Weekly Progress Report - 24/03/14 - 30/03/14

Safe to say this week has seen a lot completed and a lot left to do!

The Permanent way team has seen to the branch; now back in action at Steeplehouse, brushing up on a few jobs left regarding joints and sleepers, these jobs however will have to wait as our re-stock of sleepers won’t arrive till Thursday. This left the mainline to see to, with a full track inspection completed today, the work will now be carried out.

In the Motive Power Department, ZM32 was laid up with a small fuel leak, which left only start up and stop methods to try and find the leak, the leak was partly cured, and will be seen to at a later date. Later in the day it was decided that both Hibberd 4008 and L10 should be moved to the Carriage and Wagon Shed for storage while Manrider 104 is brought and housed in the engine house at Steeplehouse.

In rolling stock news, Manrider 104 held the main limelight, with the whole vehicle being lifted in order to release the rear axle for inspection of a possible faulty wheel bearing, it was later found to be the axle box assembly that wanted work completing on it, this will be completed during this next week.

An all together busy weekend!

Greenbat and the test train

ZM32 moving Hibberd 4008

ZM32 resting at Steeplehouse

Manrider 104 raised into the air to allow for the axle to be removed

Weekly Caption Challenge - 17/03/14 - 23/03/14

News from the front as another week passes by!

Thursday saw our second skip arrive allowing for the remaining scrap lying about the site to be cleared up and removed, this was carried out in good time allowing for other work to be undertaken. Permanent way saw to the headshunt at Steeplehouse, building up support due to removal of spoil which had been the base for the track.

Today was a hive of activity at Steeplehouse regarding locomotive work. Greenbat was tasked with working Manrider 103 on driver training runs between Steeplehouse and Sandy Lane Crossing. L10 was undoubtedly took most of limelight today, as the much anticipated motor return date finally was reached us, after much fettling and raising and lowering of the locomotive, the motor was positioned into its resting place between both forward and rear gearboxes, now it remains to fit the cable end fittings which will attach it to the control box. In other news, ZM32 was also being given attention, this time it was the tightening of the compressor drive belt from the main shaft, before being tested on the mainline to prove the repair.

And the next week beckons!

Ending the day Thursday

L10 in bits ready to accept the motor

Greenbat and Manrider 103 pass ZM32 in the loop



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