverser being overhauled.  

24th February 2023

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

A few more pictures showing further work on the ashpan and the boiler.

The tender is being worked on in the maintenance shed.

Credit 34059 Ashpan
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  The back of the ashpan (upside down) .
Credit 34059 Ashpan
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  The ashpan with the brackets being fitted for the damper and hopper operating gear.
Credit 34059 Cab
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  The cab ashpan and chassis.
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The blackhead and firebox with the crinolines being added and the clothing applied.

Credit 34059 Tender spacer 34059 Tender Credit
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  The tender side rubbed down ready for the next top coat.   The rear of the tender with the lamp conduit newly painted and wiring inserted.  

20th February 2023

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

A few more photographs of progress with No 34059, The boiler has been moved to an upright position and has been trial fitted to the frames. It is now back on the floor with the retubing well under way.

Credit 34059 Boiler
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  Starting to retube the boiler.
Credit 34059 Firebox
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  The firebox end.
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The large tubes being inserted.

Credit 34059 Regulator
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  The blackhead with the regulator being trial fitted.

25th January 2023

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

Below are some more photos showing the progress on 34059. Most of the work on the chassis has been done with the overhaul of the remaining backhead fittings nearly completed.

The boiler has been rolled over to give access to the interior of he firebox and syphons to allow for more stays to be finished. The flue and smoke tubes are awaiting fitting with the ends of the tubes being cleaned prior to insertion into the tubeplates. The superheater elements are also on site.

There will be trial fitting of the boiler onto the frames so the nameplate holders have now been removed from the chassis to ease the trial fitting. The cab will also be removed.

Credit 34059 Boiler & Tubes
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  Turned boiler and tubes.
Credit 34059 Clean Tubes spacer 34059 Flexible Stays Credit
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  Cleaned tube ends.   Flexible stays fitted to the thermic syphons.  
Credit 34059 Boiler Backhead
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  Boiler backhead.
Credit 34059 Chassis
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  The chassis awaiting the trial fitting of the boiler. The boiler clothing sheets are stacked on pallets resting on the smokebox saddle
Credit 34059 Tender Repaint
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  Rubbed down surface of the tender side and dome cover, plus two of the main steam pipes.
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The painted front of the tender.

Credit 34059 Tender Route Lamps
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Above & left:
The route lamps for the tender being overhauled and painted.

A Race Against Time by Don Mackinnon and Alan Kreppel

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This superb volume by Don Mackinnon (a sadly deceased member of the Bulleid Society) and Alan Kreppel is a heavy tome. The price is £60 but there are 440 pages of excellent photographs covering the last years of steam from 1962-1971.

Don worked on the first overhaul of 21C123 Blackmoor Vale. 

 

Below is a photograph taken by Don Mackinnon of No. 34059 at Southampton Central in 1966.

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  No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair at Southampton Central, January 1966 by Don Mackinnon

The Last Spark by Malcolm Root FGRA – LAST TWO LEFT!

Malcolm Root's latest painting has been produced as a low print run and Malcolm has offered a contribution from the prints sold towards the overhaul of No. 96 Normandy and No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale – full details below.

On the 17th October 1950 Bulleid’s revolutionary “Leader” passes through Winchester on the up main line with a 430 ton test train to Guildford. Nearing the end of its very short life this was perhaps the last glimmer of hope that development of the locomotive would continue. Amongst a shower of sparks and on a heavy train Leader is going well on one of its more successful trips.

Print image size: 15” x 20” with a 2” border all round.
Price: £65 inc p&p.

If you want to purchase a copy please let

Credit The Last Spark By Malcolm Root FGRA

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