345/ 335 update and more good news...........

Evening everyone ..........

I have some more good news to report and another step forward to 345 returning to the mainline once again. 

345

Firstly progress over the last week on list of work has been greatly progressed, with only low priority jobs now remaining thanks to the efforts of James Bottomley, Seton Spencer, Carl Holt, Mark Jopson, John Stephens and myself.

Last Sunday the gang got together and tackled the following:

• Loco was re brake blocked ready for tyre turning.
• Traction motor gearcases all checked and topped up as required.
• All traction motors checked again prior to running, all were in good order.
• Calibrated Ammeters were refitted to both cab desks.
• Air leak on engine compartment air tank on A side cured.
• Brake test and OTMR test fully completed.
• Missing cab safety signs installed.
• Underframe exam and final inspection done.  

Today our Vehicle Acceptance Body has carried out an engineering inspection on 345 at Barrowhill and I am pleased to report the loco flew through the inspection with only 2 minor corrective actions which will be attended to this Saturday along with Fitness to Run exam for movement this Monday coming. 

After the inspection the loco was positioned ready for a delivery of fuel by road tanker due Weds or Thurs. A big thanks to East Lancs Railway in particular Paul Bonello and David Layland for arranging it. 

D335

Last week D335 was put over the pit at the Carriage Works at Bury and the loco was fully re-blocked and all underframe levels checked and topped up as needed. Under frame inspection which revealed two body to bogie air hoses were defective and required replacement. These were replaced next day. 

All the bogies were greased and FTR completed ready for movement to the wheel lathe. 
My next job after completing the blog update is to complete the necessary paperwork for D335 to be given a transit move certificate to allow movement over Network Rail. 

Thanks to Seton Spencer and Rory Lushman for there help

I can now present the full picture to you what will be happening and when.

Monday 4th November 2013  
(note its just short of 3 years by only 7 days since 345 arrived at Barrowhill for repairs)

D9009 will haul D335 from Bury to Barrowhill on arrival 345 will be attached to the consist. 345 will then  haul D9009 and D335 from Barrowhill to Tyseley TMD.


The consist will remain there to allow all three locomotives to be tyre turned and the necessary checks after tyre turning to be undertaken. These being as follows:

• Speedometer re-calibration.
• AWS/ TPWS aerial/ receiver height check.
• Brake adjustment.
• Safety Guard height check.
• Buffer heights check. 

Friday the 8th November 2013 

345 will haul D9009 and D335 back to Barrowhill dropping D9009 off at home base then continuing on home to the East Lancs Railway. 

Saturday 8th November 2013

I am hopefully going to arrange for 345 to work one or two trains on Saturday 9th November 2013 as part of the CFPS annual general meeting I will let you all know if this is going to happen next week.

There are few outstanding items of repairs to do on 345 but these will attended to over the winter but I for one will be glad to see her back home. 

Timings are below for loco moves next week.

0Z40 Castleton Hopwood Gf 0800 Castleton North Jn 0803-0813 Castleton 0840-0842 Rochdale 0844 Rochdale East Jn 0845 Littleborough 0853 Hall Royd Jn 0903 Hebden Bridge 0907 Milner Royd Jn 0917 Greetland Jn 0919 Bradley Wood Jn 0924 Heaton Lodge East Jn 0926 Mirfield East Jn 0928 Thornhill L.N.W. Jn. 0929 Horbury Jn 0940 Wakefield Kirkgate 0943 Calder Bridge Jn 0944 Crofton West Jn 0946 Hare Park Junction 0949 South Kirkby Jn 0957 Moorthorpe 0957 Swinton (S.Yorks) 1013 Aldwarke Jn 1015 Masborough Jn 1018 Treeton Jn 1022 Beighton Jn 1024 Barrow Hill North Jn 1032 Barrow Hill South Jn. 1034-1038 Barrow Hill L.I.P. 1052 0Z41 Barrow Hill L.I.P. 1340 Barrow Hill South Jn. 1347-1352 Barrow Hill North Jn 1355-1359 Tapton Jn 1411 Chesterfield 1411 Chesterfield South Jn 1412 Clay Cross North Jn 1414 Ambergate Jn 1431 Derby 1443-1445 Sunnyhill 1448-1516 Stenson Jn 1519 North Stafford Jn 1520 Clay Mills Jn 1524 Burton-on-trent 1533-1541 Wichnor Jn 1548 Tamworth 1556 Kingsbury Jn 1602 Water Orton 1608 Water Orton West Jn 1610 Castle Bromwich Jn 1612 Washwood Heath West Jn 1626 Landor Street Jn 1629 St Andrews Jn (West Mids) 1631 Bordesley Jn 1635 Small Heath South Jn 1638 Tyseley T.M.D. 1640

08/11/13 Loco Transfer - Tyseley to Barrow Hill (55009 40135 40145)0Z43 Tyseley T.M.D. 1026 Small Heath South Jn 1028 Bordesley Jn 1033 St Andrews Jn (West Mids) 1034 Landor Street Jn 1036 Castle Bromwich Jn 1043 Water Orton West Jn 1045 Water Orton 1046 Kingsbury Jn 1051 Tamworth 1056 Wichnor Jn 1103 Burton-on-trent 1109 Clay Mills Jn 1115 North Stafford Jn 1118 Stenson Jn 1119 Derby 1125-1131 Ambergate Jn 1143 Clay Cross North Jn 1154 Chesterfield South Jn 1154 Chesterfield 1155 Tapton Jn 1156 Barrow Hill South Jn. 1201-1205 Barrow Hill L.I.P. 1219

08/11/13 Loco Transfer - Barrow Hill to ELR (40135 40145) 0Z44 Barrow Hill L.I.P. 1350 Barrow Hill South Jn. 1355-1400 Barrow Hill North Jn 1402 Beighton Jn 1407 Treeton Jn 1408 Masborough Jn 1412 Aldwarke Jn 1415 Swinton (S.Yorks) 1420 Moorthorpe 1427 South Kirkby Jn 1428 Hare Park Junction 1435 Crofton West Jn 1438 Calder Bridge Jn 1439 Wakefield Kirkgate 1441-1447 Horbury Jn 1459 Mirfield East Jn 1526 Heaton Lodge Jn 1532 Huddersfield 1537-1550 Marsden 1558 Diggle Jn 1604 Greenfield 1607 Stalybridge 1613 Ashton Moss North Jn 1617 Baguley Fold Jn 1621 Philips Park West Jn 1627 Brewery Junction 1637 Thorpes Bridge Jn 1640 Vitriol Works 1642 Castleton East Jn 1650 Castleton 1651-1655 Castleton East Jn 1707-1712 Castleton North Jn 1724-1729 Castleton Hopwood Gf 1733

Thanks to West Coast Railway Company for organizing and arranging the moves.  

We still need your continued support to help achieve getting both loco's in to tip top condition. 

More news soon.....

Cheers
Lee

335 and 345 News update.

Evening everyone ......

Here is an update on progress on 335/345 front.

Last weekend myself, Mark Hornby, Mark Jopson, John Stephens and James Bottomley were working on 345 progressing through a list of 50 items of repairs and testing prior to a visit by our VAB inspector now scheduled for 29th October where he will undertake inspection on 345 so she can re-gain her mainline certification.

Work last weekend comprised off the following:

• Steam cleaning and refitting rocker covers and fuel pump covers after fuel pump and injector overhauls.
• Control cubicle checking over and cleaning.
• Repairs to faulty OTMR pressure sensor.
• Testing of GSMR radio after replacing faulty speaker.
• Testing of NRN equipment.
• Continuation of exam work.
• Investigation into faulty screen washers. 
• Removal of main generator ammeters for Calibration as they were both reading low during load bank tests.
• Load regulator resistors checked and cleaned.
• Various small jobs like securing loose engine room door handles and freeing off radiator shutters. 

This Saturday another work party is scheduled to attend Barrowhill to continue with work on 345.

Items we are looking at this week are:

• Full brake test
• OTMR test and data analysis.
• TPWS test.
• Continuation of repair work including window washer repairs.
• Refitting of floor panels near to main generator.
• Re-labeling cab desk and controls
• Cab signage.  

It does not seem much when you read this but I can assure you its a long and laborious jobs completing these tests but they are part of routine safety tests to ensure safety of the people who travel behind the loco.

I am also pleased to inform you that moves are booked with WCRC to transport D335 and 345 to London Midland depot at Tyseley for tyre turning the moves are booked to take place on Monday 4th November. This will be confirmed nearer the time and timings will be posted. 

Here's the bad news!!!! and we need your help.

Costings:

345 certification for mainline running : £1500.00

Fuel for the moves: £1400.00

Movement costs:£ 2000.00

UAT costs for D335: £650.00

Tyre Turning costs: £5500.00

Speedo re-calibration after Tyre turning: £250

Grand Total: £11,300.00

 

 As you can see by the costings above to keep our machines running costs a great deal of money and effort. Our sales team does a sterling job raising funds to help our cause as do many of our members by donation of money or items we can sell. 

I am appealing to you all to dig deep in your pockets and assist us in anyway with donations big or small to achieve our target to get 335 working again and 345 fighting fit for CFPS charter work. We are so close to achieving it after a three year slog of bad news and set backs.......

Finally a big thanks to John Stephens, Mark Hornby, James Bottomley, Mark Jopson for their assistance last weekend. John and James have both been busy all this week as well, James has continued the exam and repair work on 345 after finishing work with HNRC working well after 9 pm some nights.

 John has been picking up parts and materials we require to get 345 finished off as well as sorting out Whistler mags, sorting the accounts out for the AGM, organizing and collecting sales stand stock for the CFPS sales stand at ELR's steam gala this weekend as well as day to day running of our society.  

Further update next week.

Thanks for your support so far.............!!

Cheers

Lee

345 load bank tests and hectic few weeks to come.

Hello again........

Unfortunately I have been unable to upload the video foot from Thursday's load bank trials with 345 after several attempts the video refuses to play.

We now have a few hectic weeks ahead finishing off maintenance work and iron out a few niggling issues.

Today - James Bottomley has spent the day re-connecting traction cables after load banking and the loco can now be moved under its own power again.

Work still to complete is as follows:

• No.2 end straight air brake valve to replace as blowing through.
• No.1 end NRN aerial base to replace.
• Brake pressure transducer part of the OTMR system requires repair / replacement.
• Maintenance exam to complete around 60% completed.
• Mainline re-registration examination and certification.
• Loco to re-block after tyre turning.
• Speedo Calibration after tyre turning.

Tyre turning plans.................

It is hoped that week commencing 14/10/2013 D9009 which going back home to Barrowhill will haul D335 from the East Lancs Railway to Barrowhill where it will stable for around 14 days whilst repairs and maintenance work is completed. 

D9009 also requires tyre turning so once 345 is fully fit it will haul D9009 and 335 to the wheel lathe facility which will act as loaded test run. 

Once turning is completed and necessary inspections and tests after tyre turning, its then planned for 345 to haul the three loco's back to Barrowhill dropping off D9009 and then 335 and 345 will return home to the ELR. 

Thank you to the Deltic Preservation Society for their help and support.

There is a possibility that we will not be able to have one of our loco's running for the CFPS Annual General Meeting on 9th November. But it would be great if they are both home by then so 345 can run with another loco for heat and show our members how the dosh or goods  they have donated have been put to good use. 

If you wish to get involved with the CFPS as we desperately need more help and support in both the engineering teams and sales teams please get in touch by email using the addresses below.

chairman@cfps.co.uk

engineering@cfps.co.uk 

Finally Thank you James for your efforts today on 345. 

Cheers

Lee

 

345 Update ...... Good News!!!!!

Evening All

Having only just got home this evening from Barrowhill I have good news to report........

Due to some swift planning by the staff at HNRC yesterday tonight we have been able to load bank 345.
I am pleased to report that the low power issue has been resolved due to installation of overhauled pumps and injectors.

The loco is now developing 1800 horsepower to the rail which is slightly up from the workshop overhaul spec of 1765 horsepower.  The loco performed at full power for over 30 minutes and the results were getting better as time went on.

A few minor fuel leaks need to resolved and work can now turn to the completion of the maintenance examination and VAB inspection for mainline certification.

We do need to get the thermostatic bypass valves overhauled but these can be attended to on the Loco's return to the ELR.

I will upload onto the blog tomorrow evening some footage of the loco being put through her paces.

Thanks to the staff at HNRC, Shaun Wright, James Bottomley and John Stephens for their assistance....

Cheers for now

Lee