Part of Camelot's ongong overhaul involves removing the driving wheels for inspection. Photo taken at the wheeldrop, BLUEBELL RAILWAY, February 2021.
Camelot's Overhaul News
- 1. Feb, 2021
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Update from the Bluebell Railway Workshop
The boiler took just over a week to remove and all the cladding and the brick arch have been removed as per a 10-year boiler exam. As of 27th January, 25 rivets remain to be fitted in the foundation ring, these will be done after the holes have been improved by copper welding, which task is booked in for the first week of February.
It is anticipated that around 20 side stays will be replaced due to the heads being burnt away, plus any that fail non-destructive testing. The small tubes will probably be removed by the end of January, the new ones will be in the country by the middle of February.
The boiler looks good after five years in service and the riveting has gone well using the correct BR pattern rivets in line with the relevant drawings.
As part of the work to gain a new 10-year boiler ticket, the clack valves will be replaced with new, one set of water gauges will be replaced and a complete new blowdown valve will be fitted: the whistle valve (a BR original) will have new insides.
The flue tubes will get a very thorough examination by the Bluebell's boilersmiths and, of course, the boiler inspector before a decision is taken as to whether or not they should be replaced at this time. - 12. Feb, 2021
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Latest news of Camelot's overhaul from the Bluebell Railway Workshop
Copper welding on the firebox was carried out last week. It was done by Hythe Marine Ltd who did the copper welding on 80151's firebox and that has proved to be very satisfactory. The foundation ring holes just need to be reamed out and tidied up and then the rest of the rivets can be put in.
Most of the ashpan needs to be replaced and the work is already under way. - 20. Feb, 2021
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Camelot on the Wheeldrop
The frames have been placed over the wheeldrop and the driving wheels removed for inspection.
- 22. Feb, 2021
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More news from the Bluebell Railway's Workshop concerning Camelot.
Firebox copper welding has been carried out, 16 holes in the steel doorplate at the foundation ring have been welded by Henry Mowforth and the copper plate was welded by Hythe Marine Ltd. The foundation ring riveting is all now complete and approximately 20 side stays that had lost nuts and burned away have been replaced.
The boiler was lifted onto the boiler wagon on 17th February and has had a washout, it is now in the running shed undergoing needle gunning of the exterior. The new boiler tubes are expected at the end of February/early March.
Ashpan hopper replacement is 60% complete, it will have a sprinkler system fitted like that on 80151.
Further investigation of known loose cylinder bolts has revealed more hiding up in the saddle. New bolts are on order, oversized for reaming out and turning to fit. At least 30 will need to be changed.
New horn stay bolts are being made, the stays themselves need building up and the holes reaming out.
The driving wheelset has been removed to check side clearances because of it previously hitting the rivets on the frames. The top end of the horns will be built up to reduce clearances, as has already been done on the rear wheelset.
The motion has been stripped down and patterns sent to the foundry for new big end (two), small end (one), leading (one) and trailing (one) coupling rod bushes. One new gradient pin and bushes are also required.
The expansion links have been removed to deal with excessive play in the die blocks and pin holes. Expansion links should go to the Flour Mill this week with 34059’s for grinding on their pendulum grinder and CNC machining of new die blocks.
Finally, a new set of grate fingers is required. - 10. Mar, 2021
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First boiler Inspection next week
The boiler inspector is due to visit on 16th March to check the work done so far: if all OK then the small tubes will start to go in.
On to the chassis, apart from the work already reported,the brake gear needs to be rebushed throughout, the rear dragbox (new at the last overhaul) has suffered from corrosion owing to the leaking foundation ring so will be needle gunned and repainted. New spring pads will be fitted to maintain the correct ride height. The right hand leading driving wheel spring needs to be replaced. One new gradient pin and bush is required.
The boiler cladding needs repainting and will be sent off site to be stripped back to bare metal before painting with a two-pack paint. Following this work, Heritage Painting are being asked to quote for a full repaint of the boiler cladding and for cutting back and varnishing the tender, cabsides and running plate valances. Apart from this, the tender needs no work at this time. - 31. Mar, 2021
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First boiler inspection is passed
The boiler inspector visited Sheffield Park on 16 March, to examine the work done on Camelot's boiler. He was happy with the work carried out, so the hydraulic test is scheduled for 12th April. If that is passed, there will be an out-of-frames steam test a week or so later.
The centre drivers are back in the frames and the leading wheelset is out for similar attention to the hornguides. Hornstays are being refitted following reaming of the holes and manufacture of new bolts. - 6. Apr, 2021
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Easter Workshop Report
Following the successful boiler inspection on 16 March, the small tubes were replaced and the boiler filled with water and put under pressure. It was then drained down and left to 'rust up' over the Easter weekend. This week it will be refilled and put under pressure to check for leaks. A hydraulic test in the presence of the boiler inspector is still scheduled for 12th April, and an out-of-frames steam test will follow. Then reassembly of the locomotive can begin.
Two Society Members were allowed to go down to Sheffield Park on 3rd April, to descale the rusted up dragbox. They found the boiler, complete with its small tubes, sitting on a wagon outside of the workshop. Social distancing and other Covid safety protocols still had to be observed, which meant that only one person at a time could work in the restricted space around the dragbox area. They took it in turns to descale the area using wire brushes. By the end of the day, about half of the top of the dragbox had been cleaned up and painted in primer paint. - 15. Apr, 2021
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Boiler Hydraulic Test passed
Two members went down to Sheffield Park on Monday (12 April) to see the boiler have its hydraulic test. All went well, the boiler was holding 300 psi pressure without any problems. The steam test is scheduled for Tuesday 27th April.
STOP PRESS: Rescheduled for Wednesday, 5 May. - 5. May, 2021
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Steam Test passed
The Steam Test was passed today. Work is starting on putting Camelot back together again, but she is not going to be ready to run by the Bluebell Railway's provisional reopening date, 20 May.
- 18. May, 2021
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Fitting and Painting the Boiler
The boiler has been lifted back into the frames for a trial fit. Once Bluebell Workshop Staff are happy, it will be lifted out again and the cladding fitted to the front section so that Heritage Painters can work on getting it all up to gloss. Heritage Painters are coming to Sheffield Park on Monday 24th and are booked in for three weeks.
- 28. May, 2021
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Heritage Painters have started work on Camelot
There are now two undercoats on the boiler cladding and gloss painting is about to start. Two Society members went to Sheffield Park last Sunday and did some preparation, cleaning and priming nuts and bolt heads.
Camelot hauls the "Cream Tea Riviera" at Horsted Keynes, JACK LAMB, 16 August 2020. This was immediately after an earlier lockdown ended.
Bluebell Railway News
- 29. Mar, 2021
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Bluebell Railway announces a PROVISIONAL reopening date
Today the Bluebell Railway published this statement: "We have provisionally set Thursday 20 May as our reopening date."
Announcements from the Railway can be seen on:
https://www.bluebell-railway.com/whats_on/today-at-the-railway/ - 7. May, 2021
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Bluebell Railway reopening
The 20 May date is still being called "provisional" on the Railway's Web Site, but it is noticed from the "Unofficial" Facebook Page that the railway appears to have started to run test and training trains.
- 20. May, 2021
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Bluebell Railway is definitely reopening today
See https://www.bluebell-railway.com/whats_on/today-at-the-railway/
The Sales Stand and some of our team, in action. Photo, DEREK HAYWARD, 27 April, 2017.
Sales Stand News
- 12. Apr, 2021
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"Wendover Antiques" Reopens after lockdown
The Society's Bookstall here is also open.
- 31. Jul, 2021
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Bluebell Railway Model Railway Weekend
Also 1 August
- 6. Aug, 2021
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Bluebell Railway 60 (+ 1) Years' Anniversary Weekend
Also 7 and 8 August
- 8. Oct, 2021
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Bluebell Railway Giants of Steam Gala Weekend
Also 9 and 10 October
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