Review of 2008
January
24/1/08
February
27/2/08 DPS AGM, Auction & Lord Nelson Memorial Lecture
March
April
8/1/08
Restoration
On the 29th December the weights in Tulyar were removed by DPS volunteers and Martin Walker/Beaver Sports crew, this is a big step in the reskinning process of Tulyar and makes access inside the loco a lot easier. Martin has also brought back to the depot the power unit lifting frame, which was loaned to him to help remove the damaged power unit in 55022 and install the new power unit. During this weekend the societies two VDA vans have been brought into the depot and 55019 has moved back a position closer to the doors. Latest pictures of activities at Barrow Hill are available here.
Update courtesy of Craig Windle and the DPS
Restoration
Another busy day in the DPS depot, more welds have been ground down on D9015 outer body skin. The inside of Tulyar has been cleaned, yes it does happen, we create the mess and clean it up. Some more inner body skin has been trial fitted and piping fitted to it. Also drainage piping has been welded in. On D9009 a crack in the outer body skin on the nose end was recently found next on to the side door, this has recently been cut out and is waiting for a new piece of body skin to be fitted. Pictures of activities are available here.
Update courtesy of Craig Windle
10/2/08
Restoration
Another successful day in the DPS depot with a number of jobs completed or advanced. On D9009 the nose floors have been cleaned and wait the air tanks to be reinstalled with one so far done. In the engine room the cable conduit was being installed. On D9015 the piping on the inner body skin has been temporally fitted completely down one side, the other side should be started shortly. 55019 has had its air distributor removed and taken away to Wabtec to be overhauled. This is done every seven years as standard. There have recently been issues with the vacuum braking on 55019 so after checks on the piping, which were fine, the AV2 system and air filters were removed. The AV2 was found to be dirty inside so has been stripped, cleaned and left to dry. This should be rebuilt and put back soon. The vacuum brake system air filters were extremely dirty and these are most likely going to be replaced. During the day the depot had numerous visitors who were welcomed and were able to walk around the depot. At the end of the day once the public had left the depot fire alarm system was tested satisfactory, which has to be done every three months. Pictures of the day's activities are available here.
The Deltic Pioneer
55022 operated The Deltic Pioneer tour from Liverpool Lime Street to Edinburgh and return last Saturday hauling the train the whole way with 47787 on the rear to do the ECS movements. The tour has proved to be a big success amongst tourers on the day and the Deltic community, which has painted a positive picture for future 55022 and other Deltic tours. Images from the day here.
Saturday 1st March is the DPS AGM, formal business of the AGM begins at 11.00 and is open to members only. Members wishing to download the unapproved minutes of the 2007 AGM can do so by logging onto the DPS website and downloading these via the 2007 AGM minutes post. Re-elections due at this meeting are Murray Brown (current chairman), Richard Senior (current membership secretary) and Graham Clarke (current committee member without portfolio) with addition to this Ian Dobson (current Deltic Deadline editor) has indicated he will retire from his position at this meeting. Currently known to be standing to join the board are Roger Radcliffe and Stuart Page who have indicated they will bring fresh and new idea's to the DPS, the committee and it's members. Stuart and Roger are current volunteers with the DPS and other Deltic owners. Roger has previously had committe experience and has worked for the DPSCS, which has included projects like the overhaul of 55022. Stuart was the NYMR Volunteer Liaison Officer which covered looking after 103 new volunteers, liaison with the NYMR and looking after 9 & 19 under the guidance of Engineer Ray Ekins, this was in the early days of the DPS when the loco's were based at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and has been a project leader with the building and current operating of the Deltic simulator cab in 55008.
In the afternoon, the society's annual auction will take place along with the Lord Nelson Memorial Lecture on the concept and development of the Napier Engine following recent research by Nigel Paine. This lecture is open to members of the public. A sales stand will be in attendance. The location of the AGM is at Aston Court Hotel, Midland Road, Derby, outside the station.
16/4/08
Restoration update
Since the last update progress has been going well with D9009, D9015 and 55019. The air tanks have been installed back in the nose sections of 9 and the new batteries are hoping to be installed shortly. Work is progressing well on the inner body skin for 15 with further preparation work for permanent fitment under way. 19's engine room floor has been cleaned and according to Craig Windle is so clean you could eat your dinner off it. The fire bottles were taken out of 55019 on Saturday and were sent away for testing and should hopefully be back later this week. A couple of weeks ago the domino head code panels were changed for the route indicator head code blinds. RHF was also started last Saturday following an exam and fitting of new brake equipment. This was to check that everything was in order.
Image below and Update courtesy of Craig Windle
27/4/08
Restoration
A good days progress today with a small number of volunteers on site while the DPS directors had a meeting in the round house. The fire bottles for 55019 and D9009 have arrived back at the depot and these have been reinstalled back into the loco's. 55019 has had some repairs done on one engine, both generators were checked for dirt and broken brushes, the AWS and dead man pedal systems were also checked and these systems passed with no problems found. On D9009 the traction motor gears had fresh motak put in and grease in the traction motors. Inside Alycidon in the engine room the battery box covers were put back on and one engine was bared over and started up, an issue was found that D9009 would not take power at either end of the loco but the engine was running ok. 55022 who is currently at Barrow Hill has had its fuel tanks returned and these now await fitment. Pictures of the day's activities are available here.
The Crimpsall
Steve Froggatt has sent in the two pictures below of the Crimpsall on the 10/4/08 and it current demolition state, RIP Crimpsall.
12/5/08
NYMR Diesel Gala
10/5/08 - One year on and the two DPS magic machines return to the NYMR. Friday was reasonably successful but sadly last thing 55019 developed a fault with it not being able to take power and was returned to the depot at Grosmont. Saturday morning and a team of engineers arrived and soon resolved the fault but annoyingly developed another electrical fault. All day was spent fixing the loco and at 16:00 RHF was allowed to join the rear of the Westerns train to push it to Goathland on a planned test run. At Goathland it was removed and placed in the sidings for further checks and await to join the following down train back to Grosmont. 19 still needed a bit more work on Sunday by the team but intial signs were good on the days repairs. Sadly though we would not be allowed to run on the Whitby branch on Sunday due to the current issues on the loco, sorry guys but we tried our best to have 19 ready. While all this was happening Alycidon was having a great time (and hopefully visitors as well) running up and down the line on its various workings with no faults at all. Pictures from the day here.
Peak Rail Diesel Gala
11/5/08 - Exactly another year later and it’s the Peak Rail diesel gala with D9016 working both freight and passenger trains, some single or double headed. Gordon Highlander entertained the visitors to the railway throughout the day providing many photo opportunities. Besides doing its own turns it did cover one of the 37s due to it failing hauling a passenger train on its own. Pictures from the day here.
RSG to Edinburgh in August
Details regarding 55022 to Edinburgh with Retro Railtours in August. "This is our first railtour, with 55022 to Edinburgh. The original plans were for a Settle & Carlisle tour, however, due to timing constraints, we are now going up the WCML then Carstairs to Edinburgh- (giving extra thrash over Shap & Beattock!) and then returing via the ECML.
The timings and station stops are:
Huddersfield (0600), Stalybridge (0625), Man Vic (0650), Bolton (0710), Horwich Pkway (0720), Chorley (0740), Preston (0800) - arriving Edinburgh about 1200."
26/5/08
Restoration
On Saturday 5 volunteers carried on with work as usual at Barrow Hill on the restoration of Tulyar and depot maintenance. First job of the morning was to clean the depot floor from where D9009 and 55019 had stood. Oil and other deposits were removed leaving the floor nearly like new. Then it was onto starting buffering and filling on the second side of Tulyar, which got to part way up the body and at the end of the day was covered by undercoat paint to protect it from moisture in the air. While this was happening in the workshop more preparation work was happening on the inner body skin with new cuts being made and protective undercoat painting. Pictures of the day's activities are available here.
NYMR 55019 Sunday
55019 was booked to work two diagrams on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway on Sunday and performed its two runs successfully without any faults. Having chance to perform to the visiting public and enthusiasts plus clear her throat out along the way working on single engines changing them over after the first run. The volunteers with 55019 were happy that the electrical problems that had kept 19 from hauling trains at the NYMR so far were now resolved and are looking forward to having her on trains during the summer months. Some pictures from the day are below
RHF running round at, can you guess where?
Photo by James Whincup
After it's first successful train 55019 runs round to perform its second run
Photo by James Whincup
D9009 at NRM
D9009 is currently on show at the National Railway Museum during the 9 day 1968 and all that event, with the cab being open to the public. Alycidon is currently in the south yard with a range of steam locomotives both on show and open to the public. Images of D9009 and 55002 which is in the main part of the museum below
Photo by Craig Windle
Photo by Craig Windle
June Churnet Valley Railway D9016 on Saturday The Crimpsall Update
1/6/08
Restoration
Another day at the depot and it’s time to carry on with the buffering and filling on D9015. The whole length of the Tulyar has been worked on the second side and it is making good progress to have a smooth and flat body skin. At the end of the day it was covered by primer paint to protect it from moisture in the air. In the workshop there has been more painting and cutting on the inner body panels. There has been more fin straightening on the second side of the second radiator and it was near completion by the end of the day. Pictures of the day's activities are available here.
D9016 has been working during the diesel gala at the Churnet Valley Railway and has proved to be a popular loco. Sadly during the afternoon on Saturday Gordon Highlander ran into problems at Leekbrook on the last normal train of the day and was removed at Cheddleton being replaced by 73138 and 16 was parked in the bay platform. Pictures from the day are available here.
Steve Froggatt has sent in some more updated pictures below of the Crimpsall on the 6/5/08 (top two pictures) then on the 14/5/08 showing the completition of demolition of the Crimpsall, RIP.
15/6/08
Restoration
The volunteers at Barrow Hill today fetched out the disposable gloves, buckets of water and polish, which only means one thing, it time to get Alycidon ready for the Napier Powerex 200 show next weekend. Lots of dirt was washed off D9009 and the polish has been applied so Alycidon was gleaming at the end of the day. While this was happening D9015 was having more filling and buffering done to keep the project moving. In the workshop the window frames received a top coat of black paint while some more of the inner body skins were painted in primer green. Pictures of the day's activities are available here.
19/6/08
D9009 on the move
D9009 is currently on the move to Buckinghamshire Railway Centre and is photographed below at Leicester Forest East Services. Photo's James Whincup
Napier Powerex 200
This weekend Buckinghamshire Railway Centre was host to the Napier Powerex 200 Event organised by the Napier Power Heritage Trust. Together with Alycidon were a couple of Napier powered cars, Napier engines and a large indoor D.Napier & Son time line exhibition. D9009 operated a number of trains during the weekend on the short branch line on hourly sessions. During the times the loco was shut down people were allowed on board to visit the cab and engine room and have talks by volunteers on how a Deltic works. Inside the main museum the society’s sales stand was set up as well for visitors to by souvenirs. A great weekend was had by all volunteers who enjoyed themselves and meet many interesting people.
D9009 arrived back at Barrow Hill yesturday evening and has been off loaded back on BH rails. Pictures of Alycidon during the event are available here.
July
15/7/08
21/7/08
31/7/08 The next 3 operating weekends are:
August
27/8/08
DPS Members day
September
6/7/08
Restoration
A small number of volunteers working today but this didn’t stop the usual good progress. The lip above the cabling boxes around the edge of the engine room on D9015 was painted in top coat seagull grey. On D9009 the collector drums were drained, oil stains down the body side were cleaned off and the door catch that fell off at Quainton was refitted with new screws. In the workshop the second radiator for fin straightening was completed and before the team had time to down tools to find a cup of tea or get distracted the third radiator was exposed and fin straightening started again. Pictures of the day's activities are available here.
Restoration
A varied day with jobs both on the locomotives and around the depot. The returned boiler has been sat on two shortened sleepers for a couple of weeks on display and it has been decided to put the boiler on a pallet for easier manoeuvrability. It has been moved to the opposite end of the depot for visitors to have easier access plus clearing space to the rear shutter door. Some general tidying around where D9009 (and 55019) are positioned in the depot to make better access down the side of the locos was accomplished. In D9015 some painting and tidying of materials and tools was underway. Inside D9009 the generator on power unit 451 was starting to being cleaned due to it giving a low insulation readings and although only partially cleaned the initial signs are good with output increasing. In the workshop some tidying was also underway and the bins have been emptied (a very important job). A picture of the day's activities are available here.
Restoration
A very large team on site today so a number of projects were being worked on. On D9015 more buffering and filling was being done on the outer body skin. In the workshop two compressors were being overhauled and were partially stripped down so components checked, changed or cleaned then the compressors were put back together. More of the inner body skins were painted in top coat black ready for fitment to D9015. The stores lists were being checked and updated with components the Deltic Preservation Society owns and what has been used. More fin straightening was being done on the radiators. In the coach at 2pm a volunteers meeting was held and various items were discussed like current projects, up and coming event, training and a couple of other items. Pictures of the day's activities are available here.
East Coast Giants Event on North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Over the weekend 55019 took part in the first of four weekend events of East Coast Giants on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway along with 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley. RHF performed brilliantly throughout the weekend pleasing visitors on both days and operating without any major faults. Photos from the two days are available here.
August 9th & 10th
August 16th & 17th (16th is the DPS members day)
August 30th & 31st
4/8/08
Restoration
A small group of volunteers onsite today but all working on various projects. There has been more filling and sanding on the exterior body skin of D9015. On D9009 the generator on power unit 451 has been put back together ready for the Barrow Hill ‘Rail Power’ event in 3 weeks time while a decision is made on how to improve the insulation readings. On the DPS coach further restoration/upgrading work has been underway to improve the facilities for volunteers. Pictures of the day's activities are available here.
Rail Power
Barrow Hill’s Rail Power event proved to be a big success and the DPS did quite well during the event. On Friday the depot had many visitors making the sales stand quite busy and a couple of people had a go on the Deltic simulator located in the cab of 55008. We also had a visitor in alien form, the well known Zontar who spent his day on many trains and part of it on one of our power units.
Saturday was probably the busiest day of the weekend with lots of families on site crowding the sales stand and kids big and small queuing up to have a go on the simulator driving a Deltic up and down the ECML. D9009 also did its first of two days working trains and proved to be very popular when being started up with big crowds wanting to get photos.
Sunday proved to be slightly quieter but on the sales stand and the simulator had a number of visitors.
Monday proved to be the quietest day yet but the volunteers carried on as usual doing a smaller amount of sales and a few visitors to the simulator. D9009 did its second day of running and gave the Western a run for its money on the amount clag produced and also had a guest rider ‘Zontar’ who couldn’t miss an opportunity to ride a Deltic.
Photos from the day are available here.
An early start for the volunteers but well worth it for the day in hand. Two round trips on the NYMR with the vintage coach stock, which included the observation car and this did prove to be a popular view. During the day the sales stand was in full flow and sales of raffle tickets for cab rides and money on the sales stand proved to be quite popular raising much needed funds. Come evening time and after a two hour break 55019 changed to a mainline passed Mk1 coach stock set and heads for Whitby. After running round it was time for the brilliant run down to Battersby stopping for pie, peas, boiled potatoes and gravy on the way, proper dinner, yum yum. There were a number of comments passed to our engineer during the evening saying he’d pea’d himself (sorry Ray, had to get that one in) after he spilt mushy pea’s on his shirt. Once at Battersby we had a break waiting for the service train to come back from Whitby before the return run to Grosmont so chance for a long natter on the platform. When the unit did return we were away, setting off just as it was starting to get dark and wow 19 worked fantastically and sang to her hearts content giving much entertainment to those onboard the train and a taste of things to come if the funds can be raised (hint hint members who have standing order forms yet to be filled in). Once back at Grosmont it was back to preserved line running and last trip of the day in the dark. This proved fun and an experience to see the NYMR in the pitch black. Overall those on trains that day had a great time and we all hope it can be repeated again in the future. Photos from the day are available here.
11/9/08
Catch up time
Apologies for slow updates on the website recently, this has been due to a number of commitments both DPS and work wise and then the monitor on my pc died but now things are calming down and I have a new monitor away I go again with new updates.
This is a photo of 55022 on the 30th August at York station during a brief stop while a member of the locomotive crew came off the loco and went onto the coach stock
Restoration
Another busy weekend for the DPS volunteers and currently the main focus is on D9015 getting her into a presentable condition for the Finsbury Park event (details below). The engine room windows are being fetched out of store to be rebuilt and installation on one side of Tulyar has already started. While on the other side body filling and sanding has continued and progress is going well. In the workshop more fin straightening on the radiators was continuing. The DPS also had a new volunteer who was soon broken in and put onto filling duties on D9015. Photos from this weekend are available here.
DPS Official Releases
Finsbury Park
On Saturday & Sunday 4th & 5th of October the Deltic Preservation Society will be holding 'A Tribute to Finsbury Park, Commemorating the 25th Anniversary Of Closure' event. Please click on the following link for more information, click here.
55019 visit to Wensleydale Railway
Unfortunately due to logistical problems we have decided not to send 55.019 Royal Highland Fusilier to the forthcoming Wensleydale Gala on the 20/21st September. This decision was made with regret and we offer our apologies to the Wensleydale Railway and anybody who had planned to make the journey. The event organiser at the Wensleydale Railway has been spoken to and they understand the reasons for our decision.
We have been offered a return journey back home to Barrow Hill courtesy of West Coast Railways after the Heaton Staff Open Day for Northern Rail on Sunday 14th Sept.
14/9/08
Restoration
Work this weekend continued a pace on D9015 preparing her for the Finsbury Park event in 3 weeks time. On the first side to receive the reinstalled engine room windows all of them are temporally refitted and the second side is half way through fitment. On the second side of the body currently receiving body work attention, filling and sanding progression is going well and the whole body length of the loco was painted in primer green to help spot unevenness of the body skin. Photos from this weekend are available here.
22/9/08
Restoration
Not long left to go now and the DPS volunteers numbers were growing this weekend as well as the thoughts and worries about having everything ready in time for the event in two weeks. In the depot D9015 was receiving body work attention on both body sides and it is hoped to have a completed even primer paint coat by the end of next week. Some more window frames have been built and are ready to be installed in D9015. Inside 55019 two prop shafts are being changed, while this change was happening it was discovered that the flange on the auxiliary generator is worn and is currently being changed. Outside in the power unit house one of the power units was receiving routine maintenance attention. In the coach (the DPS Hilton hotel) the new kitchen was continuing to be fitted. Photos from this weekend are available here.
Double Deltic on ECML
After appearing at Heaton last weekend 55019 was brought home to Barrow Hill by fellow Deltic 55022 Royal Scots Grey, which then headed to her own home on the East Lancs Railway. The below photo was taken by Brenda.
D9016
On Sunday at Peak Rail during the diesel gala D9016 was brought outside from the shed where she has been living the past few weeks. Gordon Highlander currently has an unknown future and will be working passenger trains all day Saturday and Sunday the 26th/27th September as a Farewell weekend, details avaliable here. Below is a picture from 21st September by James Whincup
30/9/08
Restoration
One week to go and it's go, go, go to get things ready. Tulyar has been cleaned of dust on both cabs and bogies and had fuel tanks refitted on both sides. Some more filling and sanding on both sides of the body and the final engine windows have been fitted on the second side. On 55019 the flange off the auxiliary generator and new lower prop shaft has been installed plus covers have been refitted. The depot floor has been swept and washed. The workshop area has started to be cleared and compacted with tables being moved closer together and some equipment moved to other areas of the building away from the public for safety reasons and to create more space. In the coach continuing upgrades and repairs were being completed to get the coach in a fit state for volunteers to stay in. Photos from this weekend are available here.
D9016 Farewell Weekend
On Saturday and Sunday the 26th/27th D9016 ran a farewell weekend on Peak Rail hauling the service train all day both days. Gordon Highlander showed off the reason why Deltic’s are so great to a riding and photographing public and the weekend was enjoyed by many, especially the crews riding 16 with big grins on their faces. Photo’s from both day’s are available here.
October
8/10/08
13/10/08
20/10/08
29/10/08
November
9/11/08 D9016
A Tribute to Finsbury Park
Another successful event for the Deltic Preservation Society with the Tribute to Finsbury Park. During the week prior to the event DPS volunteers worked away preparing the loco’s and depot for the event painting them in a range of Finsbury Park liveries, images available here. Saturday was a grey cloudy day but this didn’t stop the visitors with 55007 (aka 55019) and D9009 operating trains, in the depot the baby Deltic power unit was spun over (unfortunately time beat the volunteers working on this project so the unit was not able to run up on fuel). Half way through the day D9009 was taken off the train and placed in front of the depot where former Finsbury Park employees posed in front of Alycidon then later 9 rejoined the train. Sunday began with a wet start but soon dried up and the sun came out to produce a great opportunity for photographing. Additional headboards were put onto the two operating Deltic’s to create different images from the previous day. At the end of the day 55019, D9009 and D9015 were lined up in front of the DPS depot to recreate classic Finsbury Park scenes with the famous clock and stop boards and locos in alignment. Both days during the event the simulator was doing trips from Finsbury Park to Kings Cross light engine and from there take a train to Hitchin. Inside the roundhouse a large range of sales stands were selling various items like models, photographs, memorabilia, etc. Inside the DPS depot two model layouts and a photographic display were available to the public to view and the DPS’s own sales stand to buy souvenirs and the latest society items. A big well done has to go to the event organiser Ian Lewis and a good job to the volunteers leading up to and during the event. Photos from Saturday are available here and Sunday here.
Restoration
Back to normality for volunteers this week after the big Finsbury Park do last week. D9015 has had the engine room windows, cab doors, nameplates and inner body skin removed. Once this task was complete a walk around the Tulyar looking for high spots or areas that require filling was completed and sections that need attention were marked up in chalk, this task was made easier because Tulyar is currently in one livery. D9009 has had the lamp bracket removed from the centre frame and refitted to the nose end. The depot also had a tidy up and some equipment was set up again so work can start properly next week. Photos from this weekend are available here.
Restoration
Another busy day in the depot with a very very small team today. Work was focused on the body work of D9015 continuing on from last week’s work of marking high and low spots. This week we started rubbing down the marked areas ready to either grind down high spots or apply filler to low spots. The first quarter of the body work received attention of grinding or filling and by the end of the day was painted in primer paint to protect it during the week. Also today D9015 horns were removed from both cabs and placed into store. In the museum area photos from the Finsbury Park event were taken down and the original pictures put back up. Photo from this weekend is available here.
Restoration
A day of body work attention on D9015 with the first quarter and some of the centre section receiving filler or grinding. The inner body skin also received some repairs having a fresh coat of primer paint. The formans office has had an extra coat of white paint on the inside. Outside the depot the spare bogies which have been on loan to HNRC have been returned and these were quickly sheeted over to protect them from current weather conditions. Photo from this weekend is available here.
4/11/08
Restoration
A range of projects on the go this week, on D9015 more body filling and sanding was under way on the nose and first quarter of the body. In the workshop a small team was fin straightening the radiators. Outside the coach was receiving fresh coats of paint around the buffers and some window frame repairs. On the other side of the building in the power unit house one of the units got some further attention on its cooling system and various other components and will soon be ready for some fresh coolant and oil. Photo's from this weekend are available here.
Restoration
A small band of volunteers working on two main projects on Saturday. In the depot body filling and sanding continues as per usual on D9015, with lots more still to do. In the workshop the inner body skins were being painted a top coat of white and the window frames were being cleaned up and getting some fresh primer paint. Some general depot maintenance and checks were done. Photo's from this weekend are available here.
D9016 arrived at Barrow Hill on 7 November by road from Peak Rail for overhaul by HNRC on behalf of DRS who plan to use Gordon Highlander on the mainline. Below is a photo of D9016 in Barrow HIll station platform
20/11/08
Restoration
More body filling and sanding on the cards for D9015 today as we try and get as much progress on the external body work done before winter kicks in properly. Some extra preparation has also been done on the inside of Tulyar and we’re hoping to shortly start fitting the inner body skin on a more permanent basis. The formans office made for the Finsbury Park event has had to shortened on its depth to make better clearance for the walk way and so it doesn’t sit on the track on road 3. Photo's from this weekend are available here.
24/11/08
Restoration
More body work on Tulyar completed this week with the second half of the first side now starting to receive filler, sanding and grinding attention. Due to the very low temperature this week the filler was taking longer than normal to go hard so we are going to make a decision soon to stop external body work attention. The job will be placed on hold until next year when it gets warmer again so we can make a higher quality finish of the exterior skin. In the workshop the window frames were receiving a layer of under coat paint. During the week D9009 and 55019 have swapped positions in the depot, so while D9009 is over the pit the opportunity was taken to inspect the underneath of the loco to make sure everything is ok. On the coach one of the missing windows has been refitted so the coach is less drafty, the vacuum cleaner made a once in a blue moon appearance and the floor has been vacuumed. Photo's from this weekend are available here.
30/11/08
Restoration
Brr, what a cold weekend but this didn’t stop the volunteers. First thing and part way into the afternoon was Deltic Deadline stuffing, which we did in the warmth of the coach. Once this fun task was completed it was time to move into the depot to continue with other jobs. Shock horror to you all this week there has been no filling, sanding or grinding. I know I’m as shocked as you but seriously it was way to cold to do filling and the filler would never set on the bodywork so this task is now on hold until it gets warmer again. So we fetched out the covers to a traction motor blower to remove the bearings due to them being worn out and require replacing. Photo's from this weekend are available here.
December
17/12/08
21/12/08
30/12/08
7/12/08
Restoration
A small group of volunteers on site today bearing the cold and continuing the normal day to day tasks. Drainage buckets on 55019 and D9009 checked and some emptied. Inside D9015 all the panels have been marked up so photos of every weld can be taken for records. To give you an idea on how many photos are needing to be taken we are nearly ¾ way round and so far roughly 170 photos have been taken. From the stores in the depot the insulation for Tulyar has been brought out and is currently being measured for installation in the coming weeks. Inner body skin panels for Tulyar that require painting have had to be taken into the coach for painting due to the coldness of the depot so at the moment we are restricted to three panels a day due to the amount of space available. Back in the depot one lucky volunteer spent sometime doing some fin straightening, every bit helps getting this part of the project completed. All the power tools in the depot including extension cables have been collected together and sent away for electrical testing. Photo's from this weekend are available here.
Restoration
Small group of volunteers carrying on the the usual day to day tasks. Inside D9015 the photos that were starting to be taken last week have been completed. In the workshop the compressors were starting to have paint stripped off them and the radiators were having more fins straightened. Photo's from this weekend are available here.
Restoration
A shorter than normal day today. In the depot D9015 had the chalk marks removed from its panels that were photographed over the past two weekends and one panel was painted in top coat black again. In the workshop the lifting equipment was having a routine inspection. Outside and the coach was having new underground pipe work fitted ready for the upgrade on the electrics to be installed during the week. Round the corner outside Barrow Hill Roundhouse a new trolley has been donated to the DPS and has soon been occupied by a prototype power unit which will go on display in the depot and is on loan from Napier Power Heritage Trust. The volunteers left early to go for a Christmas meal with all the trimmings, yum yum. Photo's from this weekend are available here, sadly there aren’t any pictures of us stuffing our faces.
Restoration
A small group of three in the depot on Saturday, working off the Christmas turkey and progressing a couple of jobs. Around the depot the remaining equipment requiring electrical pat testing that couldn't be sent away was tested on site and all passed. Inside Tulyar the lower skirt insulation has been fitted and measurements were taken so the middle and higher insulation panels can be fitted correctly to the inner body skin. The first two panels (a window and centre piece) have been fitted with the insulation and they will be test fitted in Tulyar to make sure they fit correctly before the rest of the panels get the insulation treatment. Inside the coach the inner body skin panels and window frames for Tulyar were getting another coat of paint. Photo's from this weekend are available here.