Weekly Progress Report - 10/03/14 - 16/03/14

Another week flies by in the valley, Easter now very close, only another month left!

Thursday saw the Permanent Way team back in action on the branch line, re-packing and levelling sections of the line which haven’t seen attention for a very long time. In other news from Thursday, the back shed spoil removal department were carrying on with clearing, nearly complete for more concrete to be laid.

Sunday saw action in all areas of the railway. This morning saw the return to Killers Dale of the rail grinder, finishing the last 3 track panels of rough corrugation making the track suitable for the next running season. In other Permanent Way news, the finishing of the branch line was also an achievement, meaning levels and ballast are all ready putting the branch in tip top order for the season.

The Motive Power Department have been seeing to issues on ZM32 and Hibberd 4008, as both Peter and Greenbat were in use on works and driver training trains today. Hibberd 4008 was having a small weep seen to on the fuel pipe out of the tank, a minor issue seen to valiantly. The gearbox is another job on the list for the locomotive, a tricky challenge on going at the moment. As spring is underway, ZM32 is starting to adjust to the temperature change and small oil and fuel dribbles are starting to appear, however, these were seen to this afternoon, and most sorted out.  

Attached in the pictures is our poster for 2014, feel free to download it and put it up in your local area.

Rail Grinding in Killers Dale, once again!

Lizzie heading a double manrider train in Dark Lane

ZM32 running at Steeplehouse on test

Our new 2014 Poster, feel free to download and display



Weekly Progress Report - 03/03/2014 - 09/03/14

As pace starts to increase as Easter comes ever closer, here is what has been happening this week.

The big news of this week has been the removal of the back shed structure off our site last Thursday, many thanks to Baker Metals of Derby for the drop off and collection on the same day of the skip. A special thanks to all the volunteers who turned up and assisted with the moving of the large metal sections that made up the shed.

The Permanent Way team today have been undertaking remedial work on the branch line, improving ride quality and the track level in relation to the ballast.

In the Motive Power Department, ZM32 and Hibberd 4008 have been on the list today. ZM32 was seen to be weeping a slight amount of oil and diesel on the engine house floor, after an investigation on the pit, it was narrowed down to a slight tighten on the gearbox oil plug, plus a tightening of the diesel tank tap fitting. Hibberd 4008, after the triumph of last week was once again run up, this time to let it get up to working temperature, and to see about the slight leaks on the oil pressure plate, which resulted in the decision to re-fit it with an oil pressure gauge.

Strides are being taken in time to get the railway ready for Easter, but there’s still more to be done!

ZM32 on the back shed move.

Last shunting operation finished this morning

Starting handles at the ready!

Rail Grinding in Killers Dale

Weekly Progress Report - 24/02/14 - 02/03/2014

A fantastic week at the SGLR with many milestones reached. Hibberd 4008 reborn, and the completion of the loop above Recreation Ground Station to name a few.

News from the Permanent Way team, after much planning and work the passing loop near Sandy Lane Crossing, yet to be named was completed at long last. A test with ZM32 this afternoon proved whether it could work with the heaviest locomotive currently on our books – passing with flying colours. After the hammer was let off completing the loop, it was ploughed back on down the branch, levelling irregularities in the track bed and track height.

More news from the front, this time from Motive Power. With only two guys in working on 4008 (Rob and Joe), pressure was on to get 4008 fit for its first run in more than 40 years – no mean feat for the lads. With the little niggles with pipe work they soon became proficient in the art of dealing with leaks, small and large, good and bad. Finally by lunchtime, with all leaks sorted, fuelled, watered and oiled up, it was ready for the first trial. System bled – or what was thought, it turned out, pointed out by the ZM32 team, the fuel pump bleed screw was yet to be bled, and the decompression lever bedded down. Back in the shed she went, finally, after a two hour struggle, the moment of truth, was all the hard work over the past day and 5 months going to have been worth it? Cranking handle at the ready, the engine was turned over and as if like magic, the single cylinder started to fire and take hold! After many tweaks the engine was running at its tick over speed, purring and thumping away. Now, about that gearbox and clutch, perhaps some brakes as well! The inaugural running of the engine was applauded by all!  

Although a mainly damp day, much satisfying work was completed, as has been shown. In the world of the SGLR anything is possible!

 

Best ideas come when drinking tea!

The inaugural test

ZM32 at the loop

4008 running at Steeplehouse

 

Weekly Progress Report - 17/02/2014 - 23/02/2014

Busy, busy, busy. Words commonly heard over the past week at Steeple Grange, and looking around it is evident of the busy approach.

Much of the work completed over the last week has been track focused. The troublesome point out of number one road in the main engine house was seen to with a view of sorting the long term problems we face with it, most problems were resolved but still a few little niggles that need to be sorted. The passing loop was also another project that has kept on track, with the first section ballasted, the other side of the loop was laid down, gauged and connected up, and this section only requires ballasting then levelling on both sides of the loop. A final test was undertaken when goods train piloted by Greenbat was passed by Lizzie bound for Sandy Lane, the first time a train has been able to pass without stopping since the old loop at Killers Dale was removed.  

Rolling stock news leaves only reports on Manrider 101 and Hibberd 4008. Manrider 101 has certainly continued on apace with its refurbishment, having been into the paint shop, the chassis and body in glistening black and red. Hibberd 4008 has also continued apace over the last couple of weeks, with all major components returned in order to get the engine to finally play its party piece, currently the cowling that will hold the fuel tank in place is away for machining and will return next week ready for an engine trial.

Another project taking centre stage at Steeplehouse is the demolition of the first of the BR black van bodies, as reported last week the structure had been removed leaving only the base, the base is now cut down into sections and stored.

Time to get busy for another week!

 

Adding a little fire power to the troublesome point at Steeplehouse

Greenbat and the works train returning to Steeplehouse from the loop

The heavy ammo called upon to dismantle the floor

Lizzie powers past Greenbat on the loop.



Weekly Progress Report - 10/02/2014 to 16/02/2014

The valley sees another week zip by and at Steeple Grange there has been a great deal of work being completed.

Permanent way has been gradually relaying the section of track on the branch to relieve a hump and a step in the rail. This work has been completed allowing for work on the second side of the loop above Recreation Ground Station to re-start, great progress has been made and the final adjustments are hoping to be made this coming Thursday.

In other news, more noticeable work undertaken at Steeplehouse is the demolition of the first old ex BR van body, which today after many weeks of painstaking work has been ground down to just the base, which is yet to be cut into sections, but a major achievement for the volunteers involved in the project. Diesel “Lizzie” was pressed into service to remove the excess rubble and sections from the site.

Now, as this week sets, a new week will soon dawn, yet more to be getting on with up at SGLR!  

The Permanent Way team at work on the branch line.

 

 

Lizzie stationary in the head shunt.

 

 

The final piece of the old shed hits the deck.

 

 

Loading the final pieces at the end of a long day.



Weekly Progress Report 03/02/2014 - 09/02/2014

Another wet and windy week in the Gem of the Peak with work mainly focused on the tracks and the demolition of the front half of the old sheds.

Permanent way were in action seeing to little work left on the first running line on the passing loop, completing that, re-packing is next on the list. As the number of people was limited ballasting had to be left for another day. However, track work on the branch could proceed, with the relaying of two pieces of rail to remove an irregularity in track height.

The Motive Power Department finally received the fully refurbished motor needed for L10 today, after being picked up on the Clayton factory visit on Friday – the motor will be fitted as soon as possible to reduce the risk of damage. Another locomotive back on tracks was Lizzie, after a good number of months in hibernation it was finally put back to work, first shunting Manrider 104 to release L10 out of number 1 road, then to propel the powerless chassis to Steeplehouse. Lizzie then had a full lubrication, grease and inspection before being driven the full length of the line to the passing loop on test, successfully traversing the running side of the loop.

In other news, Manrider 101, used on the branch line is having a complete makeover; currently the black hammerite is going on the lower chassis and is looking fantastic for a first coat.

The relentless demolition of the front old wagon body shed is progressing in leaps and bounds. All the sides of the shed have now been taken out and the task currently is to remove the top layer of rubber to reduce the weight of the roof so it can be “easily” lifted clear.

Another productive week in the land of SGLR!

 

The SGLR team at Clayton Equipment Ltd.

The refurbished motor for L10

 

 

 

Shunting in Dark Lane Quarry

 

L10 being hand trammed onto the traverser

 

 

Lizzie near Sandy Lane on test.



Weekly Progress Report - 27/1/2014 - 02/02/2014

A rather cold and wintery week up at Steeple Grange, work mainly focused on the loop above Recreation Ground Station, but as the day was fine today a lot of other work was carried out.

 

Thursday saw the first of the January snow to hit Steeplehouse; luckily it was only a light dusting. None the less the Permanent Way team battled on and correctly gauged the whole of one side of the loop, now this needs fully ballasting and tamping before it can be signed off. Work on the other side of the loop will begin in due course before April as there is work to be completed on the branch that needs attention.

Motive Power was in action once again, seeing to work on Greenbat, ZM32 and Hibberd 4008. Greenbat was having its electrical wiring for the lights seen to; these failed at Santa Specials meaning ZM32 had to take over for the late evening movements, the issue has been resolved and a set of new white lights have also been replaced. ZM32 had the valve clearances checked and a possible fitting of an isolation switch was also looked into. Late on ZM32 also ran another train up to the loop to test the entire section of the loop with Manrider 104. Hibberd 4008 had its forward cab cowling re-shaped back into its original shape ready for fitting and eventually painting.

Another job not to go un-noticed is the slow demolition of the front half of the two back sheds, currently having its woodwork stripped out; eventually both sheds will be flattened. This will allow for the remaining concrete to be laid and for the time being, a longer headshunt to be placed.

Another week passes in the land of the SGLR, and another eagerly awaits!

Winter Wonderland

 

ZM32 below Porter Lane Tunnel

 

 

 

Testing the loop with PETER

 

 

 

All stationary at the passing loop