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Post by Nigel Bennett on Aug 9, 2007 11:52:17 GMT
Anybody out there have any experience of running club steam locos? How do you manage it properly so that it's a) used properly and b) kept in a good state of repair? Who is responsible for it? Any potential disasters to avoid?
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Post by lordsimon on Aug 9, 2007 12:42:29 GMT
well if i had to make a choice on how to sort out those problems i would have to say
1) you need a competent model engineer that would be willing to take control of the engine. a) to fix minor problems b) to run and train others
2) there would have to have some conditions as i feel in this situation of having someone in control the rest of the members can get pushed out as i have found in some clubs. a) On your day you play the loco should be out and avalible for others to use but must be trained on the engine before let lose on there own. b) the person should give everyone ago who would like to have ago c) train them to be able to run the engine in some difficult situations
all cost should be meet within the club but the person in charge makes the overall
Simon
p.s i would also have a secound as a support for when the person is away the engine still can play
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SteveW
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,397
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Post by SteveW on Aug 9, 2007 21:00:43 GMT
Nigel,
A while back I got talked into being the club "Locomotive Superintendent" providing I had a partner. We shared the duty for a while until he moved on to a higher place. Then there was one.
1. Generally there isn't a huge queue to use the beast. 2. It's really only used on member's days and for public running. 3. It nearly always comes back in a rough state. 4. I do get to get in free to the Midland and Thornbury (new week!) MEX simply by taking it along. 5. As nothing is safe nowadays at club venues I normally get to climb over/around it in the workshop. However, with a below-spec wife and a very big new motor bike the club chairman has been pulling his weight on the "looking after it" task. 6. It's a Sweat Pea so a two man lift, i.e. its kin heavy. This limits usage somewhat. 7. As Loco-super I got the flak for it looking a bit used. Tarting it up during a boiler re-tubing took me for ever. The costs were covered from club funds but the loving care went largely un-commented. This involved a total strip to bare metal on everything, re-surfacing with grit blasting (professional for the frames, DIY for everything else). Followed by the usual stages back to nice a glossy blue.
Anyway, I'm hoping to be bathing in the credit at next week's Thornbury MEX. Look up for the Cheltenham stand.
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Post by the_viffer on Aug 11, 2007 21:18:40 GMT
Dear me
A Sweet Pea is a one wimp lift...
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SteveW
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,397
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Post by SteveW on Aug 11, 2007 21:35:16 GMT
Viffer,
You must be built like the proverbial brick built shit house! I can just about lift it off the ground if I stand over it but normally the combined CofG means I fall over.
Generally, on lifting it, the other guy looks as strained as I do.
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Post by houstonceng on Aug 11, 2007 22:00:25 GMT
I'm in process of refurbing a club loco which, like Steve's effort - has had to be stripped to bare metal. The list of worn parts is too long to delineate here - suffice it to say it would be quicker to have built a new chassis from scratch. The pile of scrapped parts nearly exceeds the saved ones.
I gather the loco was originally bought as a 4-6-0 and converted to a 4-4-2 (because the new owner preferred "wide-box" LNER Atlantics) by using the rear third of the frames + a lot of "angle iron" to convert from a narrow fire-box frame to a wide fire-box ditto - sort of "Green Arrow ish". Consequently, there are more redundant holes than used ones.
Trouble is that the late member who "re-built it" originally appears to have had very little skill - but a lot of enthusiasm and a few hand tools. I can guarantee that no two parts are identical and 2BAs are used where one would use 4BA, whilst 5BA are used where something a little larger is called for.
Worse, there were near every size of BA & BSF used + the odd 1/16" whitworth. Then there are the bits brazed together or riveted with 4off 1/8" with a couple of 2BAs added for "extra strength".
The boiler sprung a "welsh veg" and is being replaced by another club member. "Idiot Andy" said, "I'll take the chassis home and replace a few worn bushes". 'cept I can't bear to just "tosh it up". Hence the redesign of the rear horns/springing and the use of proper studs, etc.
Like Grandad's Hoe it will nearly be a complete replacement, but the late owner was much respected and I've been told to save as much as possible.
How/Why did I bring this upon myself ? Simple ! I was the club member who regularly drove it on public running days - so I thought I ought to give it some TLC. Had I known the state before undertaking the work, I think I would have claimed insanity, lack of tools, emigration to Bora-bora, etc, etc, etc.
You have been warned ! Drive the Club Loco at your peril !
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mott
Hi-poster
Posts: 151
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Post by mott on Aug 12, 2007 18:41:00 GMT
Nigel. Just take the grate and ashpan home with you and that way you always have control. Mott
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Post by Nigel Bennett on Aug 13, 2007 20:30:18 GMT
Thanks to everybody for the advice - I'm most grateful.
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Post by the_viffer on Aug 14, 2007 14:43:50 GMT
Viffer, You must be built like the proverbial brick built shit house! I can just about lift it off the ground if I stand over it but normally the combined CofG means I fall over. Generally, on lifting it, the other guy looks as strained as I do. 6 foot 15-16 stone. Desk job. 25-30 years ago I was pretty fit. I just pick my Sweet Pea up and move it. Same for the Maid of Kent. Black 5 I don't like to carry too far. GWR2-8-2T gets the hydraulic table or 2 man lift. Maybe my backside sticks out enough to counterbalance or maybe I can tuck the loco under my stomach. Mind you I put my back out a couple of years ago picking up the 4 jaw for my Myford.
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SteveW
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,397
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Post by SteveW on Aug 14, 2007 20:25:48 GMT
Viffer,
Like I said ...
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Post by the_viffer on Aug 15, 2007 16:09:36 GMT
You've not met my wife then? Cue Poor Taste Joke. Look away now if you are easily offended, of a nervous disposition or eating. Scene a gentlemen's club. Two old codgers complaining about the youth of today. Old Codger 1. Morals of the young of today are outrageous what? I didn't have sex with my wife before we were married. Did you? Old Codger 2. What was her maiden name again?
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Myford Matt
Statesman
There are two ways to run a railway, the Great Western way, and the wrong way.
Posts: 621
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Post by Myford Matt on Aug 15, 2007 17:22:14 GMT
My dog's got no... sorry
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Post by the_viffer on Aug 15, 2007 18:07:11 GMT
My dog's got no... ... terrible.
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Myford Matt
Statesman
There are two ways to run a railway, the Great Western way, and the wrong way.
Posts: 621
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Post by Myford Matt on Aug 15, 2007 19:02:22 GMT
Jamaica?
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Post by the_viffer on Aug 15, 2007 19:50:47 GMT
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Myford Matt
Statesman
There are two ways to run a railway, the Great Western way, and the wrong way.
Posts: 621
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Post by Myford Matt on Aug 15, 2007 21:11:42 GMT
I surrender
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SteveW
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,397
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Post by SteveW on Aug 15, 2007 21:17:35 GMT
Guys,
Back on topic...
I have a case in point. With the club loco's presence already booked for the Thornbury MEX I remind the current custodian that a clean would be a good idea, as he'd been enjoying getting it all grubby for a while now. "OK" says he and the pickup is arranged for tonight.
To cut a long story short, it's in a shit condition. I was expecting to simply deliver the thing ready for show.
I am more than pissed off. I think they're going to looking for a "Loco Super".
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Post by duchessmike on Aug 15, 2007 21:59:56 GMT
did you (ja) make her Arghhhhhhhhh
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Post by the_viffer on Aug 16, 2007 9:00:23 GMT
Veering on topic for a moment SteveW I think you have 3 choices.
You can put up with locos coming back in poor cosmetic condition. it is a slippy slope. They'll get worse and worse and there'll start to be mechanical problems due to lack of respect for the loco and Super. Then people will have a go at you for the state of the locos etc etc.
You can resign as Super. This moves the problem on to someone else. Reminds me btw of my uncle's story of the Inspector's exam in the Greater Manchester Bill. You are faced with a train coming off the viaduct, a terrorist attack, and a single mother of 12 children about to step into the path of a car carrying royalty. What do you do? The correct answer is remove your uniform jacket and mingle.
Thirdly you get the committee to give you the power to ban anyone who returns a poor condition loco from using it for a specifed time. AND you and the committee have to have the cojones to enforce the rule. You made need to find yourself an Admiral Byng to execute but once the word gets around that it is not tolerated it won't happen. If word gets around you'll put up with it you'll have to.
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Post by Shawki Shlemon on Aug 16, 2007 10:17:23 GMT
When I became a boiler inspector many years ago , my running days were interrupted by boiler inspections . I decided boilers will be inspected or tested only on working day and I enforced my decision . Never regretted my decision .I can play trains on running days without interruption .
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