NESS GARDEN RAILWAY - UPDATE REPORT 20/10/2007

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NESS GARDEN RAILWAY - UPDATE REPORT 20/10/2007
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Loco #3 "Palmer" has appeared from Talbot works resplendent in a coat of something like BR Corporate Blue. Testing has revealed an uncanny ability for this loco to keep going so long as the axles are oiled where they pass through the chassis, and decent batteries are used. A set of 1000mHa NiMh AAAs are on order. Driver Henderson has been allocated this locomotive and he has adopted a thick sheepskin airman's jacket to help protect himself from the inclement weather. Driver Henderson's cat "Billy" is often seen on the footplate, we think he is attracted by the warm gearbox casing. The NGR management is considering whether this loco is worthy of a pair of etched nameplates.

Loco #1 "Jesty" remains the top performer and is currently being fitted with a heavy duty front buffer beam.

Loco #7 "Jack Tawes" is still having problems with melting springs, but staff are now becoming more used to dealing with the problem.

The bogie brake has recently received a Mark 4b bogie - so the vehicle now has two Mark 4 bogies - a 4a and a 4b. The difference between the a and b designations are that the bearings are set into the frames on the 4b and are thus slightly narrower. This is possible because Talbot works now has a proper set of HSS steel drill bits. The Works are considering moving the pivots outboard slightly to improve the vehicles ability to cope with the notorious tight northern curves.

The fleet of smaller freight wagons, mostly used for maintenance trains, has been given a good going over and is now fully operational, consisting 3 small opens, one larger open and a van. It is expected that loco #3 "Palmer" will be the regular motive power for these vehicles.

A programme of ash ballasting is well under way, with the wilder areas of trackwork being treated first. This will continue through the winter months as the raw material is in wider supply.

NESS GARDEN RAILWAY - UPDATE REPORT 29/6/2007

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NESS GARDEN RAILWAY - UPDATE REPORT 29/6/2007
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Loco #7 "Jack Tawes" was completed by the workshops this week, and a replacement spring fitted. The opportunity was taken to fettle the slots in the steam motor retaining plate to assist in fine-tuning the gear meshing. A further steam test was undertaken late last night following sterling work by the staff and this time there was no repeat of the earlier problems and the loco ran for a short period on the rolling road. Several reverses were undertaken and a minor issue with the reversing lever was discovered - the lever fouled the smokebox when in "Neutral", resulting in a jet of steam from behind the lever as it is forced away from the block against the spring. Otherwise all is well and the staff are looking forward to running in sessions on the rails in the near future.

There have been no trains run this week.

The garden has been subject to vast quantities of rain and warm sunshine, so much of the line has vanished beneath a jungle. The hedges have also been having their mid-summer trim, resulting in many leaves falling early!

NESS GARDEN RAILWAY - UPDATE REPORT 22/6/2007

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NESS GARDEN RAILWAY - UPDATE REPORT 22/6/2007
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Loco #7 "Jack Tawes" was completed earlier this week and a stem test was undertaken on Tuesday. Unfortuanately the test proved inconclusive following a short fire in the smokebox which frazzled one of the cylinder retaining springs. Replacements have been ordered and the staff are working on a protective cover for the springs. The fire is caused by the gas flame failing to jump back from the chimney to the flame-tube.

There have been no trains run this week.

NESS GARDEN RAILWAY - UPDATE REPORT 15/6/2007

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NESS GARDEN RAILWAY - UPDATE REPORT 15/6/2007
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"Jack Tawes" Delivered to Talbot Works

Martins Models excelled themselves recently and managed to deliver a Regner "LumberJack" kit to the NGR a full month earlier than expected. This caused the Finance Director a few short term problems, but overall it is great news as the NGR will now have two steam locos available for revenue earning service for the summer season. Construction is already well under way, the chassis and steam motor have been tested with compressed air on the rolling road, and the bolier is expected to be fitted very soon.

The locomotive will be named "Jack Tawes" in line with the Railway's policy of naming locos after the family names of directors and is slated to be running number 4, but this maybe revised as the loco was delivered with plates bearing the number 7.

"Palmer" nearly complete

Ruston number 3 - "Palmer" is almost complete, requiring only some further paint and a permanant rechargeable battery unit.