|
D8110 [20110] |
On Monday 21st January the loco had its No.1 bogie brake
blocks changed.
The compressor had its oil
changed in mid February and the tappets were adjusted on Sunday March 3rd,
ready for a spot of ballast dropping (some 600-700 tons) later in the
month.
The No.2 bogie brake blocks were changed
on Sunday 17th March. This is the first re-blocking for the loco in
ten years.
During the last week of March a
compression test was carried out on the power unit and B2 cylinder was
found to be on the low side and so this will be watch over the coming
months. |
|
[D8118] 20118 |
The two turbo's from the spare engine arrived at
Buckfastleigh on Sunday 20th January. They were cleaned and given a coat
of undercoat. By the start of February they were in gloss top coat and
waiting to be fitted to the loco. Sunday 17th saw the loco shunted out
from the shed to the crossing for the crane to lift out the second duff
turbo and place in the two good ones. A start on bolting up the
pipes etc. to the turbo's was made over the following
weekends. After filling the system up with water some leaks on joints was
found. These were later put right by tightening up and remaking two
joints. With the system now holding coolant the exhaust stack were
refitted. It was started up on the afternoon of Friday 29th, with no
faults showing up. On the Sunday it was moved out of the shed for a
good
wash and polish after a winter on dust in,
under cover. Mid afternoon a test run was made to Bishops Bridge on the
rear of a goods train and then returned light diesel. A small coolant leak
was found on a hose at Bishops and put right their.
Also noted was that the control air would build up passed 70psi,
which means a sticking valve. The sight glasses on the turbo off the spare
engine will have to be cleaned in the coming weeks, as seeing the oil
level is very hared. The cab to cab phone has been refitted, but it does
not work. Both class 20 should now be ok for the AGM of the Devon Diesel
Society at the start of April.
 |
 |
| New Turbo Charger prior to fitting |
The new Turbo Charger is eased into 20118 with
SDR
based Coles crane | |
|
D7612 [25262, 25901] |
| The No.1 cab has come together very well, and by the
start of February was just waiting the seats to be refitted. Both cab
floors are still in a poor state, as they both need new thick plywood
along with a new floor covering. A start was made in mid February to
unbolt the cooler group and loosen off the roof retaining bolt ready for
the lifting out of the radiators. The retaining bolt over the cooler group
are being a bit of a pain, as space is limited. The radiator lift will
happen when 20118 is up and running and all is ok. The new exhaust stack
has arrived in kit form and is slowly being put together. We had to have
two produced as a minim order. So if any one knows a group who is in need
of one, then a sale could take place. If all goes well in building the
stack, we could provide the drawings. |
|
Class 09 |
| No change from last time. Loco was started up on 10th
February after some time, and started first time. |
|
Class 127 |
| The set was started up at the end of March, with only
one small coolant leak found on the radiator for No.2 engine on the Totnes
end power car. The inside will need a good clean before use. |
|
Class 122 -
55000 |
| Work is now on going in the second driving cab, with new
panelling being refitted. |
|
Yorkshire |
| In service. |
|
Fowler |
| No change from last time. Still body repairs, but it
came out of the shed for a quick shunt on Sunday 20th January. Now back
inside. |
|
Hunslet |
| No change from last time. |
|
South Devon Diesels' Drewry 04 |
| Engine compartment has been repainted, cab windows are
out for replacement and new rubber seals. All the marker lights now fitted
to the front and rear of the loco are now working. The new exhauster from
Eastleigh works has been fitted in time for their AGM (06 April
2002). |
|
Stock |
MINK - W 104700 - The strong winds in February has
ripped part of the roof canvas. A replacement has been ordered and will be
fitted as soon as possible.
CCT - W94556 - No
change, but showing signs of weathering.
CCT -
M94852 - NEW. Arrived from Plymouth Laira on late Thursday 21st March.
This CCT will be for DMU spares. As it has racking built in most of it
already. However, it will need some work doing to it, as it has some tin
worm in it. At the moment it carries the old rail blue livery (faded),
this will change in time.
SHOCK - No
change
MINK `B' W125814 - Not a lot done due to
all the wind & rain in the past months.
LMS
BG - M31927 - The Great Central Railway (North) at Ruddington have bought
the remains so that they can put another body on to it. Moved by
road transport to it's new home at the end of March. |
|
Other |
| Keep the aluminium drink cans coming
in. |
|
Dates for Diary (Diesels
running) |
| May 19th will see the use of two 20's and the
04. |
|
Working Weekends |
Mostly Sundays at the moment.
If you turn up about between 09.30 and 10.00 someone will be
around. But no guarantees on this. |
|
Running Days |
| May 4/5/6th, the Thomas weekend. |
|
A NEW TOY ! |
We have acquired a 110 volt battery charger from Exeter
(surplus to requirements). During January a start on checking it over
found that the wires insulation was breaking down where they were held
together by tape. The sticky side of the tape had reacted with the
insulation and at one spot was shorting across.
Also the mains cable is looking very iffy and will be replaced and
two small copper straps were found broken. A start on repainting it in
March is planned.
More next time. |
|
Other News |
We have now two new spare power units that were surplus
at B.N.F.L. Hinkley Point. They were standby/backup units which had been
in store in a warehouse in Burrow Bridge Somerset some way from Hinkley
Point.
One unit is complete, but the other unit
has a cylinder head off for some reason?
Before any of the units can be put into a class 20 a lot of work
must be done first, as the power units are back to front!
On a class 20 you have three oil filters, the coolant water pump,
along with some pipe work. The turbo's air inlet filter may need changing
as well.
The two power units were loaded onto a
lorry, along with some spares and special tools for transport to
Buckfastleigh.
The power units have very low
engine hours, around 500 hours.
Compare this to
20110 which is now well over 9000 hours.
At a
date to be arranged in the summer, there will be a special run with the
two 20's to say a thank you to B.N.F.L. for their kind gesture.
|
