Society faces heavy bills to repair flagship locomotives
THE Class 40 Preservation Society (CFPS) is facing another hefty repair bill to the segmental bearings on 40135, as well as having to fund expensive tyre replacement work on main lineregistered 40145 over the coming months.
40135, which is based at the East Lancashire Railway, previously suffered problems with its segmental bearings in 2009, causing it to be laid up for 18 months before repairs were carried out at Barrow Hill.
CFPS Chairman John Stephens explained that the half-moonshaped quadrants which hang from each end of the body and slot into a half-moon-shape segmental bearing tray on each of the bogies have worked loose. Consequently, they have been rubbing and wearing down the walls, and rubbing on the base.
Previously, the locomotive had the walls of its segmental bearings built back up. But with the problem having now reoccurred, the CFPS is calling in a specialist contractor to investigate the problem and consider how it can be resolved.
The locomotive was lifted off its bogies at the ELR locomotive works in mid-August. It was found that the damage to the segmental bearing trays is more serious than had been anticipated, and that the CFPS is now considering getting new segmental bearing trays manufactured.
The BR blue split-headcode ‘40’ had been due to move to the Severn Valley Railway (SVR) for an extended hire period earlier this year, but it was agreed between the SVR and the CFPS that its move could be delayed. To honour its commitment to the SVR, the CFPS sent 40106 Atlantic Conveyor to Kidderminister on August 2, and 40106 will remain at the SVR until 40135 can be delivered following repairs at a later date.
Stephens said that the original plan had been for the locomotives to be swapped over in October, but this would now be dependent on whether the necessary repairs can be carried out to 40135 in time.
Meanwhile, the CFPS’ flagship locomotive (40145) has had its bogies independently assessed, due to some of the wheelsets now being close to scrapping size.
While it had been planned to get two wheelsets changed at Barrow Hill, prior to the locomotive working two one-way charters in mid-September in connection with an ELR steam charter, this proved not to be possible. The CFPS has now had the bogies inspected, and they have been passed fit for operation at up to 80mph.
Stephens stated that once the locomotive has worked its two charters in September, 40145 would definitely be retired from the main line until it had received a full set of replacement tyres. It is hoped that the work will be carried out over the winter.
With the costly repairs now due to both 40135 and 40145, the CFPS is urging supporters to consider making a donation or joining the Society as a member. More information on the CFPS can be found at www.cfps.co.uk.