UPDATED 4th October
EX OAKHILL 2-4-0- HUNSLET "NELLY"
Ex Oakhill Hunslet "Nelly" as collected from oakhill shows the sorry state after her 20 year hibernation .
Here at last Nelly is finished and ready to be re-united with her tender and then a steam test.
EX OAKHILL GWR CLASS 47XX 2-8-0 4700
Removing the GWR 4700 from storage at Oakhill Manor and as can be seen this engine is in a very sorry state .Many components were removed during the 20 years in storage and we spread all over the place.
When a locomotive comes to me us for restoration it first has to be dismantled ,cleaned and assessed. Once the various re-machining work has been carried out re-assembly can commence. Here we see 4700 in fresh paint after full chassis overhaul ,valve setting and testing.
In the final stages of her rebuild she looks magnificent in her new paint work and lining.
DUNALASTAIR
This loco is one of the projects we are restoring at present and is a 10 1/4" gauge Caledonian railway 4-4-0 locomotive. The loco is over 90 years old and has a long history in the miniature railway fraternity . Pictured here on a private railway in Kent
Here we see the chassis prior to stripping ,cleaning and assessing.
One can see the poor condition of this loco after many years of running with very little lubrication and cleaning !
This view shows the total rebuild and machining of the eccentrics and straps including making new fitted bolts. The eccentrics are split and have shoulders to retain the straps.
This view shows the cylinders and the valves in the frames during valve setting.
Here we see the fitting and piping up of the new 4 into 1 drain cock system I designed as the loco was not provided with any. The reason for the type is due the the leading bogie resting beneath the cylinders and there being no room for conventional drain cocks.
The finished chassis after running on air for several hours .The chassis was then taken to Bob Symes railway where we installed the boiler and tested it the following weekend.
Here she is in steam with my son Dan driving at Bob`s open day .The engine preformed well and has a lovely bark from the exhaust.
GWR 47XX 2-8-0 4701IN FOR OVERHAUL AND PAINTING
In for a much needed overhaul of the braking systems ,new stainless steel fire grate and restoration of the tender including painting and sign writing is Chris Knibbs 4701 which has been working hard on our Berkeley light railway. Here we see the tender in the original paint finish keith Wilson put on back in 1982 and sadly the tender and loco were in storage for many years in an old damp shed!
The first job was to strip the tender back to its frames and clean everything . The original Vacuum cylinder was leaking badly so it was decided to fit PNP railways equipment which works exceptionally well .
After all the work including painting was finished I had to tackle the sign writing. Sign writing has always been a great passion of mine and I think I inherited this skill from my late Grandfather who used to paint all his fairground rides. Sign writing is a art form which has almost disappeared with the in our modern times with computer cut vinyl lettering which is precise and clinical and which lacks all personality and character !
The finished work and the faint signs of the white lines I pit in for alignment and height ,which will be wipe away once the paint has dried.
The finished loco and tender ready for roll out !
WESTERN COMET
Work has been going on slowly in the back ground on Western Comet with the machining of all new wheels, axles and fitting of new bearings and sprockets. This is the leading un-powered bogie assembled for checking alignment of bearings .The bogie will be stripped and painted and final re -assembly.
7 1/4" GAUGE DE-WINTON
We recently completed a re-build of the rare model including the fitting of a new boiler .The original boiler was undersized which lead to poor steaming due to the external firebox system.
5" GAUGE QUARRY HUNSLET
This delightful little quarry Hunslet came into our works in August and although in working order we saw that it could be transformed into something special. Here we see the loco soon after arrival. Once a program of work had been agreed we set about stripping the model including its paint so we could access it build quality. we decided that one of the first jobs was to remove all the boiler fittings and copper pipe, of which most of it ended up in our re-cycling bin.
This view shows the bog standard water gauges which would be re-placed for more to scale 3 cock ones.
One of the items which gave character to these little engines was the Roscoe displacement lubricator fitted to the front of the water tank. Some engines were fitted with two, our engine dating from 1899 only had one. The fitting is non-operational in this case.
Once we had made a new fire-box cladding sheet we thought the steam dome looked bare and untidy without its brass bonnet, So a 4" diameter piece of solid brass was ordered. After it was machined, filed and polished we see the finished result.
Another finishing touch was the fabrication of tank brackets and firing irons.
A close up of the back head showing the scale fittings.
Here we see the finished loco proudly sitting on her new display base with genuine Dinorwic slate! We had new name-plates and works plates made . We decide to name her "Rough Pup".
Rough Pup, Basking in the Autumn sun after her steam trial.
Rear view showing the sliding doors and smart livery.
7 1/4" GAUGE QUARRY HUNSLET
Our latest restoration project came to us from Alan Brett and his family. This loco had been built by his late father who was 77 when her started it. Just goes to show you its never to late to start!! She was built to the well proven John Milner design. Although the loco had been steamed on several occasions it was decided the loco was to have a complete restoration along with a number of improvements.
Here we see the loco in her new livery . New name and works plates were etched and fitted. This picture was taken on the 30th of June and the loco is being steamed for Alan's approval.
The look on Alan's face says it all !
The Brett family re-united with there father's loco. They named the engine "Lady Joan" after there mother, but it so happens there was a Quarry HUNSLET of this name and numbered 1429 of 1922. We laid our test track so they could see her in steam prior to taking her away. She preformed beautifully and there flattered us with all sorts of kind comments.
ROBIN HOOD NEARS COMPLETION
One of our projects has been the extensive rebuild of the "Curwen " built locomotive Robin Hood. Built in 1947 along with an identical loco, she went directly to the new miniature railway at Weymouth. The loco worked here between 1947 and the mid 1970s where she was sold and eventually found its way to Walter Harpers new Oakhill Manor railway. This railway closed in the 1980s and the loco along with several others went into storage. When we bought her she was in a dismantled state and badly worn out after over 40 years of service. I had started to rebuild her for use on my new Berkeley railway , near Sharpness, Gloucestershire. After changes in our business we sold the railway to the park owners and decided to concentrate on locomotive restorations. Robin Hood passed into new ownership with us agreeing to complete her restoration. As part of this process it was agreed to smooth out her lines and add many improvements to make here look more like the A2/1 which she is based on.
Here is is seen nearing completion resplendent in Doncaster green.
The loco is a large model in 10 1/4" gauge, measuring nearly 14 feet over buffers, but looks dwarfed next the frames of our 2 foot gauge Jung.
ROBIN HOOD steams after more than 20 years
After all the hard works we steam Robin Hood today for the first time in more than 20 years. A short test track was laid and after filling her boiler the fire was lit and after a slow, deliberate steam up, after checking for any leaks we tested the injectors on and they both started without hesitation .Once the safety valves were set we oiled her up in readiness for a trial run. She set off without fuss and what a joy to here an even chuff from her double chimney.
Dan at the regulator after all our our efforts of the rebuilding.
Close up of the much rebuilt valve gear.
Click link below to see Robin Hood is steam.
"oakhill" king arthur restoration
Our next loco re-build is another "Oakhill Manor Railway" locomotive. A scale model of a Southern Railway King Arthur class loco built in 1978 by Richards Engineering, in Mold, Flintshire. This was Walter Harpers favorite locomotive and featured in most of his publicity material.
Her Dan poses with his next project, he will spend the next few days carefully dismantling her and making notes and taking photos for the work record. We hope to have the boiler inspected in the next couple of weeks to see what condition it is in.
Here we see the boiler being lifted from the frame and it will be inspected in the next couple of weeks to see what condition it is in. This is the first time it has been removed in more than 30 years.
The usual dirt and grime we find at this stage. Once the chassis has been completely stripped we will grit blast it and protect it with primer.
Once the loco had been dismantled the next step was to degrease and grit blast the main frames and prime.
After much work on the wheels and motion work he we see the results, the owner is pleased with the way the restoration is progressing.
A close up of the motion work, this is a close scale model and a lot of research was done by the original builder to get things right.
"JOHN TERENCE" CONVERSION BACK TO ATLANTIC
Chris Knibbs driving "John Terence" on the Berkley light railway with its 4-4-4 wheel arrangement, soon the be a 4-4-2 again.
Built in 1908 by Mr. Grimshaw, this world famous locomotive has undergone many changes through it life. The loco was originally built as a 4-4-2 Great Northern Atlantic in 10 1/4" gauge. In the mid 1930s H C S Bullock rebuilt her and fitted outside cylinders and Walschaert valve gear. In 1939 she was then re-styled as a 4-4-4 by extending the rear frames by 5 inches in length and fitting a rear 4 wheeled bogie, a new cab and running boards were also fitted. Its present owner sent it to us for the fitting of a new smoke box and boiler cladding. On removal of the boiler severe rusting had reduced the rear main frames down to less than a 1/32" in places, a new rear frame would would have to be made and it was at this stage it was decided to put here back as an Atlantic as in 1934.
Here we see the rear frames cut off the locos main frames. At the top right hand corner can be seen the extension and strap plate from the 1939 alteration.
After much setting up and taking of reference points we were able to fabricate the new rear frame plates and weld them in position. Much of the design was taken from careful mapping of original features and by the use of photographs kindly supplied by Mr. James Nutty, a well known expert on miniature railway history. A pattern was made by us for new wheel castings and the axle boxes were machined from solid. A new smoke box barrel has been rolled and fitted.
A close up of the new rear axle boxes and working leaf springs.
Now the rear chassis has been completed we see the new shape of the running board temporary fitted along with a cardboard mock up of the rear splasher.
The splasher now made and fitted restoring the lines as she was in 1934..
A close up of the splasher and running board with its valance underneath. Note the extension to the brass beading.
An overall view showing the tender coupled the the loco..
Al the brass work completed and nearly ready for painting.
Second coat of top coat and the loco is looking the part!
Dan driving John Terence at the Ingfield Manor Railway, Chris Knibbs, her owner was more than pleased with the results..................
