News

No. 21C123 New Inner Firebox Appeal
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Blackmoor Vale Plate
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To enable No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale to be overhauled and returned to traffic it requires a new inner firebox costing £200,000
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Further Details spacer Donation Form
  West Country Inner Firebox

21st November 2024

No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale

Blackmoor Vale's boiler has left Sheffield Park and arrived safely at Leaky Finders, Hele Devon, for overhaul.

Credit 21C123 Boiler Departure
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  The boiler loaded and getting ready to leave Sheffield Park
Credit 21C123 Boiler Departure
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  Arrival at Leaky Finders.
Credit 21C123 Boiler Departure
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  The boiler being unloading at Leaky Finders

7th November 2024

No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale

The fittings on the boiler are being removed along with the regulator.

Credit 21C123 Boiler
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  The boiler with the last of the insulation removed.
Credit 21C123 Boiler Bits
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  Boiler Fittings – safety valves, stop valve and steam combine.
Credit 21C123 Running Shed spacer 21C123 Ashpan Credit
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  The chassis has been moved into the running shed. The pictures above, taken from the ashpan area, looking forward with the sump visible and backwards showing the cab frame with the tender positioned behind.  

No. 96 Normandy

The picture below shows the tubes from the boiler of Normandy being removed.

Credit 96 Tube Removal

4th November 2024

No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale

The overhaul of No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale has reached a major mile stone with boiler being lifted off.

Credit 21C123 Boiler Lift
Credit 21C123 Boiler Lift
Credit 21C123 Boiler Lift
Credit 21C123 Boiler Lift
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  The chassis moved back into the yard.

30th October 2024

No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale

No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale has been moved into the workshop at Sheffield Park where the remaining top sections of the casing will be removed and the boiler lifted off the frames. The cab has also been removed – see the last two pictures.

Credit 21C123 Workshop
Credit 21C123 Workshop
Credit 34059 Rededication spacer 34059 Rededication Credit
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  The cab has been lifted off.  

No. 96 Normandy

The boiler of No. 96 Normandy has been raised from the chassis and is awaiting lifting.

Credit 96 Boiler
Credit 96 Boiler

18th September 2024

No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale

The area under the cab floor has been exposed and the grate mechanism removed.

Credit 21C123 Cab Foor
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  The cab underframe and the top of the dragbox.

No. 96 Normandy

Further work has taken place in stripping down No. 96 for overhaul.

Credit 96 Boiler
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  The boiler cladding has been removed along with the rods.
Credit 96 Cab & Boiler
Credit 96 Rods
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  No. 96's rods and other fittings.

26th July 2024

No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale

A start has been made in removing the superheater elements from the boiler with twelve of the thirty two elements now removed. 

Credit 21C123 Sheffield Park
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  The superheater elements already removed.

No. 96 Normandy

The side tanks have now been removed with work progressing towards a boiler lift

Credit 96 Chimney Removed
Credit 96 Chimney Removed
Credit 96 Chimney Removed
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  No. 96's works plate.

10th July 2024

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair is now in service with just a few adjustments required here and there!

Credit 34059 Sheffield Park
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  No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair about to leave Sheffield Park.
Credit 34059 Sheffield Park
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  The reflection in the tender of the onlookers emphasises the quality of the paintwork.
Credit 34059 Shefffield Park spacer Waiting by the Greenwich Meridian sign at Sheffield Park.

No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale

The casing around the smokebox has been removed, including the cowling and surrounding area. The top boiler casing and the remaining framework for the casing will be removed next. Most of the pipework from the cab forward has been freed and the cab will be lifted.

The belly casing will be removed and the insulation there will also be removed. Also injector and lubrication pipe work has been removed or detached from framework.

Credit 21C123 Casing Removal Right Side
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  The right side casing removed.
Credit 21C123 Casing Removal Left Side
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  The left side.
Credit 21C123 Casing Removal Top
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  View of the top with No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair behind.
Credit 21C123 Casing Removal Front spacer The front with the cowling removed.

No. 96 Normandy

The dismantling of No. 96 Normandy continues with the right hand tank removed – note the coal from the bunker is still present! The next action will be to remove the driving wheels for retyring and to lift the boiler. 

Credit 96 Tank Removel
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  The removed tank.
Credit 96  Coal and Muck
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  The build-up of coal and muck from behind the tank!

18th June 2024

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair was rededicated on Saturday 16th June by railway historian Tim Dunn who made a short speech after being introduced by Bluebell Society Chairman Roy Watts. Roger and Sally Cruse were asked to unveil the nameplate and plaque.

The engine looked immaculate – with much effort put into wheel and pipework cleaning. There was a good turnout to witness the event with the rain stopping just in time.

Credit 34059 Rededication spacer 34059 Rededication Credit
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  Tim Dunn making a speech (left) with Roy Watts (right).   Roger and Sally Cruse unveiling the nameplate.  
Credit 34059 Sheffield Park Yard
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  No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair in Sheffield Park yard.

No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale

All the side casing has now been removed together with the smoke deflectors. The casing on the top of the boiler will be tackled next.

Credit 21C123 Casing Removal Right Side
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  No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale in the yard at Sheffield Park with the right side casing removed.
Credit 21C123 Casing Removal Left Side
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  The left side casing removed.

No. 96 Normandy

No. 96 Normandy has had the chimney, cab and some fittings removed.

Credit 96 Chimney Removed
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  The chimney removed.
Credit 96 Cab Lifted Off
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  The cab has been lifted off.
Credit 96 Backhead Fittings spacer The backhead with some of the fittings removed.

21st May 2024

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

No. 34059 was pulled out of the paint shop at Horsted Keynes so that a few mechanical items could be attend to. There are also some small items still in undercoat and the smokebox needs to be painted.

Credit 34059 in Horsted Keynes Yard
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  Bathed in sunshine outside the shed at Horsted Keynes.
Credit 34059 in Horsted Keynes Yard spacer The cab area fully lined.
Credit 34059 in Horsted Keynes Yard
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  Two coats of varnish are applied after the final top coat and lining out to give additional protection and the gloss finish now seen

No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale

Attention has now turned to the driver's side with some of the casing removed exposing the mass of pipes etc. The casing is being stored upright on pallets adjacent to one of he Bulleid Society's containers and will be covered with a tarpaulin once all the sections have been removed.

Credit 21C123 Casing Removal
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  The casing removed from around the firebox on the drivers side.
Credit 21C123 Casing Removal
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  With the casing removed the drain cock lever can be viewed.
Credit 21C123 Casing Stored
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  The casing on pallets beside one of the Society's containers.

16th May 2024

No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale

No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale is now down at Sheffield Park and the removal of the air smoothed casing on the fireman's side is being undertaken. To remove the casing, some of which is bolted on, all the rivets must be drilled out before the casing sections can be removed from the ribbed frame. A similar procedure has started on the driver's side of the engine.

Credit 21C123 Casing Removal
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  No. 21C123 in the running shed at Sheffield Park.
Credit 21C123 Backhead Removal
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  Removal of the admisionary boxes for the axlebox lubrication. The firehole doors have also been removed.
Credit 21C123 Casing Removal
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  The casing removed from around the firebox.
Credit 21C123 Casing Removal
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  The casing removed from next to the smokebox.
Credit 21C123 Casing Removal
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  The far front section of the casing has been left in place as the smokebox may be cut off.

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

All areas except the tender rear have had two coats of gloss and lining out and cab lettering are in progress.

The painter is Ralph Timmins and the sign writer is Ian Adams – both experts in their own fields. The lining is carried out in the classic way with a chalk line to give the basis of the paint line and in a similar way a chalk outline is put onto the cab side for the number and the 7P 5FA power classification. 

Credit 34059 Sign Writing spacer 34059 Cab Credit
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  Ian Adams lettering the power classification with the numbers marked out on the right.  
Credit 34059 Cab Number spacer The painted sign written number.
Credit 34059 Tender Lining
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  The tender marked out for lining.
Credit 34059 Tender Totem
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  The tender lined and the BR crest in position.
Credit 34059 Smokebox
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  The smokebox front.

19th April 2024

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

Painting progress is slow but sure! Ralph is using a 50% paint and 50% PPA brushing additive for the first gloss coat, giving a good basic colour.

Credit 34059 Paint Shop spacer 34059 Paint Shop Credit
Credit 34059 Paint Shop

8th April 2024

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

Below are photographs of No. 34059's painting progress at Horsted Keynes. The painting has now reached the undercoat stage after much work in producing a good basic finish on which to paint. Areas where the surface finish was poor have been filled and then sanded before the first undercoat has been applied. The window frames are from the fireman's side of the cab and have been removed to assist the painting.

Credit 34059 Paint Shop
Credit 34059 Paint Shop
Credit 34059 Paint Shop
Credit 34059 Paint Shop
Credit 34059 Paint Shop
Credit 34059 Paint Shop

6th March 2024

Normandy Landing!

No. 96 Normandy has been moved into Atlantic House for her overhaul. No. 32424's tender was first removed and then No. 96 was pushed onto the low loader which was then repositioned so that No. 96 could be off-loaded into Atlantic House.

No. 32424 Beachy Head will be reunited with her tender and they will then go into the maintenance shed.

Credit 96 & 30583
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  No. 96 Normandy with LSWR Adams Radial Tank No. 30583 in bright sunshine (4th March).
Credit 96 Being Loaded onto Ramp
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  Class 09 Shunter D4106 pushing No. 96 onto the low loader using SR Queen Mary Brake Van as a barrier.
Credit 96 Loaded
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  No. 96 tied down ready for the move.
Credit 96 Positioning
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  Repositioned for the final move into Atlantic House.
Credit 96 in Atlantic House
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  No 96 Normandy out of the rain inside Atlantic House.

22nd February 2024

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair

Below are some photos taken last week of No. 34059 in the paint shop at Horsted Keynes plus, at the bottom, one showing it moved outside whilst Pullman Car 54 has more varnish added!

Credit 34059 Paint Shop
Credit 34059 Paint Shop
Credit 34059 Outside Paint Shop

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