9/11/2017

Saturday Gang Report May-August 2017


Introduction:

Greetings to all from the Saturday Gang! Well this has certainly been an interesting summer. We’ve seen some clearly visible progress on a number of our overhauls and added a few more members to our ranks. Aside from this, there have been a few guests over the last few weeks. The Boiler Engineering Skills Training Trust have run three Saturday courses in our yard, in conjunction with the Association For Black and minority ethnic Engineers. We at the Saturday Gang teamed up with their apprentices and gave them a good hands-on insight into the work we do. We’d be happy to have any of the back any time- they almost got better than us in the end!

Locomotives:

Hunslet Austerity Class 0-6-0PT 25 ‘Northiam’- There’s been significant progress on our long-running project. Eight years into the overhaul, the end seems to be in sight. The chimney has been upgraded and reattached, and adjustments made to ensure the fire bars fit adequately. More significantly, the saddle tank has been reunited with the boiler, the main exhausted pipe has been attached and the cab is back on.

LB&SCR A1X Class 0-6-0T 32678 ‘Knowle’-  Remains in service with running maintenance. We recently made some new fire bricks with the help of our guests from BESTT.


NSB 21C Class 2-6-0 376 ‘Norwegian’- Remains in service. Running maintenance throughout the period on the gauge glasses, washouts and boiler inspections.

WD USA Class 0-6-0T 30065 ‘Maunsell’- Out of service.

WD USA Class 0-6-0T DS238 ‘Wainwright’-  A lot has happened on this loco in the last four months. Since the spring, 'Wainwright' has been repainted, and had the cab reinstalled, improving the aesthetic no end! It has recently had a steam test too, with the results still to come. With all being well, this loco should return to steam in the not too distant future.

Manning Wardle O Class 0-6-0T 14 ‘Charwelton’- Unfortunately our beloved former restoration project has suffered a large crack in the boiler and had to leave service two years early. It will be missed around the yard and on the line.

SE&CR P Class 0-6-0T 753-  Out of service.

GWR 1600 Class 0-6-0PT 1638- Remains in service. Numerous washouts have been carried out on this loco throughout this year, and little bits of running maintenance throughout the period.

GWR 7800 Class 4-6-0 ‘Foxcote Manor’- We were lucky enough to have this mainline locomotive visit during the last four months. The Saturday Gang assisted when corrosion was found on a steam pipe in August. It has since moved to a new home on the West Somerset Railway.

Videos:






Conclusion:

That just about covers summer 2017.  It’s been nice to see our little gang branch out a bit over the last few months. As always, our Facebook page and YouTube channel are just below. Do feel free to subscribe and drop us a like if you haven’t already. The next entry details the final four months of the year should arrive in January 2018. Until then, all the best wishes from the Saturday Gang!



5/14/2017

Saturday Gang Report January-April 2017

Introduction:
Hello once again from the Saturday Gang!  If you’re anything like me, you’ll find that the first four months of 2017 have absolutely flown by! Spring has snuck up on us, and at the time of writing, the Kent & East Sussex is about to enjoy its popular ‘1940s weekend.’
But that doesn’t mean we’ve been idle in the Locomotive Department.  As always, much progress has been made with each of the locos in our care. Let’s have a look at what’s been going on:

Locomotives:

Hunslet Austerity Class 0-6-0PT 25 ‘Northiam’-  Some truly visible progress recently! 25’s boiler cladding has been repainted and reattached, as have the cab sheets. The cylinder covers, steam pipe and blast pipe have also been cleaned and reinserted. Most noticeably however, the boiler and frames have been reunited for the first time in eight years. Our long-running project is finally starting to resemble a locomotive again!


LB&SCR A1X Class 0-6-0T 32678 ‘Knowle’-  Routine maintenance has been done on our crowd-pleasing terrier. Some old boiler tubes were removed in March.


NSB 21C Class 2-6-0 376 ‘Norwegian’- Remains in service. Minor running maintenance was done during this period, such as washouts and running tests on the air brakes.

 

WD USA Class 0-6-0T 30065 ‘Maunsell’- This loco has left service for the foreseeable future. We set about stripping it down in the first two months of the year. A faithful workhorse for the last decade, ‘Maunsell’ will surely be missed.


 

WD USA Class 0-6-0T DS238 ‘Wainwright’-  Newly repainted cladding has been added to this loco’s boiler.


Manning Wardle O Class 0-6-0T 14 ‘Charwelton’- No new information.


SE&CR P Class 0-6-0T 753-  Out of service. The boiler was given some oil in February to protect it from the elements.


GWR 1600 Class 0-6-0PT 1638- Remains in service. This loco has undergone frequent washouts, including being used for a demonstration of the process in January.  Our favourite pannier tank has also received a new gasket courtesy of our gang. Additionally, a buffer platform from fellow Great Western loco 6619 has been removed with the intent of adapting it for use on this loco.


Videos:





Conclusion:

Well that essentially covers the first part of this year. As always, our Facebook page and YouTube channel are just below. Do feel free to subscribe and drop us a like if you haven’t already. All being well our next update should be in September. Until then, all the best wishes from the Saturday Gang!




1/15/2017

Saturday Gang Report September-December 2016

Introduction:
Greetings and welcome to 2017 from the Saturday Gang! With the new year still young, it is time to look back on what the final four months of 2016 yielded for our work, both on overhauls and running locomotives. So let’s dive right in!

Locomotives:

Hunslet Austerity Class 0-6-0PT 25 ‘Northiam’-  This loco is making good progress. Until this year I had never seen it in steam, but we finally got the opportunity in October, when the boiler received its steam test. The aftermath, and the extensive washout required, can be seen in the November video report. As of the end of the year, the boiler is also largely insulated as well.
 
LB&SCR A1X Class 0-6-0T 32670 ‘Bodiam’-  Our famous ‘terrier’ has just reached the end of its boiler ticket, and has thus left service for a while.
 

LB&SCR A1X Class 0-6-0T 32678 ‘Knowle’-  Remains in service, with minor maintenance performed on the dome in September.
 
NSB 21C Class 2-6-0 376 ‘Norwegian’- Remains in service. Minor running maintenance was done during this period, such as washouts and running tests on the air brakes.
 
WD USA Class 0-6-0T 30065 ‘Maunsell’- This loco has just about reached the end of its boiler ticket. It will be missed for now.
 
WD USA Class 0-6-0T DS238 ‘Wainwright’- As our other significant effort, much has been done on this loco. We removed the cladding during this period, which was cleaned and repainted. The same was also done to the loco’s domes and smokebox door. Progress is going quickly, as it needs to if  ‘Wainwright’ is to return to service in time.
 
Manning Wardle O Class 0-6-0T 14 ‘Charwelton’- No new information.
 
SE&CR P Class 0-6-0T 753-  No new information.

GWR 1600 Class 0-6-0PT 1638- Remains in service, no new information as of the end of 2016.
 
Videos:





Conclusion:

Well that pretty much sums up this entry, and 2016 as a whole. I hope the year was a pleasant one for you, and that this one is even better. As always, our Facebook page and YouTube channel are just below. Do feel free to subscribe and drop us a like if you haven’t already. All being well our next update should be in May. Until then, all the best wishes from the Saturday Gang!