Alan, Alison and Tim have returned today from a rather too eventful weekend at the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway. Unfortunately, there isn’t time this evening to tell the full tale, which will no doubt be recounted in the next edition of the Trust’s journal, The Iron Horse.
Last Friday saw the FRT, team, bolstered on the day by Sam who had driven down from Preston and arrived at 08.00, join the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway’s own people in preparing Furness Railway No. 20 for a test steaming and a trip down the line in readiness for the three scheduled return trips on Saturday and Sunday. We were immediately made welcome and tea served, a good start to the day, and that hospitality endured over the weekend. We have to compliment the P&B Loco department on its superb efforts to make FR 20 shine from top to bottom, something very much appreciated by the passengers the following day.
The test run revealed that the nine days of steamings at Didcot had made the boiler water incompatible with opening the regulator wide, the chalky water causing the loco to prime.
A change of water then ensued before the following day’s steamings.
Saturday’s trips were going well until the final one, when the right hand crosshead cotter sheared, which caused the piston to over-travel and damage the front cylinder cover. This brought the train to a halt with no further progress possible. Fortunately, the train was near to Furnace Sidings station and the passengers were safely detrained. It was then necessary to tie up the crosshead and remove the cylinder cover before carriages and locomotive could be moved safely, and without further damage, to their respective sheds.
Obviously, this failure was a huge disappointment to everyone, and another locomotive had to be steamed for traffic the following day.
Sunday was spent further examining FR 20 and preparing it for a return journey back to Preston to repairs. However, the FRT has this morning received the kind offer of assistance from the West Somerset Railway’s mechanical engineering department, which has a good relationship with the P&BR. A further examination of FR 20 will therefore take place on Wednesday including some non-destructive testing of components, after which it is hoped to be able to put together a plan of action for repairs. We will keep our readers informed as to progress.
In the mean time we wish to thank everyone at the P&BR for their friendship and assistance over the weekend.
We leave you on a lighter note with the news that when Alison placed an order on Friday evening for two sweets (for herself and Tim) at the Brewer’s Fayre Inn at Llanfoist, three turned up. 
Luckily, Alan was delighted to help out in solving the dilemma! 
Work has continued apace in the FRT shed at Preston on dismantling GWR 0-6-2T No. 5643 and cleaning its components. The superheater header was removed last Wednesday.
Ron Crowe is seen cleaning up one of the steam pipes.
There has also been progress with the restoration of Great Eastern Railway royal saloon No. 5 with the kitchen starting to look ready for business. Both work tops have been installed and the kitchen cupboards given their final coat of varnish.
The sinks and Phil’s new tap have been installed.
We now need to install some running water. Phil is seen testing the new water tank with assistance from Keith.
Furness Railway No. 20 successfully completed the last of its nine steamings at Didcot on Monday, 1st May. For this weekend it was paired with two Great Western Railway coaches of a more modern vintage than previously.
John Dixon and Sam joined Tim on the 1st May to prepare FR 20 for its forward movement to the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway. This included loading the coupling rod that had been acquired for No. 4979 Wootton Hall.
Sam then received it in the tender.
Back at Preston, last Wednesday saw Caliban’s cab being fitted onto the frames courtesy of Ribble Rail’s recently acquired Road Rail Vehicle (RRV).
Once this had been achieved, it was time to remove 5643’s cab roof.
And then the tanks.
Back in the FRT shed, with the tanks removed, Keith has been cleaning oil and grease which is now accessible.
Sam has been cleaning the firebox top cladding.
And Ron Crowe has been polishing the injector pipework.
Work has continued apace on fitting the new kitchen in Great Eastern Railway Royal Saloon No. 5, with Phil taking a deep breath before cutting the all-important holes in the one of the worktops.
The good news is that the new sinks fitted beautifully. Phil is now off to find a tap!
John Davis has been working in the guard’s compartment, seen here fitting some veneer to replace that which had previously been water damaged. It is to be hoped that we can soon arrange for some carpets to be fitted in the saloons, although this will have to wait until the chaise longue upholstery has been completed.
Most of the work to release the cab, tanks and bunker on 5643 has been accomplished and arrangements are being made for lifting equipment to remove them in the not too distant future. Injector pipework has been cleaned up, annealed and is now ready to be polished.
Ed has been cleaning the water balance pipes, which had proved to be a challenge to remove.
After Keith’s visit to Didcot over Easter, where he was able to examine two ‘Hall’ class locos there, he has been forming new copper pipework to connect 4979’s dump valve with the engine’s vacuum cylinder. As can be seen, it is a very long pipe with twist and turn! Keith was also delighted to find a spare ‘Hall’ class coupling rod for which a deal was done. It must be a ‘fit’ as it is actually marked ‘4979’! Just need to get it back to Preston.
Outside, the recent better weather has allowed John Dixon and Ade to remove Caliban’s cab roof, which was definitely the worse for wear through rust.
First of all, FR 20 was coaled up in the old fashioned way from the Didcot
FR 20 worked the “Branch” on Sunday, offering the opportunity for a photo alongside the broad gauge replica Fire Fly.
The trainshed also produced an atmospheric shot of days gone by.
Sunday afternoon and evening was taken up by an organised photo charter.
This involved some physical exertion for Tim!
As can be seen, FR 20 looked very much at home in the shed.
Back at Preston, John Davis has grouted the tiles in the kitchen of Great
Work is well advanced on preparations to enable 5643’s tanks, cab and bunker
As planned, Furness Railway No. 20 was loaded onto a Reid Freight transporter on Wednesday morning before setting off on its journey to Didcot Railway Centre, stopping off at Stoke overnight. After unloading at Didcot yard on Thursday morning the loco was the subject of an ultrasonic examination of its axles and a fitness to run examination before being shunted across the main line into the Didcot Railway Centre on Friday.
There was just time to take a photo of FR 20 posed alongside Great Western Railway ‘Castle’ Class 4-6-0 Pendennis Castle before it was shunted under cover. Alan and Alison have set off to Didcot from Preston today as the advance party although departure was somewhat delayed owing to the failure of the car battery. We hope that their luck improves! Sam, John Dixon and Keith are also heading south to Didcot this weekend.
Meanwhile, the work to dismantle GWR 0-6-2 No. 5643 continues. John Dixon has been uncoupling the steam heat pipework under the bunker.
Sam went into the smokebox before attending to the superheater elements. We are pleased to be able to report that, after a bit of a struggle with one of them, the elements were successfully removed.
Keith is pictured at work with one of the injector water valves.
Work has also continued in Great Eastern Railway Royal Saloon No. 5 where Matthew gave the toilet sink a much needed clean.
Last Wednesday morning saw Ade moving Caliban’s boiler around to the running shed for a washout, using the fire pump and water syphoned from FR 20’s tender. It took a little while this time to get the fire pump to start, but we had assistance from old friends Neil Glover and Jonathan Dixon to help us along.
The boiler had not seen any water for thirty years, so the first blast from the hose jet revealed some very dark brown fluid. However, after plenty of flushing out, the water finally became clear.
Work on dismantling GWR 0-6-2T No. 5643 has continued apace. John Dixon is seen here draining off the last water from the side tanks, which took rather longer than anticipated.
Fred resumed his familiar role of cleaning pipework and other dirty components.
The second work top for the kitchen in Great Eastern Railway Royal Saloon No. 5 has been cut to shape and installed by John Davis (pictured) and Phil Bell. Meanwhile some structural work on the chaise longue has occupied Phil Burton. The toilet compartment has now received attention from Tim’s paintbrushes and is now ready for the lower woodwork to be varnished.
Furness Railway No. 20 took part in the Ribble Steam Railway’s Spring Steam Gala over the weekend along with three other locos from the RSR’s home fleet. FR 20 looked well with the demonstration freight train that was operated at the beginning of each day. Sam and John Dixon have kindly volunteered to work tomorrow to prepare FR 20 for its departure on Wednesday morning to Didcot Railway Centre, with Reid Freight due to arrive at 09.00.
There was another move of rolling stock in the FRT shed last Wednesday which saw Caliban temporarily basking in the outside fresh air for the first time in quite a while. Caliban’s boiler is now positioned near the exit to the shed and it is planned to bring it around to the RSR running shed on Wednesday for a washout using FR 20’s tender as a reservoir for the fire pump. Time is of the essence as FR 20 is due to take part in the RSR’s Spring Steam Gala this weekend before leaving Preston next Wednesday for Didcot Railway Centre.
Whilst road 2 of the shed was empty during the shunt operation, the opportunity was taken to clean up the accumulation of dust and other unwanted items that had built up on the track over the past few years.
The other major task at the moment is of course the dismantling of Great Western Railway 0-6-2T No. 5643 to enable its boiler to be lifted for overhaul. We will keep a photo log of the dismantling process. The observant will notice that the dome cover has been removed along with the clack feed pipes.
Needless to say, whatever comes off the loco usually needs some cleaning. The above photo shows a small pile of components waiting to be cleaned.
Finally, John Dixon has kindly bought us a replacement pump for the parts washer which had previously failed, and John is seen putting the revitalised kit to good use.
Back at Preston, 5643 was finally placed in the FRT shed on Wednesday, 8th March. No time was lost in starting the long job of undertaking the ten-year overhaul on the boiler.
The cab floor was soon removed and Paul Balshaw is seen here cleaning up some of the coal dust that had fallen between the wooden floor planks.
Phil Bell has been in his element since Keith, with his long experience of servicing industrial machines, managed to repair the table saw that had previously been donated to the FRT by the RSR joiners. Phil has been making up wooden mouldings for the kitchen in Great Eastern Railway Royal Saloon No. 5 that is currently being fitted out.
Anne and Phil Burton have continued their work on the chaise longue in the east saloon of the royal coach, despite Anne having recently suffered a broken finger at home. The moquette for the back of the chaise longue has now been fitted, having been buttoned onto the backing material at home by Anne and Phil.
Finally, FR 20 successfully underwent its 14-month steam test examination by the boiler surveyor at Preston last Friday. John Dixon, Matthew and Sam are seen giving the loco a clean and polish whilst Alan kept an eye on the fire.
The main job last Wednesday morning was the planned wash out of 5643’s boiler. Jonathan Dixon, who was a LRS member from many years ago and who has long experience with fire pumps, kindly joined us and managed to start the FRT’s own fire pump first time! Sam again volunteered to be the man on the hose and the job was completed in time for lunch. We are pleased to say that Jonathan has now joined the FRT and we hope to see him and his dog Max again before too long.
Back in the FRT shed, Alan has been repairing Cumbria’s regulator quadrant, making a new stop for it, which we hope will be more robust than the original.
John Dixon has made strides with the task of inserting a set of window support scissors on one of the doors which, for some reason, were missing.
Finally, you will all be pleased to learn that Ade finally managed to get his hands on some of Alan’s birthday cake! (See last week’s blog if this doesn’t make any sense!)