Class 15 restoration project passes point of no return
THE Class 15 Preservation Society’s project to restore the sole-surviving member of the class to working order has come so far the loco must now be completed and returned to service.
This has been a major task as
No. D8233 was one of four locos of the type converted for static carriage heating.
It was renumbered as Departmental No. ADB968001 and had many items removed not required for these duties, including the traction motors.
A total of 44 of these Type 1 Bo-BoDEs, powered by an
800hp Paxman 16YHXL engine, were supplied to BR by British Thomson-Houston.
Construction of the first
10 Pilot Scheme locos was sub-contracted to the Yorkshire Engine Co, with the 34 production locos completed by the Clayton Equipment Co.
Restoration is being undertaken at Bury on the East Lancashire Railway. The loco was lifted in February 2019 and a temporary bogie swap was completed.
The original bogies have since been stripped down to the frames and shot-blasted back to bare metal. The axles were removed and many layers of paint applied and brake linkages overhauled.
Replacement traction motors sourced from the Irish Traction Group are being sent off for overhaul.
New pinions with 15 rather than 16 teeth will be reverseengineered for them as drawings are not available because of copyright/ownership restrictions.
Original drawings
Having lost its traction motors it also lacks the linkages that hold them in place. These are to be manufactured from the original drawings, and an engineering firm is being sought to help with this work.
The axle journals will be polished where the traction motor sits on the axle. The axle box roller bearings need to be inspected, cleaned or replaced if necessary.
Following this the bogies can be reassembled, with the axles, traction motors, linkages and brake rigging installed.
When the loco has been reunited with its bogies, attention will then return to the abovesolebar sections, replacing air tanks, some of which were removed when the loco was converted to an ETH generator.
Wiring the loco will then take place and the cab will be fitted out.
The society was established in 2005, and is a charity run by volunteers who also help out on the East Lancs Railway, mainly in the operations department.
Funds are required to complete the bogie work and a member has agreed to match-fund any donations given by June 30.
For every £1 received this will be equalled, up to £15,000. Donations can be made by bank transfer to account No. 4234109 sort code 09-06-66; via PayPal to treasurer@d8233.org.uk (Friends & Family option), or by cheque to The Treasurer, 14 Adur Avenue, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 5NN.
To sign for gift aid visit website d8233.org.uk/giftaid2019.pdf.
The society website is at: www.d8233.org.uk