Lewin latest – w/c 5th February 2012
Below: Progress is still ongoing, though this week not quite as visible. The cylinder covers (seen below) are now receiving the final coats of colour prior to the black borders being added and varnishing.
Below: Vince has done a lot of work on the brakegear. The original arrangement placed quite a lot of stress on the footplate, so this has been strengthened. The hanging links have been made and the push rod modified to include an elbow which enables us to use the same brake blocks (for which we have a pattern!) as are used on Coffee Pot No.1. I would also envisage using the same on No.17 as well as it is useful to be able to share such ‘consumables’ among the fleet.
Below: The footplate is today’s subject for attention. The original was pitted, thin and had been butchered during the 1970s restoration. All three plates have therefore been replaced, with thicker plate to take account of the brake cylinder mounting (beneath). Meanwhile Dave and I carried on with painting the inside surfaces of the frames.
Below: New footplate valances have been made and literally inches of blown metal and rust cleaned away. With new plate added this area is far tidier and stronger than it had been up to now.
So, the work continues, still with an April debut in mind… The loco has also been requested by the Severn Valley Railway (accompanied by Coffee Pot) to take part in their 150th anniversary celebrations on the 19/20 May.
May I congratulate thoroughly for your work on ‘Lewin’.
It is so good to see a real interest being taken in this singular locomotive and such a change from the despair my co volunteers and I felt when we tried to restore her as a well tank in the early nineties’. Despite Jim Rees’ best efforts, the incumbent leadership of the museum were not prepared to fiance us.
It is so good to see the wider Friends of Beamish embracing the colliery railway and to learn that the Beamish Railway elements are enjoying a phoenix like revitalisation.
Congratulations and good luck on the home straight and final furlongs.
Kind regards
Duncan A Young
ex Beamish Colliery Railway Group.
Hi Duncan, thanks for the support. There is a lot of Museum investment in the railways here, and it is aimed at the long term sustainability of them as well (whence comprehensive restorations etc) so that they cannot fade away again. At the moment the railway related activities are limited by lack of facilities – but we are building and creating new workshops as well as such things as are needed for the operations (water towers, coal docks, a pit and an engine shed for Rowley in due course,) and I am aiming to complete these by the autumn so that staff and volunteers (including the Friends) can all benefit and the contribution from all can be even greater.
As ever, watch this blog for latest news!
Best wishes
Paul