No. 21C123 New Inner Firebox Appeal![]() |
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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 ![]() Further Details ![]() |
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10th May 2022
No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair
The tender of No 34059 is now in the workshop. The Armstrong oiler pads in the tender axle boxes have all been replaced.
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The centre axle box. |
The vacuum cylinders were dismantled and have had all the rings and joints renewed before refitting.
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Vacuum piston with rolling ring awaiting fitting to vacuum cylinder. |
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Reassembled and fitted vacuum cylinder. |
On the tender's braking system, adjustment for wear on the brake blocks is automatically made with the Weslack adjusters which have been removed from the tender for overhaul.
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Above – The Weslack adjusters. |
The water supply from the tender to the engine is piped to the flexible 'bags' at the front of the tender which attach to pipework on the engine connected to the injectors. Before disconnecting the engine and tender, the tender water supply must be isolated. Saunders valves, which consist of a hand wheel controlling a screw thread on a bronze 'spider' connected to a rubber diaphragm which closes on the body of the valve, are used to shut off the water supply. There are two such valves on the tender, which have been removed, cleaned, painted and have had replacement rubber diaphragms fitted.
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Saunders valve |
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The Saunders valve in situ with the flexible bag from the pipework to connect to the injector water input pipe on the engine. |
Brighton Tram 53 – Invite to an Open day
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The Brighton Tram 53 Society who are restoring the last Brighton passenger tram car, number 53, are having an open day on Sunday 29th May and Bulleid Society members are cordially invited to see our work and progress. They are open from 11:00 – 15:00. Tea and biscuits provided. The location is at the bottom of Chanctonbury Ring, off the A283 near Wiston. Park in the Chanctonbury Ring car park and you are five minutes away. |
4th May 2022
Mike Lee
It is with great sadness that we announce the death, on 27th April, of Mike Lee. Mike was a Bulleid Society member, the Society's secretary and a Bluebell driver. He was married to Ruth Groome, one of the daughters of Clive Groome.
Details of Mike's funeral will be announced in due course.
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Mike (leaning out of the window) was the fireman when 21C123 Blackmoor Vale hauled the Royal Train, 17th July 2002. The driver was David Foale, also in the picture are Keith Sturt and Roger Cruse. |
1st March 2022
SR Bulleid Open Wagon No.12058
SR Bulleid Open Wagon 12058 has been progressing rapidly with the floor being fitted. A full report with further pictures can be viewed here.
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The chassis with the floor fitted. |
7th February 2022
KR Models
KR Models are producing a model of Bulleid's Leader Class in 00 Gauge. It will be available in many might-have-been liveries. Delivery is expected to be the 3rd quarter of 2022.
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A variety of liveries is being offered. |
KR Models are also working on models of the Bulleid 4DD EMU. The CAD drawings are almost complete and if you are interested you can register interest here.
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6th January 2022
No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair
Progress on No. 34059 is now concentrated at the back of the engine with the injector pipework and the injectors themselves being erected. Work will start soon on the cab.
The motion on the LHS is now completed with the connecting rod in place and the RHS awaiting its turn now that the bronze for the bush has arrived and has been machined by Steve Czech.
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One of the painted brackets which hold the nameplate and plaque. Also seen are the two water feed pipes to the injectors in place. |
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The cab back with injector and pipework being fitted. | Close-up of one of the two live steam injectors. |
1st January 2022
The left-hand connecting rod has now been fitted, so at the end of 2021, there has been very positive progress in the overhaul.
In 2021, the pony truck and bissel truck have been overhauled and the engine has been re-wheeled; pistons and valves have been overhauled with new valve rods fitted; the lubrication pipework has been cleaned, annealed and is now in place with the Wakefield lubricators overhauled and connected to the pipework; new pins and bushes have been made and the regulator has been overhauled with replacement items machined; the boiler staying is virtually complete and the knocking over of the stays is in progress.
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