|
D8110 [20110] |
| Started the year off under cover, giving some protection
from the very cold weather we had. In January the loco had it's battery
levels checked and all were in good heath with only a small amount of
topping up required. The exhauster and traction motor blower motors were
inspected. Checks for earth faults and brush gear condition were made and
all were found to be in good order. The compressor had it's oil changed on
Sunday 26th Jan, and a nice white oil mess it was. The compressor will
need some maintenance done on it in the near future. The problem with the
anti-slip button (it blows the main control fuse) was looked into on
Sunday 16th March, and it may be a wire going to earth as the EP valve
would seem to be in working order. More testing will be done in the coming
months. And finally, the defective vacuum gauge was changed on the last
Sunday of the month. |
|
[D8118] 20118 |
| The feed valve which allows air to the drivers brake
valves in the cab, was removed on Sunday 19th Jan and checked out. This
valve would blow when the engine was shut down. A fine mesh air filter was
cleaned out and the inside of the valve blown through and the refitted to
the loco. This valve is found tucked away outside under the cab floor. The
loco was brought out of winter hibernation on Sunday 16th March and was
multiplied up with 110 (nose to nose). One of the jumper cables is not
working as it should. The question is, is it the jumper cable (118) or the
socket (110)? This will have to wait until the 25 is back in service for
more testing. On Sunday 23rd March the loco had it's first trip of the
year down the line on a training run for train crew, and signalmen at
Bishops Bridge. It was a late end to the day as a broken fishplate delayed
things quite a bit. |
|
D7612 [25262,
25901] |
The full time workshop staff started back after the
Xmas/New year break and made a start on finishing off the settling tanks
for the loco. By the end of January the tanks were finished, painted and
the insides cleaned out of dirt. By the end of day on Sunday 9th Feb. both
tanks were reunited with the radiators and on the following Sunday (16th)
they were craned back in the loco. This took most of the day.
Shunting the loco out started about 10.00 and by dinner
time the radiators and tanks were back in place. The fan unit
and the two roof panels followed after dinner.
Once these were secured the shunting started again to
put the 25 back in the running shed, finishing about 17.00. Painting has
still been going on when the weather permits, but now the roof sections
are back on a heater can be placed inside to help out with this. The next
weekend saw the power unit cleaned down and the walkway panels around the
power unit lifted and cleaned off. Whilst the panels were up the
underneath was cleaned out. One slight hiccup with the new tanks has been
the six studs that hold on the tank filler/drain valves are not studs but
bolts. By dinner time on Sunday 9th March the cooling system was holding
water with no leaks. This was after two or three small teaks were sorted
out. On the following Sunday 16th, and after some charging of the
batteries the start button was pressed. With one puff of smoke the exhaust
cleared and the engine was ticking over, on five cylinders not six. The
injector was removed and tested during the week with no fault found. It
was refitted at the end of the week and the engine started, but it was
still the same. So it looks as if the pump may have to be remove for
testing. An air leak in No.1 cab has been fixed. The pipe was removed and
brazed up. A test of the braking system found that the loco brake in No.1
cab was not working. It would seem that the double check valve was stuck.
It was removed and cleaned then refitted. This valve works between the two
cabs and it allows air from the loco brake valve in the cabs to the relay
valve. The brake valve that has the greater pressure, is the one that
operates the relay valve. On Sunday 23rd the last parts were refitted to
the loco, namely the radiator grills, so the loco is now back in one
piece. Also the loco brakes are once again working from both cabs. On the
last Sunday of the month the fuel pump was removed and taken into a firm
on Marsh Barton Industrial Estate (Exeter) on the Monday for them to give
the pump the once over. A set of new batteries have been ordered and
should be with us soon.
 |
|
Radiator with New settling tank craned back into
Loco |
 |
| The Cooler Group before the "Lid" was put back (Photos R.
Bruford) | |
|
Class 09 |
| No change. |
|
Class 127 |
| Awaiting repairs to a coolant leak around the water
pump. |
|
Class 122 - 55000 |
| The last saloon window was refitted by the end of
January. This only leaves the Totnes end cab windows to sort out. Now that
the big saloon has had all it's windows sorted out attention has now
turning to the floor and by mid February the old lino was removed. This
big saloon was used as a work area, but this has moved to the CCT (the old
blue one). The wood for the ceiling has arrived and this will be the next
job to done once the new work area is fully operational. |
|
Yorkshire |
| In service, but only just! Some drivers are not
disposing the loco as they should, with the battery and pilot switch being
found left in. This will drain the batteries over time and then it will
not start. This loco is now owned by the South Devon Railway
Trust. |
|
Fowler |
| No change from last time, apart from seeing the light of
day at the start of February for a shunt to take place. |
|
Ruston |
| No change from last time. |
|
South Devon Diesels' Drewry 04 |
| Sunday 12th January saw the loco placed in the workshop
ready for it's connecting rod bush overhaul and new cab windows. By the
end of January the loco had part of the cab roof removed (sun roof! ),
along with the front radiator grill and was being rubbed down for
painting, also the connecting rod were removed. Later in the month the
rotten metal at the base of the cab was cut away along with a piece at the
edge of the roof. By mid February the roof section had been replaced (no
sun roof! ) along with the radiator grill after cleaning and painting. By
the last weekend of February all the welding was completed and filling
& painting was the order of the day. By mid March one set of
connecting rods had had their crank pins & bushes checked (found to be
ok) painted and replaced on the wheels. The set on the opposite side has a
crank pin that is slightly oval, so this is having work done on it.
The first coat of B.R. green (and yellow ends) was applied in mid March.
The cab windows were replaced with new frames 8z seals by an outside
manufacturer during the last week of March and they do look
'SUPERB'. |
|
South Devon Diesels' Class 50 |
No news!
.jpg) |
|
Buckfastleigh Yard April
2003 | |
|
Stock |
MINK W 104700 - Had two new rain strips made to replace
the old rotten ones above the doors. The wagon was placed under cover in
mid March for this work to be done, along with a repaint.
SST W94556 - On the same day as the 04 entered the workshop, this
van left all newly painted and lined out. The whole job start to finish
took just 24 days, of which 23 were in the workshop. On the inside some
new window frame bottoms were fabricated c/o the DDS carpentry department. It stayed
under cover until the lettering was applied in mid February.
By mid March and it was back up the head shunt at the
north end.
CCT M94852 - About a quarter of the
van has now become the workshop with lights and power points installed. A
coat of white paint over this part of the van was applied to help with
lighting.
SHOCK - No change.
MINK `B' W 125814 - This van was locked for the first time on
Monday 3rd February as the door fittings were all refitted. This is not
before time as a person (unknown) has been inside the van for a candle
light meal of chicken and a smoke! With the doors now complete the van now
waits it's first trip down the line.
 |
|
CCT W094556 being repaired in Buckfastleigh
Workshops |
 |
|
CCT W094556 being painted in Buckfastleigh
Workshops |
 |
|
CCT W094556 freshly out shopped at
Buckfastleigh | |
|
Other |
| Keep the aluminium drink cans coming in. |
|
Dates for Diary (Diesels
running) |
| Easter Transport Gala 20th & 21st April (One loco
out each day) |
Diesel
Gala weekend 10th & 11th May 2003 (spread the word)
 |
|
"Three to the Sea" at Reading 02 May 1987
(20020/064/118) | |
|
Working Weekends |
The main working Sunday will be
the first one on the month, but most Sundays will see someone around if
you turn up between 09.00 and 09.30. All help most welcome. FIRST SUNDAYS
OF THE MONTH:- 6th April, 4th May, 1st June & 6th July.
Please try to be at Buckfastleigh between 09:00
and 09:30 to lend a hand. |
|
Running Days |
| 2003 Season: There will be a total af five running days
this year. The first Sunday of the month from June to October, so tell
your friends and come along. Help make it all
worthwhile |
