Fitted freight plan moves forward
Nene Valley Railway’s Wagon Group progresses its express goods train plan.
VOLUNTEERS and supporters at the Nene Valley Railway Wagon Group have brought their aim of recreating an express BR ‘fitted’ goods train a major step closer.
With recent weather being unsuitable for progressing woodwork and painting, it was decided the reinstatement of the automatic braking system would be an ideal project over the winter.
Vehicles which have had the vacuum braking restored and refitted will become the nucleus of the Foxwell Freighter, the Nene Valley’s fully fitted express goods train named in memory of Paul Foxwell, one of the group’s founders who died in 2016.
Vacuum braking will assist in making the operation of the goods trains safer and smoother. It will also be more authentic at the NVR as fitted goods trains could operate at higher speeds in BR days and as a result were also hauled by glamorous passenger locos such as Bulleid, Gresley and Stanier Pacifics – as well as ‘Castles’.
In turn, it will aid operation of the wagons at the NVR by both resident and visiting large locos – not forgetting smaller locos which have also proved popular during the group’s freight driver experience courses and photo charters, which raise valuable funds for the group and railway.
The brake work has involved restoring components which have remained untouched for many years, sourcing missing parts and making new fittings. It has taken a considerable effort, with brake rigging and handles having to be removed to gain sufficient access to the cylinders.
A milestone was reached on December 30 when the first two vans, Nos. B771300 and B785122, were tested individually using Rolls-Royce 0-6-0DH No. DL83. As these were the first vehicles the group vacuum fitted there were a few nerves to see if they would actually work. Both vans passed with flying colours and held full vacuum for at least 45minutes before they had to be moved.
Inside the workshop at Wansford, the railway’s engineering department had built up weld on the horn guides of van No. B768248. With the work complete, Wagon Group volunteers refitted the tie bars between the horns on January 13. An overhauled brake cylinder was also prepared ready for fitting, along with associated pipework and accessories ready for fitting at a future working session.
It is hoped to have up to eight wagons fitted by the spring in time for the running season.
The first freight driver experience course is due to run on February 23 using ex-London Transport No. DL83. Courses are also planned using Thomas and No. 34081 92 Squadron.
A highlight for the year ahead will be the visit of ‘A1’ Pacific No. 60163 Tornado to the Nene Valley – and a photo charter organised by the Wagon Group is due to be held on April 2.
The full day event is expected to feature run pasts at key locations on the line. It is also planned to stage cameos at Wansford involving loading/ unloading and the opportunity for shots on shed in the yard. Visit nvr.org.uk for details.
A STEAM loco which has spent more than half a century on static display in Kent is set to be returned to action in Buckinghamshire.
Following the decision by the Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway (SKLR) to find a new home for Peckett W4 0-4-0ST Bear (614/1896), on December 12 the loco was formally handed over to the Quainton Railway Society, which runs the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre. The locomotive is expected to relocate before Easter.
Bear is the oldest surviving Peckett locomotive in England and has been on static display at SKLR’s Kemsley Down station since 1971. Quainton Road is already home to numerous industrial locomotives, including four other Peckett locos. One of these, 0-4-0ST No. 1370 which used to work at the Yates Duxbury & Sons papermill at Heap Bridge near Bury, is currently used to provide rides at the railway centre hauling a couple of Mk1 coaches, a role for which Bear would also be well suited.
It is anticipated that Bear will receive an initial cosmetic restoration, followed by an overhaul to operating condition in due course.
During the process of relocating Bear, it is intended to move SKLR’s standard gauge loco, Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 fireless locomotive
No. 1, works No. 1876, built in 1925, to the prime position at Kemsley Down station currently occupied by Bear.
This will enable the space currently occupied by No. 1 to be prepared to display Unique, a 2ft 6in gauge 2-4-0 fireless W G Bagnall works number 2216 built in 1924, with the aim to cosmetically improve both to create a side-by-side comparison of standard and narrow gauge fireless locomotives. Unique was built for operation in the (then new) Kemsley paper mill opened in 1924, thus reaching 100 years old, having spent its entire life on the Kemsley site.