There is quite a bit of finishing work taking place on the RHEC (Regional Heritage Engineering Centre) at the moment, though much work still taking place within it too.  We are almost at a stage that we might consider it ‘complete’.  Meanwhile, the departure of the B-Type bus has enabled a shuffle to take place with items moving to and from the various bays.

Below: The Timber shop is currently producing new steps for the Fairground Swing Boats, seen here in both kit form and assembled, in aluminium primer.

Below: The 1950s caravan is ready for final painting and has now moved into the Erecting Shop for this work to be completed. It is also being re-wired as well as receiving mechanical attention and some cosmetic work to the windows.

Below: R025 is being gathered into piles ready for shot-blasting, as seen here.  Bill Dickens, the archivist of the Road Roller Association has been able to supply us with some key information regarding R025’s history and can confirm its RAF pedigree.  It also confirms that we don’t have to paint it yellow, even though the deepest shades of paint we have uncovered show yellow beneath the blue.  Bill states:

This was one of 20 ordered by the “Air Ministry”. “R025” was delivered to Lenchors, Fife. Despatched 13/2/ 1925. The original engine was an Albion 4cyl with works numbers 2016. This batch (R011 to R030) was recorded as being painted in “R.A.F. Blue” (BSC633). It had a later type frame than the early D4 model. The type was very popular for grass work such as horse racing course owners. Newmarket, Hull and Newbury were early owners before the D4 model was adopted as an airfield roller by the War Office (Flying Office, Netheravon Royal. Flying Cor.) from March 1914.

Most of the batch that included R025 (although this particular one is not specifically listed) were listed as “Sold from R.A.F. Surplus Sales” to new owners in various locations in France, England and Scotland about 1934 – Listed in Barford Perkins records where they were contacted by the new owner or collated from reliable reports. Incidentally all “Air Ministry” model D4’s were supplied with a canopy.

I am extremely grateful to Bill for this information, which comes with the promise of more to come.  The Friends team are also utilising their contacts with regards the Albion engine fitted, so we will hopefully be able to put together quite a comprehensive technical file on Ro25 in due course.

A new RHEC bulletin can be downloaded from this site – at http://46.32.240.35/beamishtransportonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/RHECBulletin1Summer2013.pdf and also available via the downloads link on the toolbar.  It contains details of current and future projects through the RHEC and gives an idea of what the purpose of the new workshops are in the wider Museum development.  Much of it duplicates what is on the blog, but it may be of interest to readers as a single easy-hit for information.