Out and about with Beamish Transport & Industry...

Out and about with Beamish Transport & Industry…

Lots happening so here is an overview, in pictures of some of today’s activities…

Below: Edward Sholto, which is on loan to us, failed last year with faulty injectors.  A replacement has been provided and this was fitted by our new Colliery volunteer John Young (formerly of the Bowes Railway) earlier this week.  Today we steam tested the loco, which showed further adjustments are required.  It was a good opportunity to give the loco a thorough clean as it was still coated in last winter’s protective oil.  It is hoped the loco will play a part at Power from the Past, though this is by no means guaranteed.  Later on this shed will be painted black and it is also hoped to repaint the two V skips by next year’s Great North Festival of Transport.  Drawings to expand the narrow gauge railway have been prepared and the track team will work on this in between other jobs over the coming 12 – 18 months.

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Below: The shotblaster arrived to carry out numerous jobs for us – seen here working on the frame for R025 – what a lot of work this saves, doing a very thorough job in a way no wire brush could!

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Below: The blaster also coats the bare metal with a two-pack anti-rust paint, which further speeds the job along and protects the metal until such a time as it can be hand painted with the desired finish.

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Below: Samson’s frames were similarly treated – seen here before, during and after the process.

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Below: Signwriting on the bread van is progressing well too.  Some debate is being held on whether or not the heron should have a tuft on the back of its head – I think that it should so this will be added this week!

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Below: These chaldron wheels are due for blasting and priming later.  They will provide for a re-wheeling programme on the running fleet, some of which are considered too worn for further running.  Spare worn wheelsets will be used on the road-side chaldron currently under construction.

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Below: More roller bits.  In the background is the radiator, which is currently being investigated for contract reconstruction.

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Below: Hughie has made a start dismantling Sheffield 264’s controllers – he is seen here making notes of connections and removing these ready for removal.

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Below: Peter Barlow took this photo of the resulting gap!

264 No2 end controller out

Below: And here is 264’s No.1 end controller in pieces and laid out for overhaul in the Electrician’s Shop.

264 No2 end controller

Below: The tram group have been sorting through the stores of recovered material, including these mouldings from above the bulkhead doors of Gateshead 12, one of two Gateshead bodies recovered and dismantled for parts to use on Gateshead 10.  By changing the ‘1’ to a ‘5’ we may have the first two components for a future tramcar project…!!!

G12 centre bulkhead architraves