Owsden Hall Update

This gives an update of the work and news on the restoration being carried out on Owsden Hall.
 
Over the years since the locomotive was recovered from Barry Island scrapyard a large amount of time, effort and money has been invested in the restoration project. The locomotive frames have been overhauled this includes remetaling and machining of axle boxes, turning of tyres, machining of valve chest and cylinder bores, manufacture of new pistons, valves, replacing large areas of metal overhaul of brake cylinder and rigging and making drag box.
 
A large amount of time has been used in chasing down and obtaining component parts for the loco some are originals obtained from scrapped locos, others are new parts for blank casting from other restoration projects which may require machining before being usable. Due to the Swindon standardisation policy some have an interesting history.  We have the majority of the required parts in one form or another. One item we are working on is a pair of front half eccentric straps, the originals are cast steel but we are having a pair cut from solid steel then machined to the required profile. A Collett design 4000 gallon tender is nearly in running condition. This has had major work undertaken to get to this condition. Large sections of the frame have been replaced, a new tank manufactured, brake gear overhauled and new pipework so it is available for hire if it is needed for another Western engine while we finish ours.
 
Over the past months work has been focussed on the boiler. The smokebox and smokebox tubeplate have been removed, both of these items will be replaced with new items as both are badly corroded beyond repair.  The new smokebox has been rolled and is awaiting the drilling of the 300 odd holes of various sizes for bolts rivets and pipes. Enquiries were made for a smokebox tube plate pressing but these came in at around £9000 so we are going to fabricate a replacement, we have purchased the certified steel blanks for this and are preparing a method statement for its construction. The inside of the boiler barrel has been needle gunned to expose a clean unmarked surface. Boiler inspections have been made by Mr John Glaze and an insurance company, these confirm the boiler is in good condition highlighting areas that need attention.  Copper and steel stay removal and replacement is underway requiring about 1000 to be changed.
 
Some welding to build up wasted steel and copper areas are needed. The steel welding is mainly where insulation held water against the boiler during its stay at Barry scrapyard.  This has caused localised pits up to 5mm deep on the boiler barrel, normally large areas are affected but we are lucky. The lower corners of the back head also require some attention.  The copper welding is needed where it is thought the fireman's shovel hit the inside of the firebox coaling the back corners of the firebox. No grooving has shown up during visual and ultrasonic inspections so no platework repairs are needed.
 
Our chimney and copper cap have been finished by one of the last working Swindon coppersmiths both being original but not from the loco.
 
We are even getting sections of cladding made up ready to dress the boiler by Alan Jones who is working at the railway at the present time.

Part of a restoration project is to uncover information on the history of the locomotive during its working life. This may be from historical records such as running records from the locomotive depots the loco was allocated to, photographs taken by train spotters or simple shots of the train that took us on our holiday, to the recollections of the locomotive crews. If you are able to shed any information on any of these items please contact us through the railway or by writing to:

Mr Trevor Westbury
c/o 29 Woodfield Road
Bicester
Oxon
OX26 3HW

Click here for the history of Owsden Hall and click here for the Owsden Hall picture galleries.