Progress has also been mad on Helvellyn, which will – once complete – work ‘The talking train’. It has been decided that the loco will be at the MVR during May/June and September/October 2007 – and this may be repeated in 2008. The chassis is now complete – although while I was away my dad gave the buffers to the MVR – so I’ll have to retrieve them! The loco will be taken outside and put on display during the next event that we hold, the summer gala. The order for the cylinders an valves will be placed in early September – and then we’ll manufacture the lubricator and associated pipe work. This will give us a complete ‘lower half’ of the locomotive. The next job is to manufacture and fit a cab floor – although at the moment we have a lathe on the engineering bench, so progress on this is understandably slow. Christine Mary from the Big WLR is awaiting a boiler inspection. Originally we were going to lift the boiler – but have decided against that for just using blanking plugs. A hydraulic test is booked on the 30 August – and a steam test may occur on the same date. We made a blanking plug yesterday evening – this is now threaded and only requires PTFE tape to be added prior to being fitted for the test. A further one will be made tonight. Should a major problem arise then al other work will have to be stopped as a full boiler lift will be required. Following the dropping of a fusible plug last year – it is likely that a new inner firebox would be the item needed should this occur. Following a spell as Thomas and Henry, Cleeve Abbey and William are now back to their normal guises. The former is in need of some attention – but William is now in the operational fleet. 8903 is still in service, as always being the workhorse. Once Cleeve Abbey and Judith are back in the operational pool then 8903 will be stripped and repainted into GWR Green – which will require new cladding – so a boiler lift will be necessary. Judith still sits awaiting reguaging, which is minimal although we do not need it in the operational fleet and so there is no rush with it. Ruby and Dorothy are still in store – although both will be running before the year is out – you’ll have to await further details!

A coal wagon is now in the process of being made in carriage and wagon – this is being built on some parts already assembled. It is based on, but by no means an exact replica of, the NWNG wagon at the WHR (P). Once this one is complete and W2 has cleared, a further coal wagon will be produced for the Misbourne Valley Railway. Depending on success and demand, a short run may be produced for sale. W2 will be started on as soon as possible. Some wood has been kept back for it, and assembly will start early next week, following a rather hectic week this week, including our summer gala. The main project at present is still the tender for Helvellyn, which is now as advanced as possible prior to spraying the under frame. This item should clear the works before the end of September – fully painted and lined in its WLR vintage livery, which will also be applied to the tanks of Helvellyn. Further contract jobs may follow, but both engineering and carriage and wagon are full to capacity at present.

Future projects

A small 6 coupled tank locomotive is in the design stage, for construction after Helvellyn. However, should we purchase a larger lathe then my personal attention will turn to either a Titch or a Sweet Pea ride-on locomotive.

Pictures

Above: Blackird on test, between Amersham and Woodrow

Home fleet

NO. 1 remains in store awaiting a decision on its future

NO. 2 ‘DORTHY’ remains in store

NO. (890)3 is, yet again, performing as the mainstay of the fleet. However, problems are routinely arising due to the amount of service its had, and a fair amount of cylinder work was required ahead of the MVR’s Centenary gala. The loco is currently performing well, and is making a fair number of appearances. The planned repaint into GWR green is scheduled for next season, and it will shortly change back to WLR maroon. So far this season a single visit has been made. AVAILABLE FOR TRAFFIC

NO. 4 ‘EARL OF RADNOR’ remains on the line as a back up to No. 8 ‘Coity Castle’. It needs attention before re-entering service – but we can only accommodate one diesel in the works at any one time – and MVR No. 3 and No. 7 are ahead of it in the queue. AVAILABLE FOR TRAFFIC

NO. 5 ‘JUDITH’ is sitting at the end of ‘road 1’ in the works – awaiting regauging. This spot became vacant following No. 9’s departure earlier in the season. This season the loco has worked on 2 visits as well as the WLR

NO. (890)6 ‘WILLIAM’ remains in service as the pride of the line – and has been clocking up some good performances – with 3 visits away from home under its belt this year. AVAILABLE FOR TRAFFIC

NO. 7 ‘POWIS CASTLE’ remains awaiting a place in the works, and the time to do anything with it. Once the components have been purchased to complete the work then the loco can return.

NO. 8 ‘COITY CASTLE’ remains as the main diesel loco following the absence of No. 7 due to a faulty connector. So far this year only one visit has been made. AVAILABLE FOR TRAFFIC

NO. 9 ‘CLEEVE ABBEY’ has returned to the roster on the WLR for the first time this year – following a visit to the Misbourne Valley Railway in July. The loco has had allot of remedial work since that defunct visit to get it to work – and the loco is now in service as ‘Thomas’. The loco is a little jumpy at the moment – so cylinder work will be investigated upon the return of No. 5. AVAILABLE FOR TRAFFIC

NO. 10 ‘HELVELLYN’ has today (10^th August) moved to the forefront of my personal efforts with the 45mm stock. Tonight I’ve redone the gas burner and done work on the wheels so that they rotate freely. The next job is opening up the holes on the rear drawbar for the bufferbeam to be fitted correctly – the pre-drilled holes do not match – a familiar problem with this project! Once that is done the locomotive will be complete ready for the valves and cylinders, which will arrive as funds permit. The tender is the next major job to do – at very minimal costs. The body is already complete and the frames will be built shortly ready for fitting of wheels and axleboxes – anticipated this week. An entry to service could be as early as November – but is likely to be early next year. We are planning a portable line for SM45 – and this loco is seen as ideal. It will be a little small for the heavier WLR trains – so may spend some time at the MVR.

NO. 11 remains available for service following Electrical work earlier this year. AVAILABLE FOR TRAFFIC

Contract work

MVR No. 3 ‘BLACKBIRD’ is booked on testing this week – prior to despatch possibly tomorrow, Friday 11^th.

I thought it was time to have another update, being about 11 months since the last!

Nos. 1 and 2 are currently sidelined and awaiting a decision on their future. They are not likely to work in the foreseeable future

No. 8903 - aka 3 'Jonathan - is currently the main loco on the line, like usual. It will run in Black up until the first May bank holiday, when it will be withdrawn for an overhaul. At this point it will also be repainted into GWR Green for a season. It may spend the summer months at the MVR

No. 4 is currently in store

Nos. 5 and 6 are current;y in 32mm gauge following a few visits earlier this season. They should be ready for use agian in the near future.

No. 7 is in store awaiting replacement of speed controller in the battery van

No. 8 is in store

No. 9 is available fo service, but is currently tucked n the back track of the workshop for an inspection, and decision on its future (should we convert it to a tender loco)

No. 10 is in the workshops. The pieces of the loco will be put back together and then put in store, awaiting a decision on future.

No. 11 is the same as 7

Contract work

Blackbird is a new build diesel for the MVR. It is currently awaiting painting, but is still in the workshops as of this update. The loco should be ready for trials on the WLR in June.

W2 for the MVR will be started on once some space develops. This is likely to wait until Blackbird has cleared through. The wagon should be complete in late June or early July

Just a brief update

ENGINES

Jonathan: The engine has been outshopped (but is still in the works until room emerges) in BR livery as 8903

Helvellyn: The engine has had some work on the chassis to allow room for the cylinders and valves, as well as removal of the chassis spacer and fitting of the new gas burner

Cleeve Abbey & Judith: In the works for check ups. Cleeve Abbey expected to be outshopped this week, the Judith in the week commencing June 7th

Ruby: Now packed up and in long term storage. May be on diaply at WLR 10

No. 2: Being used to see where the cylinders will go on Helvellyn

Nos. 7 and 11: Out of traffic as No. 11 blew up the speed controller in the big van twice

Nos 4, 6 and 8: Available for traffic

STOCK

The three new  4-wheel wagons: awaiting painting, into BR black (2 of them) or WLR grey (1)

New flat wagon, gunpowder wagon & wagon 31: awaiting painting into BR Black for use in WLR 10.

W2 (for MVR): future work hinges on the delivery of wheels and axleboxes. About 1 hours work to complete

Big battery wagon: awaiting it's latest (third) speed controller following No. 11 frying the last two

IP coaches & bogie coaches: at various stages of completion, 3 IP coaches now awaiting painting

Sheep wagon: stored until the works clear

Well, just a quick note to say what we've been doing:

• We helped fit the motor/gearbox unit to the MVR's new diesel while we were there on the 10th
• We have now delivered the new diesel body to the MVR
• And we have done a bit more contract work to the MVR's main steam loco, No. 1 'Russell'

More next time!

Well, welcome to this reinstated page! In this short update I'm going to cover recent projects. Lately we've been doing alot of work on contract jobs. A wagon chassis, a complete wagon, a kit wagon and a diesel have been/are going to be despatched to the Misbourne Valley Railway recently. The diesel is the first in a new range of products from the shop, and will be handed over on the 10th April. We do then hope to get on with our own stuff!

We've been doing a lot of work recently on projects that were started but never finished. Wagon 31, a gunpowder van, 3 IP coaches and a flat wagon have all been outshopped since this page closed down last year. However, projects are not stopping there! I'm currently working on a sheep wagon, as well as refurbishing 'Jonathan'

Yes, 'Jonathan' is being refurbished. It shouldn't be a shock to anybody who has read the news pages! The loco now carries Black with no logos or lining, but that is going to be corrected during the next week or so.