Author: Mike Rigg

We are heading into the Autumn months and with plenty of work ahead of us in the shed at Preston.
With the chassis and boiler of the Trust’s ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST Cumbria away for overhaul, work has again focussed on the components remaining at Preston. John Dixon has continued the task of rebuilding the ashpan, this time inserting sacrificial side plates to reduce damage and warping to the outer plates.

Paul Kelly and Tim completed the varnishing of the saddle tank last Wednesday and this can now be stored. Jon and Sim have been working on the boiler cladding plates which have now all been cleaned up, primed, undercoated, and given a coat of gloss Indian red paint.

News from the boiler shop at the Mid Hants Railway is that all the crown stay holes in Cumbria’s firebox have been reamed and tapped. The new crown stays can then be fitted once received. The new boiler tubes have arrived there.
The latest update from Statfold Engineering is that they hope to have completed their work on Cumbria’s chassis by the end of October.

Keith, Graham, Ron, Dave and Ed have been working on Great Western Railway 0-6-2T 5643’s chassis with the result that both connecting rods are now in place. The left-hand big end needed some new white metal and Keith is seen here removing the excesses prior to scraping in.

Unfortunately, the cracking in 5643 firebox has been found to be more extensive than previously thought and consideration is being given to fitting a new ¾ backplate. This will inevitably delay the return to service of this locomotive.
Furness Railway locomotive No. 20 operated on four dates in August at the Ribble Steam Railway, hauling some very busy trains. It has now been possible to fit the new engine brake blocks that arrived a little while ago. Ed and Dave are seen removing one of the old blocks.

FR 20’s left hand clack valve proved troublesome over the Bank Holiday and so has been removed and despatched today to a machine shop for repair. Our thanks go to Anne and Phil for running the FRT’s sales stand very productively on the Bank Holiday Saturday and Monday.

Finally, a reminder that the Trust’s Annual General Meeting will take place in the FRT’s shed at Preston next Wednesday, 9th September at 7.30 pm. We understand that Alison will have some refreshments for us, including cake!
We hope to see as many as possible of our members there.

Work is continuing at Preston on the overhaul of Great Western Railway 0-6-2T No. 5643 where the cross heads have been refitted. Keith and Ron are seen here refitting the left-hand cylinder cover.

Both cylinder covers are now in place.

Meanwhile the saddletank of ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST Cumbria has received a second coat of Indian Red paint.

Paul Kelly and Jon Dixon have been painting the boiler cladding plates.

Cumbria’s chassis is at Statfold Engineering where new white metal has been added to all the eccentric straps and machined. Current work includes re-metalling the big ends. The overhaul of 5643’s boiler is in progress at the premises of Riley & Son at Bury; Cumbria’s boiler continues to receive attention at the Ropley boiler shop on the Mid-Hants Railway where all the crown stays have been removed for replacement.

Work at Preston recently has continued with the overhauls of Great Western Railway 0-6-2T No. 5643 and Hunslet ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST Cumbria.
Keith, Dave, Ed, Ron and (new boy) Graham have been working to fit the crossheads on 5643, discovering in the process that some machining of the crossheads is required since the fit of the pistons in the re-lined cylinders is somewhat tighter than before. This leaves less room for play in the motion, which of course is a good thing, but has necessitated some adjustment to enable the pistons to travel freely. Dave, Graham and Keith are seen lifting one of the slide bars into place.

Cumbria’s saddle tank has received undercoat red and Paul Kelly is seen marking out the areas of black lining which has since been applied.

Jon and Sim have started the process of applying undercoat to the cladding sheets.
Meanwhile John has continued his re-build of Cumbria’s ashpan, which had become heavily distorted. John tells us that the end is in sight for this project.

Some work still continues on the laborious task of cleaning old paint from the saddle tank for former Furness Railway 0-4-0 No. 25. Ed is pictured taking a break from the job.

Finally, members should now be receiving their copies of the latest edition of The Iron Horse, which comes with an invitation to attend the Annual General Meeting on the 9th September.

Where did June go? Time for a catch up on FRT news.
Just for a change, we start with news of some work on the former Furness Railway 0-4-0 No. 25, now in the form of a saddle tank as it worked at the Barrow Iron & Steel works. The frames and saddle tank are now situated nearby the FRT’s shed and the recent good weather has allowed Paul Balshaw to spend some time cleaning off old paint from the tank.

Dave and Ron also did some maintenance work, seen here freeing off one of the spring hangers.

Meanwhile, Furness Railway 0-4-0 No. 20 was back in action at the Ribble Steam Railway on Saturday, 20th June where it was rostered to haul the combined service and dining train, including the FRT’s Great Eastern Railway royal saloon. This coincided with what is becoming a very popular Steampunk event. The Furness Steampunkers brought their impressive banner which features an image of FR 20.

FR 20’s mileage continues to build up and we have recently taken delivery of some much needed new brake blocks for the engine. It is next rostered to operate at the RSR on Saturday, 25th July.

Whilst the chassis and boiler of ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST Cumbria are away for overhaul, the remaining components continue to receive attention in readiness for re-assembling the locomotive on their return. Sim, Jon and recent recruit Paul Kelly are seen here sanding down the saddle tank.

John continues in his efforts to straighten out and repair Cumbria’s ashpan.

Great Western 0-6-2T No. 5643’s crossheads are in the Ribble Steam Railway’s machine shop where Keith and Ron have been setting up the machine that will adjust the profile of the crossheads.

We are sorry to have to start this edition of the blog with the sad news that life member Alan Johnstone, who joined the Trust as a member in 1993, passed away on the 5th May. Alan was a staunch supporter of the FRT and was particularly heavily involved in the restoration of the Trust’s North London Railway Coach in 2002-2023. Alan was a keen and very good photographer and we are fortunate that he has been able to record many railway scenes in the south of Cumbria, both on national and heritage lines. Alan was also a member of the Furness Line Action Group (FLAG) and the Cumbrian Railways Association where his skills in producing maps and diagrams played a big part in the success of its publications. Alan’s funeral will be held at St James The Great Church, Blake Street, Barrow-in-Furness at 12 noon on Friday, 5th June. There will be refreshments afterwards at Barrow Golf club, Rakesmoor Lane, Barrow.

There has been plenty for members to do at the Furness Railway Trust’s shed at Preston. Many hours have been spent in cleaning and repairing the components of the Trust’s ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST Cumbria which is undergoing a 10 year overhaul. Dave Thomas is seen here annealing one of the pipes.

A start has been made on sanding the paintwork on Cumbria’s saddle tank.

There has been disappointing news with the discovery of some unexpected cracks around washout plugs on the boiler of Great Western Railway 0-6-2T No. 5643, which is currently under repair at the premises of Riley & Son at Bury. Some grooving on the backplate above the foundation ring has also been found and discussions have been held with the Trust’s boiler surveyor, Adam Wright, to agree a way forward. It is hoped that progress in this respect will commence shortly.

Meanwhile, work is currently taking place at Preston to re-assemble 5643’s chassis. This entails setting up the pistons, crossheads and slide bars accurately. After initial work it has been decided that some machining of at least one of the crossheads will be necessary. Ron and Keith are seen here busy in the frames.

Lettering, lining and varnishing of the bunker is now complete.

Furness Railway locomotive No. 20 was the rostered locomotive on the Ribble Steam Railway over the Bank Holiday weekend where there was a Wild West event. The open top nature of the cab was greatly appreciated by the crews during the record-breaking heat. FR 20 is next expected to be in service on the
20th June.

It has been a busy time for the Trust and its members over the past few weeks.

As mentioned in the last blog, FR 20 departed to the Mid Hants Railway on Sunday, 19th April in order to take part in the MHR’s Spring Steam Gala over Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 24th-26th April. Ade also took the opportunity that day to do some shunting which saw Cumbria’s chassis moved around to the Ribble Steam Railway’s running shed. It was replaced in the FRT shed by the locomotive’s saddle tank so that a start could be made on repainting it.

The chassis subsequently departed to Statfold barn on Wednesday, 22nd April for repairs. The motion has since been dismantled for detailed examination and measurement, and a programme of repairs has been agreed.

Ben and Tim set off to the MHR on Tuesday, 21st April, having a good journey there, arriving in time to light a warming fire and also replace the sand pipes and guard irons which had been removed for the locomotive’s journey to the south.

FR 20 was steam tested on Wednesday the 22nd, with Ben and Tim spending the Wednesday and Thursday cleaning the paint and brass work ready for the Gala. Anne and Phil joined them on Thursday evening at the Alton and Four Marks Travelodge in readiness for staffing the sales stand during the Gala.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday saw Ben and Tim answering 4.30am alarm calls in order to have some breakfast and attend the shed at Ropley in time to greet the rostered driver and fireman at the signing on time of 5.45am.
The timetable required FR 20 to operate four return trips between Ropley and Alresford at the southern end of the MHR, the journeys being three miles in length and involving a 1 in 80 uphill gradient between Alresford and Ropley. It is pleasing to be able to record that the old engine had no problem in operating the service over the three days and made many friends in the process. This is it about to set off on the first trip.

Anne and Phil did a great job with the sales stand, seen here with Tim. As you can see, the sales tent was alongside the railway which enabled waves to be exchanged as and when FR 20 arrived and departed.

The loco was also popular with the loco crews. Ben, left, is seen enjoying an ice cream with Sunday’s fireman and driver.

There is plenty of good YouTube footage of FR 20 at the Gala, it featuring here starting at 1 minute 15 seconds:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aWnkrDx4Xs&t=9s

You may recall that Cumbria’s boiler was despatched to the MHR for repair on the 2nd April. The opportunity was taken during the visit to discuss the repairs with MHR’s locomotive foreman, Mark Drinkwater. The tubes are expected to have been removed this week and the boiler then being ready for a first visit by the Trust’s boiler surveyor.

The boiler of the Trust’s ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST Cumbria was eventually despatched to the workshops of the Mid Hants Railway on Thursday, 2nd April where it will be overhauled, including replacement of the crown and sling stays. It is due back at Preston in the autumn. It headed south with a new smokebox for Bulleid ‘West Country’ Pacific Wadebridge which had been collected from Riley & Son at Bury.

With the boiler away, it has been time to concentrate on cleaning and repairing of some of Cumbria’s other components. Ed is seen attending to some of the pipework.

John Dixon has continued his work on repairing the ashpan, including giving it a coat of protective paint.

Meanwhile, Sim is seen using a belt sander to clean up the running boards. These now look much better, having received a coat of primer. The chassis is due to depart from Preston for repair this Wednesday.

Work has been progressing at Riley & Son at Bury on the repairs to the boiler of Great Western Railway 0-6-2T locomotive No. 5643 where some cracks were found in the flange of one of the internal boiler pipes.
The cracks have been ground out and welded up as can be seen below.

Finally, Furness Railway locomotive No. 20 left Preston yesterday to take part in the Mid Hants Railway’s Spring Steam Gala this next Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tim and Ben will set off tomorrow in order to prepare the loco and Phil and Anne will be following them down on Thursday to staff the sales stand at Ropley. The good news is that the weather forecast is fairing up.

Time for another catch up with work on Furness Railway Trust projects.
The decision has been taken by the Trustees to offer the work to overhaul its ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST Cumbria’s boiler to the Mid-Hants Railway. All being well, the boiler should depart Preston tomorrow, Wednesday 1st April. In readiness for this, the boiler has received a coat of protective paint.

It is expected that Cumbria’s chassis will also depart shortly for repairs by a contractor. In anticipation of this, the eccentrics have been re-fitted after cleaning and examination. Ed is seen here in the frames during re-assembly.

Further repair work to the ashpan will be needed as can be seen from this photo:

Meanwhile, John Dixon has fabricated a new door for Cumbria’s ashpan.

Work is proceeding on the repairs required to complete the overhaul of Great Western Railway 0-6-2T No. 5643’s boiler at the premises of Riley & Son at Bury. The return of the piston heads and rings has heralded the start of the re-assembly of the chassis.

Sam is seen here cleaning the face of one of the cylinder covers.

Meanwhile Tim as completed the lining out of the right-hand side of 5643’s bunker.

Last Saturday saw Furness Railway locomotive No. 20 take part in the Ribble Steam Railway’s Spring Steam Gala. This attracted an unusually high number of visitors and the loco is seen here topping and tailing with ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST Walkden hauling the Ribble Steam Railway’s ‘Queen Mary’ brake van which was offering rides to visitors.

Later in the gala, FR 20 passes the chassis and tank of former Furness Railway No.25.

Thanks go to Anne and Phil who staffed the Trust’s sales stand. Visitors were also given the opportunity to visit the FRT shed where a second-hand book stall raised some welcome funds for the Trust.

The Furness Railway Trust is pleased to be able to confirm that Furness Railway locomotive No. 20 has been invited to take part in the Watercress Line’s Spring Steam Gala in Hampshire on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 24^th-26^th April. The loco is expected to begin its long journey south on Thursday, 16^th April and to return to Preston on Friday, 1^st May. FR 20 is also planned to operate at the Ribble Steam Railway at its Spring Steam Gala on Saturday, 28^th March and, over the Easter period, the 3^rd, 4^th and 6^th April. The loco passed its 14 month steam test on the 23^rd February and, in anticipation of its forthcoming duties, the running boards have been treated to a fresh coat of black paint.

Work has commenced on Great Western Railway 0-6-2T No. 5643’s boiler at the premises of Riley & Son, Bury, with the replacement of 72 new patch screws now having been completed. In addition to previously authorised work, it has now been decided to replace 60 crown stays at the front and rear of the firebox. A lorry is due to collect the set of previously purchased small tubes and superheater elements, plus other items for the boiler, this Wednesday, 11th March. It is planned that the same lorry will return to Preston with 5643’s pistons and new rings. This will enable the chassis of the locomotive to be re-assembled. In the meantime, John has been giving the new ashpan a fresh coat of paint to protect it from the weather.

The boiler of the Trust’s ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST Cumbria has been inspected as part of its 10 year overhaul. Unfortunately, deterioration has been found in the firebox crown stays which will require the replacement of 110 crown stays and 20 sling stays at the front of the firebox. The latter work will, disappointingly, require the removal of the boiler tubes which were only replaced in 2022.

Much time has been expended by the Trust’s volunteers at Preston in cleaning the chassis of Cumbria, with the eccentric straps being removed for inspection. The cleaning has been a long job and thanks go to those who have stuck to the task. Options for work to be undertaken on the chassis are currently being considered.

Finally, we are very sorry to have to record the passing of member Jim Morris on the 17^th February at the age of 93. Jim set up Helical Technology at Dock Road in Lytham around 60 years ago and purchased a number of steam locomotives which became the heart of the Lytham Motive Power Museum; this was eventually disbanded to allow the expansion of his engineering company. Jim also purchased Fairburn 2-6-4T No. 42085 and was a long standing director of the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway. Jim’s funeral will take place this Wednesday, 11^th March, at 12.15 at St. Cuthbert’s Church, Lytham. Our sincere condolences go to the Morris family.

There is still a chill in the Furness Railway Trust shed at Preston but we are hoping that another visit from the heating engineer will sort out the air source heat pump tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed!

In the meantime, there has been plenty to keep the Trust’s volunteers busy over the last week or so.

Ron decided to clean up Hunslet ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST Cumbria’s blast pipe and then give the finished product a coat of heat resistant paint – we hope that he isn’t too disappointed when the paint gets burnt off!

 

Alan spent some time assessing Cumbria’s eccentrics and Dave, Anthony and Alan then set about removing the eccentric straps which have now been cleaned and await further attention.

 

The Trust’s boiler surveyor, Adam Wright, visited yesterday and is seen here busy with his trusty hammer testing Cumbria’s firebox rivets as part of the locomotive’s 10 year out of frames examination. Adam concluded that the firebox crown stays will need replacing although the rest of the boiler was deemed to be satisfactory.

Alan and John were busy dismantling the safety valves ready for inspection.

Furness Railway locomotive No. 20 underwent its 14 month examination during Adam’s visit and it now due to undergo a steam test next Monday. One of tomorrow’s jobs will be to put back the fire-grate and fit the ashpan, wash out plugs and mudhole doors.

Finally, we wish Alan a very happy birthday today and look forward to the cakes!