Sunday 13 June 2010

Today's engine was Atlas, which ran well. There were not too many passengers, but enough to make it worthwhile running. The hot axlebox changed last week seems to be ok now.
Later on in the afternoon, the heavens opened and we packed away early, but driving no-cabbed Atlas in the pouring rain is about as much fun as you'd imagine it to be...
I also changed a sleeper. turned out to be quite rotton under the surface.

The Gogo tractor came out of the shed today to be measured and photographed for a model.

Odin's leaky radiator was finally fixed, and it is now back to full health. Here it is seen next to Druid. These two engines started out their lives looking fairly similar to each other, but over time various modifications (especially to Druid) have made them both rather unique.
Also today, the Greenbat had it's batteries topped up with de-ionised water, and some work was done on the O&K, although I'm not sure what as I wasn't paying attention.



Sunday 6 June 2010

More pics from Leeds traction engine club visit.

Some more photos from last month when the Leeds and district traction engine club visited to have a hog roast, sent to me by Justin.

Here is the steam roller that turned up, nicely rolling our yard flat.
Some steam roller detail. It really was well turned out.

The only one not enjoying the evening so much...

The Gogo tractor manouvering in the yard.
Richard reclining in the Gogo tractor on the way to the Abbey.

Little Ruston took the train back up the line when it returned (very very slowly) behind the Gogo tractor. Once the train had gone back up the line, Gogo tractor stalled and wouldn't restart.

...nope, still doesn't want to start....

So me and Atlas towed it away in disgrace.








Today it was pouring down with rain, so we didn't rush about getting the train out, as there simply was nobody about. at about 2 'o'clock the rain eased, and some trains were ran. Druid was the motive power, and ran without faults.
Last Monday Atlas suffered a hot axlebox. Today we set about fixing it. This involved jacking and packing up the front end of the loco and removing all of the axlebox seen below. What had happened is the springs that hold a lubricating pad against the bottom of the axle had broken with age. Luckily, we had a brand new one to hand and the axlebox was cleaned out and the replacement fitted. We put Atlas on the passenger train at the end of the day and it seems OK now. It still runs a little warmer then the other 3 axleboxes, but apparently this is not a problem and is because of some water damage to the end of ther axle from when it was stored out of use at Alne tile works.

Atlas on the top end of the passenger train. It got fixed quickley because it is such a good, useful and powerful engine. It hauls the passenger train even with Druid on the rear end as though theres nothing there. It could just do with a cab on wet days like today though.
We didn't take many passengers today, as the weather was so bad. But we did take some so it was worth running.

Meanwhile, the O&K progresses. The front body section has been removed to aid the refitting of the engine oil level filler/indicator.

The new gearbox sump has recieved it's first coat of paint, and for the first time looks like part of the locomotive. It only need a small modification (i'm told) before it is complete. Then the axlebox wants taking apart and cleaning of debris from the building of the sump, and the whole thing can be assembled for good.