Of cutting the clutter

22nd December 2019

That's it then, the shortest day is passed. The days are drawing out towards next summer. Aaah, I feel warmer already.

On Tuesday I went to Hyde. It was a pity actually, as I'd hoped to tie it in with another trip to Manchester I had expected to get before the end of the week, but Andrew having won an on-line auction for a Polstore there was only a limited collection window so dutifully I went over to Hyde for a booked time of about 10.30, and there was the Polstore, looking miniscule because it was at the opposite end of this big warehouse and hanging from a crane hook 15feet up in the air. However it filled the back of the van up reasonably well and clanged and banged all the way back to Darley Dale as its draws tried to slide within the cling-film constraining them. We already have one Polstore, which in case you are completely blank as to what I'm talking about, looks like this:

If you think that reminds you of a plan chest, you're probably right, and our first one, collected from an e-bay seller near Leicester, would resemble that even more as most of its draws were shallow. And while they happily accept drills, taps, dies, and other such things, the draws simply won't tolerate larger 3/4 inch drive sockets and such. On the other hand though, Polstore the Second has predominantly deeper draws able to accept such things - perhaps Enerpac pumps and other such equipment will at last have homes and no longer clutter up the floor. But at the moment, where Polstore The Second needs to go is somewhat difficult of access, so it too is residing on floor space and classes as further clutter.

Andy H was over on Friday and we continued fence works after I had got bought suitable timber on Thursday for the horizontal bars. Sadly I hadn't had time to get all the brackets painted, so these also got a coat of paint and were force-dried in front of the space heater with only moderate success. I continued with the work on Saturday, with the result that the horizontals are now all in place bar the last two for which the post is still not ready.

The bars need a coat of preservative (they're tanalised but I'd rather see some dark staining even if none of the modern stuff is a patch on dear-old creosote). I had been in favour of cutting the vertical posts to length before assembling the brackets and horizontals, but Andy H was adamant that that be done later, and he was probably right, as clearly the verticals are starting from different ground levels and will need to be measured individually if the finished fence is to look professional. We had visitors on Saturday, on the one hand the new owner of the PCV came perhaps to convince himself he'd done the right thing, and discuss the work neccessary to get its original bogie frames re-wheeled and back under before it leaves. Then also there was Ben Riley, and he and Andrew were working out back (as I was out 'front' on the fence) removing the last of the rivetted fittings from the milk tanker chassis.

There has apparently been chatter on a C&W forum because the vehicle has been recorded as being a former GW milk tanker going to yield parts for Ben's ex-LMS milk tanker, whereas it is in fact also an LMS one as logically the parts would otherwise be non-compatable. Apart from popping back now and again and delivering them mugs of tea I left them to it but did pay a visit as the last of the recoverable bits was being dragged clear and a little later as in the gathering dusk Andrew made cuts through the side frame members that dropped the chassis into pieces.

We had of course cleared locomotives both from in front and behind this operation for safety, and for this purpose Ludwig had been topped up with fresh anti-freeze mix. Not only did the loco then start, but the previous low-coolant warning lamp (which Andrew had, for some reason, thought to be a faulty switch) ceased announcing its presence. I had picked up a couple of drums of anti-freeze from a local supplier who had replied to my request with 'is Blue all right?' and I was awfully tempted to say 'no, I want it in Battleship Grey' but wasn't sure if the salesman would take a joke. Apart from not liking to mix green coolant solution with blue lest the two dies have some reaction, or they signify something dramatically different, I am aware of no difference. Not like the days when I learned to drive and you needed dfferent anti-freezes depending whether your car engine block was cast iron or aluminium.

Andrew broke in to his afternoon gassing to win a new motorised hacksaw on e-bay. The one we have behaves rather strangely whereas its replacement looks to be a much more modern unit. We'll get it into place in the new year and decide whether to retain it, or strip our old one down to repair its lift/lower system which works when it feels like it with little regard for control handle positions. I also spent time up in the box van, and completed demolition of the Matlock end of the roof and removing all the screws that continued to stand proud.

As I gave Ben a lift back to Rowsley that evening, we discussed the material for the new roof, as getting that re-instated and weathertight would make a significant improvement in reducing shed clutter. On the other hand, James was running during the week and not only proved difficult to start, but I couldn't ignore the fact that the smoke was out of the ordinary. After discussion with Andrew we have been forced to the conclusion that either we have a cracked cylinder head or a porous liner, so for now James comes off the active list and will be de-fuelled and de-batteried to wait until we have time to get to overhaul it.

On our own today, we made a start on de-planking the old fence panels with a view to re-using the majority of the fencing planks as they would save money and blend in unlike newly-cut timber. For now the loose planks have been stacked up to await the preservative on the horizontals. We then adjourned inside and measured up a couple of Lister engines and the various bell housings and pump drives that have been acquired of late. Andrew favours getting the HATRAMM's crane operational without the work entailed in getting its main engine to function with a simplified wiring system, even if, for now, the Lister is first deployed on my low loader to drive the winch. Copious meaurements and scribbled drawings later, we had a working scheme for a spacer which should work, to be manufactured once people get back from this Christmas Holiday thing. (Bah humbug and all that.)

Andrew then returned to the pipework for the air main which is being brought down the wall, via pressure gauge and water trap to whatever compressor set we choose to connect it to.

Now, you might have noticed that I haven't made mention thus far of RS8, and yes, there is a reason for that; I was saving it to the end. Not that I've manged to progress anything much on it physically, but I had apparently failed to notice last week that the Discover Buxton podcast had come out. If you're a relatively new reader, then start with the May 2017 podcast when the RS8 project had barely begun, and then return to the latest, which marks the 'completion'. (Addendum 3-4-23  the link is no longer available) If like me, you have nostalgic memories of Oliver Postgate's Ivor the Engine animation series, you'll enjoy the interludes as much as the substance, and you'll be pleased to know there's little enough of me to be heard. Meanwhile the Buxton Advertiser has got in on the act who did a piece which got mentions on Facebook with the result that Heritage Railway has been in touch to do a story on it. Rail Express and Railway Magazine are both ahead on them, though.

(from Discover Buxton)

So that's about it. As this is the last edition before Christmas, it's time to wish you all that Santa brings what you want and don't over-eat. Things will be as normal next weekend (I hope) so I'll leave the New Years' wishes for now. See ya then.