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There is both good and some rather bad news to report with this update. The good news is that the Fund became a registered charity (C.I.O. Foundation Model) as from October 2021, a move intended to safeguard the future of the organisation and its assets. Of immediate benefit is that all future donations and member s contributions now qualify for Gift Aid (adding 25 % to the amount donated provided that the donor pays sufficient tax in the current financial year to cover the amount contributed). Existing members and those previously issued with share certificates are now classified as Support Members of the Fund which is presently administered by eight trustees. The bad news is that 813 suffered a serious mechanical failure whilst working a Bridgnorth to Hampton Loade local train during the recent SVR Spring Steam Gala and has now been sidelined for at least two to three months whilst repairs are assessed and carried out. The incident involved the fracture of the cast iron support to the large transverse spring located between the frames beneath the cab thereby causing the spring to rise up and protrude into the cab floor. Fortunately, the footplate crew suffered no injuries but the damage to the locomotive is considerable. The cab roof and bunker have now been lifted from the frames and the spring and pieces of the offending casting removed to await a decision as to the best way forward to rectify the damage. The choice would appear to be between making a new casting (in steel rather than cast iron) or to fabricate a replacement fitting. The latter would avoid the need to make a pattern for a casting but may be difficult to produce. The cause of the fracture has yet to be assessed but a contributory factor could well be the age of the casting which was probably as old as the locomotive itself. The final cost of the repair has yet to be determined but is likely to be substantial. Of equal concern is the loss of hire income. 813 was booked to visit the South Devon Railway for their recent 150th Anniversary Gala after which it was due to travel to the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway for the rest of the year. The potential loss of income could be in the region of 12,000 to 15,000 which would, of course, have made a significant contribution to the capital necessary to cover the next ten year boiler overhaul in four to five years time. This current problem follows hard on the heels of an earlier setback in September last year when 813 had to be withdrawn from service during the SVR Autumn Steam Gala with a number of leaking boiler tubes. Following advice from the Bridgnorth boilersmith, it was decided to order a complete re-tube of the boiler which was undertaken by the SVR in November at a cost to the 813 Fund of 9,930. This was, of course, a quite unexpected setback as it was only five years since the boiler had been re-tubed during its last major overhaul. Notwithstanding the problems of the past few months, 813 has proved to be a popular locomotive with its availability for hire being sought by a variety of heritage railways on a regular basis. Following completion of the last major overhaul in the Autumn of 2016, the loco has visited Didcot Railway Centre, East Lancs. Railway, Kent & East Sussex Railway, Bluebell Railway, Epping & Ongar Railway, the Battlefield Line, Elsecar Railway, Spa Valley Railway, Beamish Museum, East Anglian Railway Museum, Tanfield Railway, Mid Norfolk Railway and Telford Steam Railway as well as operating spells on the SVR (including working timetabled trains in the off peak season when train formations were reduced to four coaches). The downside is that the number of days in steam attracting hire revenue has been well down on the target number set in order to accumulate sufficient funds to cover the next ten year boiler overhaul in four to five years time. Especially bad was the effect of the Covid pandemic during which the number of days in steam in 2020 was just 8 out of the annual target for that year of 65. Since the onset of the Covid pandemic there has been limited finance available for the Fund s rolling stock projects. One additional vehicle has been acquired GWR Toad Goods Brake Van no. 114751 based on the West Somerset Railway, the purchase price of which is being covered by specific donations from individual donors. Work has, however, commenced on two long outstanding projects the rebuilding of the unique Coral A plate glass wagon 41723 that has been lying derelict for many years at Didcot, and the re-construction at Kidderminster of a GWR B Type Container intended for eventual display on the Fund s Conflat wagon 39860 on the SVR. For the Coral , two new 12mm thick plate frames have recently been manufactured in Wolverhampton and will shortly be delivered to Didcot for reconstruction work to start. The latter will include the provision of new headstocks, drawbar springs, internal partitions and platework and will be undertaken by a small team of GWS members. One other recent development relates to the former Road MilkTank Trailer flat wagon 2501 which has been moved from storage at Honeybourne to Arley, SVR where it will act as a match wagon for hand crane 446. This move was effectively financed by the sale of the former match wagon, an ex B.R. Conflat that has moved to the Nene Valley Railway. Other restoration projects are in the pipeline hopefully to be financed by specific donations or grants. |
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The last two years have been very much a negative period for the fortunes of locomotive 813. Following the damage to the drag box casting during the Spring 2022 SVR Spring Steam Gala, it was not until late in that year that the best way forward had been agreed and work on the production of a new drag box casting commenced. The new casting (in SG grade iron) was eventually completed by the contractor and delivered to the SVR in May 2023 but had to be returned when it was found that a number of the locating holes had been drilled in the wrong positions. After successive journeys to and from the contractor, first to weld up the incorrectly drilled holes and then to re-drill the holes in the correct locations after these had been identified by the SVR, the finished casting was finally returned to Bridgnorth in January of this year. The time consuming task of fitting the new drag box and re-assembly of the locomotive was eventually completed just before Easter. The aim was to return the loco to traffic during the forthcoming SVR Spring Steam Gala on 18th to 21st April and a steam test was scheduled for week commencing 1st April. Unfortunately, prior examination of the saddle tank revealed a series of leaks along the lower part of the tank that immediately spelled an end to the prospect of the locomotive participating in the Gala and ,indeed, on any other occasions during most, if not all, of the remainder of the year. The fact that the bottom of the tank had been wearing thin has been known for some time – indeed when 813 was purchased back in 1967 there was evidence that some parts of the tank had been patched up by the N.C.B. However, by one means or another, efforts to keep the tank watertight have succeeded until now when, unfortunately, the deterioration in the last few months has reached the point of no return. With a little over two years left on the boiler 'ticket', time considerations are relevant. A new tank will be required or, alternatively, only the lower part of the existing tank replaced. Duncan Ballard, Head of SVR Engineering, Bridgnorth has suggested an approach to the Ffestiniog Railway to look into the feasibility of that Railway undertaking renewal of the entire lower section of the tank, a process already successfully undertaken on one of their own saddle tank locos. This would mean removing and transporting the tank to Boston Lodge works, Porthmadog but, by so doing it is thought that the job could be undertaken and the tank returned to Bridgnorth before the end of the year. It is likely that the fabrication of a completely new tank would take longer and could well be more expensive. A further consideration is, that retaining the upper section of the tank, the historical structural integrity of the locomotive would not be compromised to the extent that would be the case if a completely new tank was provided. At this stage, however, no decision has been taken as to whether the tank should be completely or partially renewed. Amid all this gloom there is, by way of an unexpected bonus, the strong possibility that the opportunity might be taken to examine 813's boiler after the tank has been removed with the objective of securing a fresh ten year insurance 'ticket' in advance of the expiry of the current one in 2026. The boiler was re-tubed as recently as 2021 and the loco has had relatively little use since then in view of the Covid restrictions and, more recently, the drag box replacement. The tubes should, therefore, be in relatively good condition and a limited examination of the boiler by the insurance inspector together with a hydraulic test may be all that is required to permit the provision of a new ten year 'ticket' . This could, of course, be undertaken whilst the tank is away, thereby saving a considerable amount of time that would otherwise be incurred if the boiler insurance work was to be undertaken at some point in the future. From a financial point of view, the prolonged period of operational inactivity has had a considerable detrimental affect on the 813 Fund's income and monetary reserves. The final account for the replacement of the drag box amounted to £17,056 net of VAT and the estimated loss of hire income projected forward to the end of the current year estimated as in excess of £40,000. It is hoped in due course to launch an appeal for donations to help cover the costs of repairing or replacing the saddle tank (possibly by crowd funding) once that cost has been estimated but, in the meantime, anyone wishing to help kick start an appeal may feel able to make a contribution at this stage. This can be done by internet bank transfer (813 Fund a/c 00381447, sort code 30-16-11) or by forwarding a cheque made payable to 'GWR 813 Fund' to 23 Hatchmere, Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, BS35 2EU. Gift Aid provisions apply where appropriate. It may prove convenient to notify any donation by completing and e-mailing (to goss813@hotmail.com) a donation form downloaded from the 'How to Help' section on this web site.. Here's hoping for better news later in the year. PG. |
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Since the last update in March 2024, work to return 813 to operating condition has progressed at a much slower rate than envisaged at that time although, at last, there now appears to be light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. Following condemnation of the tank in early 2024, discussions took place between the Severn Valley Railway Engineering Dept. and the Ffestiniog Railway to ascertain whether the latter would be able to repair the tank, hopefully by replacing just the lower portion. The Ffestiniog Railway had been approached for this work on account of its proven record in repairing and fabricating saddle tanks such as those on its own locomotives 'Prince' and 'Welsh Pony'. Unfortunately, it was concluded that the condition of the tank was too far gone to warrant partial replacement and that provision of a new tank was the only viable option. The tank was duly removed from the locomotive and dispatched to Boston Lodge Works, Porthmadog in July 2024 where it remained for several weeks pending preparation of detailed drawings for its replacement and space in the appropriate workshop. It was not until early in the current year that work on fabricating the new tank was commenced but, in the meantime, we were notified that the charge would be £35,332.50 plus VAT and the cost of transport to Bridgnorth. This came as a mild shock as, whilst we had been unable to estimate the likely cost ourselves, it was not envisaged that it would be as high as that, no doubt due to the relative complexity of the structure of the tank. In the event, we were faced with little choice other than to accept that price as continued lack of progress would only serve to increase the loss of hire income. The new tank is being fabricated in mild steel and will be of all-welded construction rather than riveted as per the original. As the rivets were countersunk on the outside, they were therefore invisible so there will be no deviation from the overall appearance of the locomotive's tank. All usable fittings such as the chimney, hand rails, filler and steps will be re-fitted. It is hoped that the new tank will be completed and sent to the S.V.R. by mid to late Summer. In the meantime, at Bridgnorth, the in-frame boiler has been examined by the boiler inspector who has had a small number of tubes extracted for inspection. As the tubes were newly installed only a few months before the loco was withdrawn from service, they are in good condition and a full re-tube will not be required. Subject to a small amount of work on the rest of the boiler and a hydraulic test, the loco should be provided with a fresh ten year boiler certificate to coincide with the fitting of the new tank. The goal will be an appearance in steam at the SVR Autumn Steam Gala. The high cost of the new tank will, of course, place a considerable strain on the Fund's financial resources, much of which was earmarked for future maintenance and overhauls and rolling stock projects. We have, therefore, launched a crowd funding appeal to help raise funds to assist with the cost of the new tank. Anyone wishing to contribute will find details of the link to the appeal at the bottom of the attached form. Those who might prefer to donate direct to the Fund's account are invited to complete the form itself. Thanks are due to those members who have already contributed to this appeal. NOTE: It may not be generally known that, in addition to the web site, the 813 Fund has a Facebook page, maintained by Nick Baxter, one of the trustees. News and photographs are regularly posted therein. |
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