April-June
| D8110 [20110] |
The loco is now ready for the start of the new season.
The loco worked well on it's first outing (Sunday 23rd April), but on the
Monday after shunting the stock into the platform, it would not start following
a short shut down. A crimp connection was found to have broken on the fuel
priming pump button inside the engine compartment. This was repaired and
the loco was ready for use once again, but not see service until the afternoon
as the timetable and stock were all over the place, due to the loco failing.
A week later for the Thomas weekend all went well with the loco, but it
was found that some finger contacts on the field diverts were showing signs
of burning and these have now been replaced.
"Everything Goes" weekend went well.
The loco was pressed into use on Thursday 29th June after
68011 broke and lost a spring at Staverton. On towing 680I1 & train
back, Errol decided to derail on a right hand bend at about 51/4 MP. knocking
off a main air cock and breaking part of the multiple working jumper housing.
The main air pipe was plugged temporarily so the loco could still work
and it returned a re-railed Errol with coach stock back to Buckfastleigh. |
[D8118] 20118
Back to Top |
| The cab has now been stripped of most bits (seats, cooker
and all the wall panels) for cleaning, painting or replacement. By April
the two cylinder heads that came off were back on (one being the Railparts
one) and water had been put back into the cooling system. Some small leaks
where found and put right. Two relays from inside the electrical cubical
have been freed up, as they had seized. The fuel pump now runs, as one
of the relays is in the start circuit. It's been found that around the
camshafts and banjo joints that the lubrication oil has turned into a thick
grey oily mess, blocking the jointsand that a fuel pump needed to be changed;
this was done on Friday 26th May along with checking the tappets. With
this done and the batteries charged up the engine was turned over, but
no joy. One of the two start contactors in the cab was sticking open. This
was due to the linkage that connects the contactor to two smaller contacts
being very stiff. With the linkage disconnected, and the decompressors
out, the engine turned over blowing clouds of rust from the exhaust.
The decompressors were duly replaced and an attempt to start the engine
was made, but one decompressor was blowing through, the bolt was tightened
up for a second try but was still found to be blowing through so the bolt
was changed to no avail. The whole unit was changed and resulted
in no blow and no start!
Due to low batteries and the time was getting on
it was decided to wait for for a new day. A second try was made on Sunday
29th, but it still would not start (it would turn but not fire); this was
traced to a sticking fuel rack. With this free the start button was pressed
once more at 12.32pm and 20118 burst into life at the first attempt. Not
bad after being laid up for almost five years. After checking around it
has been found that a cylinder head was blowing slightly, a gauge was not
showing a reading for one of the turbochargers (though both turbochargers
were working) and, on a positive note, the batteries were taking a charge.
On to test the auxiliaries; first the compressor, this ran very quite quietly,
then the exhauster; the motor was quite noisy, but smoke came out from
the exhaust pipe under the loco which is a good sign. The blowers all ran
OK. Also we now know the engine over speed works correctly since it tripped
and shut the engine down. A blow on head `A3' (the reconditioned
head from Railparts) was found. This head was removed and with no signs
as to why it leaked it was put back on and no blowing was found on test.
Head `A4' was blowing so this was removed on Tuesday 27th June, but not
without a severe fight. An arsenal of pinch bars, crow bars and bits of
wood was employed together with lots of pulling on the rope.
All this effort was due to the many years of blowing;
the carbon had built up so much around at least two head studs so much
so that when the rope was let go the head simply stayed put half way up
the studs! It had been blowing past the copper ring in three places. This
head will now be cleaned and have its valves removed and reground in, also
around the block will be cleaned. With this being done, the rest of the
injectors will be replaced with overhauled ones.
The two small cab windows have been repaired. The bottoms
of these window frames had to be cut out due to rust and have been
replaced with new metal; both windows are now back in place. Some more
rust spots have been cut out around the cab and new bits will be welded
in over the coming weeks. The plan is now to have the cab weather tight
for the winter and the rest of the loco fully repainted before the end
of the season so that next year will be free to make a start on the class
25. |
D7612 [25262, 25901]
Back to Top |
The base has been cut out to have some new bits welded
in. With this done just in time; the loco was used on Friday 2lst April
to empty the main train set from the platform at Buckfastleigh, and run
it to Totnes so as to allow an evening steam trip from Exeter to run up
the branch. The coolant leak is still with us and now we had an exhauster
(which makes the vacuum for the train brakes) arcing badly when it was
running. This seams to have put itself right since it's now running arc
free. The loco missed its afternoon run on Monday 24th April due
to the 20 failing and the stock being all over the place.
On Saturday 29th (The Thomas weekend) and we had a plastic
air pipe blow off its copper pipe adding ten minutes to an already late
running timetable at Bishops Bridge. The power on the return from Totnes
was low. At slow speeds the power is all OK, but when the speed builds
up the field diverts do not change ( the analogy for a loco stuck in
full field is that it's like a car with only first gear). As this is all
electronic it's a bit of a headache. Three slide out modules have been
changed to no avail. |
| Class 127 |
| A working weekend by the Dart Wyvern group in April had
a corridor connection fitted to the Totnes end power car. After doing some
runs on the branch over the last two months or so the radiator leak has
got a lot worse, and it now appears that some pipes are also leaking. It
has now been formed up as a two car set until repairs can be effected;
but not until after a drag along the line on Sunday 28th May with D7612
towing. |
Class 122 - 55000
Back to Top |
| Most of the panels in the small saloon have being refitted.
It has been found that the saloon water heaters (fitted in the 80's) have
all been disconnected for some reason. Only the guards heater is plumbed
in and works. |
| Yorkshire |
| Running into trouble again. The fuel line broke/split
and the engine shut down (whilst down the line), then the compressor was
found to have shed all but one bolt! And yet again more batteries are needed.
The loco is only to work around Buckfastleigh at the moment. |
| Fowler |
| Loco is now under cover for some body repairs. |
| Ruston |
| Now outside 'B' shop enjoying the sun (?) |
| Stock |
MINK - No change.
CCT - No change.
SHOCKVAN - Repaint complete, just waiting for numbers
etc.
MINK (No.2) - Has been moved for the first time in years,
and is now in place for rebuilding to start.
BG - Up for sale. Say no more ! Offers
? |
| Other Items |
| Keep the aluminium drink cans coming in. |
