5/15/2018

Saturday Gang Report January- April 2018


Introduction:

Greetings to everyone from the Saturday Gang! Spring is in the air, and the bank holiday weather has actually been pleasant for a change! But don’t think for one second our group of volunteers have rested on their laurels. As you will see, we’ve made some massive strides and passed something of a milestone on our longest running overhaul for the last decade, 25 ‘Northiam’. I won’t keep you any longer- let’s get straight to the locos!

Locomotives:

Hunslet Austerity Class 0-6-0PT 25 ‘Northiam’-  It’s back! After nine years of work, Number 25 is in service once more. Seeing our long-standing project pulling trains at last is a great source of pride for our gang. A couple of us have already spent a journey or two behind the loco, and the May Video Report, when completed, will focus on a retrospective of the overhaul. Also, the editors of this blog may have an article published in this summer’s ‘Tenterden Terrier’ about the Saturday Gang’s role in returning ‘Northiam’ to steam. So stay tuned!

WD USA Class 0-6-0T DS238 ‘Wainwright’- This loco is now in operation as LMR 300 ‘Major General Frank Ross.’

WD USA Class 0-6-0T 30065 ‘Maunsell’- Work has begun on bringing this loco back. The first stage with overhauls like this is to strip the loco down almost to the frames. We’ve already removed the boiler tubes, along with the dome cover, clack valve and coupling rods. As it stands, the blast pipe, pistons and brake cylinders have also gone.

GWR 1600 Class 0-6-0PT 1638- No new information on this loco.

NSB 21C Class 2-6-0 376 ‘Norwegian’-  Remains in service.

LB&SCR A1X Class 0-6-0T 32678 ‘Knowle’-  Remains in service with running maintenance throughout the period. A few weeks ago, a new joint was fitted to the blast pipe, and one of our volunteers fixed a blocked steam heat valve.

LB&SCR A1X Class 0-6-0T 32670 ‘Bodiam’- Out of service.


Manning Wardle O Class 0-6-0T 14 ‘Charwelton’- History repeats itself: we’ve begun overhauling the Saturday Gang’s original project from so long ago! As with 65, the loco has been radically stripped down. We’ve taken off the vacuum pipe, guard irons, brake hangers, reverser and The boiler is parted from the frames, and stripped of cladding.

SE&CR P Class 0-6-0T 753-  Out of service.
 

Videos:





Conclusion:

So there we have it. In four months we’ve seen two locos return to steam, and made head way on two new projects. I’ve no doubt you can expect to see more progress on Charwelton and 65 over the next few months, if you follow our YouTube channel.
Our next blog entry will arrive some time in September, but until then you may hear from us in the ‘Tenterden Terrier’ as previously stated.
On behalf of the Saturday Gang, I hope you all have a wonderful summer!


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