Of gateposts and galas

11th August 2019

Plenty for kettle fans this week, and no, we don't have an incredibly long, thin-legged Stationmaster.

So, when we arrived at Tunstead on Monday it was no surprise to find the pit flooded again, but that it was almost twice as deep as last week was a bit vexing.

Andy modified the delivery pipe to remove the worst of its 16 holes and later used his experience with submersible pumps to slow down the flow (constrict the pipe) as the oil separator seemed a little less efficient than hitherto. Thus fine-tuned we could leave the pump to do its thing with only the minimum of attention but nevertheless it caused some delay. I had a wander round since although it was likely that some rainwater had found its way down the flangeways from outside (there was some still standing) there was an intercepting drain at the doorway which made it hard to believe that it could account for all that was in the pit, nor the amount that was awash on the floor. In the end it took an hour to empty the pit and a suspiciously large damp area next to the wall (on the hill-side of the building) suggested that maybe that was where the water was coming in. A manager was seen looking around later in the day (but not too closely) but another that speaks to us regularly and who admitted to having been tasked with re-roofing part of the building took note of our observations.

But really you want to know what we were doing and draining pits has little to do with RS8, save reducing the risk (application of Murphy's Law) of dropping things into it. And I've got to be honest, I didn't think it was going to be a very productive day. I was able to fit the bleed hose from the converter cooler to the coolant rail, and mount the plinth for the cab light, but although the latter was cabled I had not brought the correct screws to mount the lamp itself. Andy meanwhile could always find bits to paint, even if in some places it included picking out the letters on the side of the radiator.

And here's a little known fact for you: Rolls-Royce should always be hyphenated, but on a Covrad radiator, it is hyphenated on one side but not the other. We took the air cleaner panel out so that he could paint it properly (and behind the battery box which is also inacessible when the panel is in place).

Apart from that I did start putting the fittings in ready for the heater hoses, but it was not an especially productive day for me, and I looked longingly at the rails wondering how long before RS8 takes a turn out there again.

I've had several days out on commercial work again this week, but was able to organise a trip into Sheffield to collect various things including, at long last, the casing doors for RS8, but you'll have to wait until next week's edition to see the results. I was in the shed for a while on Wednesday morning and noticed the cab door open on Ludwig Mond, but didn't realise the significance until Andrew briefly popped in on Friday and went up to 14901, finding both cab doors and windows wide open and the interior soaking from rain. A check on the security cameras showed we had had visitors again on Tuesday evening and that when close to the shed, they had had their hoodies up and arms across their faces. In fact, we had one hec of a downpour on Friday, Andy H and myself breaking off from more important work to try and prevent the water entering the shed. Andy dragged a mattock from his van (he has an eclectic collection of objects in there) and hurriedly dug a slight drain from where the gutters drip to the south end of the shed where the slot drain was coping, but as I tried to sweep the water away and impede its progress from the pedestrain doorway (earning me the subriquet of King Canute Briddon) I was unsuccesful, and water spread either side from the door and over into the adjacent track. That new slot drain cannot come soon enough.

The weekend included the Peak Rail gala event, and although two of the planned locos did not make it, resulting in a slightly toned down affair from that originally proposed, it was good to see two train running at Darley Dale and the sorts of numbers of people milling around on the platforms that the station ought to see all the time. I got down on Saturday at 9 am as Jagger was expected but my first task was to erect the new gatepost, which had been given 2 coats of Buttermilk during the week.

The wooden fence section which we had recovered was also bolted to the tabs on the post, making a definite improvement to the security and appearance, and was admired by passing station staff. The weather was not as good as one might have expected for August (but better than forecast) with some heavy showers on the Saturday. Nevertheless at various times we wandered outside, with camera or mug of tea in hand, (sometimes both) to record the novelty of motive power.

Andrew and Jagger continued on Ashdown, resetting the traction clutch and sorting out a valve that gave trouble before, culminating in a static air test but not a run out this week. They then turned their attention to the box van, moving the racking up to one end (having removed various things that were in the way) and loading some other bits afterwards. Steph was down with lunches and displayed some dexterity with the mattock by creating a drainage trench northwards from the pedestrain door (which still had the remnants of Friday's floodwater) and creating a temporary soakaway pending a permanent solution. I was concentrating on a commercial job in the shop, which is nearing completion.

Today was not dissimilar, except that the weather was better and passengers slightly fewer. Whereas yesterday we had had no requests for guided tours, as I arrived at the gateway at 09.55 I was immediately approached by someone after a tour 'as soon as he'd photographed the trains' so I opened up, got my ovvies on and waited at the gate as the two trains passed. Somebody shouted at me from the southbound passenger train to the effect of 'was it open to the public?': I answered yes, if you get off and ask. Shortly after my first visitor reappeared and after I'd taken him round (gaining a thank-you in the donations tin) we were back at the gate when the train came back north and my caller came off and over.

Andrew was due down, as was our neighbour with his mini-digger to continue tidying up the entrance area behind our new gatepost. With visitor no.2 finished I made them a cup of tea and shortly after rwo more visitors asked for a tour, though these two knew me from a visit a year or so ago. I've not that many braincells still functioning nowadays so couldn't recall them.

After lunch I did at last get around to recovering an oil cooler off another engine for RS8. Since this engine was sat on the German flat with engines tight up alongside, it was not the easiest of operations, but gave me a front row view as trains went by. Eventually Andrew gave me a hand, after he had finished doing the basic fabrication on the assembly that will be mounted to the neck of my low load trailer and carry the winch.

Back in the shed I started to clean the oil cooler down. Later in the afternoon Andrew and I had a conference on the HATRAMM. With a view to getting the crane functional at least, Andrew wants to produce a small hydraulic power pack using one of the Lister engines we've collected, and we spent a while tracing hoses and deciding where best to break into the hydraulics to feed it. So that was about it: after loading the van up with bits to take to Tunstead tomorrow, especially the long-awaited casing doors, I secured the gate to our new gatepost and headed for home.

We didn't get around to sorting out the 03 as we had planned (we blame the weather) so that must gain our undivided attention over the next few days. As for what else will happen, well, you know the drill. Come back and find out - see ya then.