Loco Workshop Working Group
Overhaul of SECR P-class No.323 "Bluebell"

Working parties are currently being held every Sunday, in the push to get No.323 completed for August. Any Bluebell Railway members interested in lending a hand can e-mail for more information or to let us know that you will be coming along. We meet at 9am - 9.30am outside the loco works. You are welcome to attend whatever hours you can, as any help will be appreciated. Keep an eye on this web page, or e-mail for details of future working dates. See you there. Rob Faulkner, David Pratt and Duncan Bourne

Current project: Previous Loco Workshop Working Group Overhauls:

Progress reports:

Over the last month, the loco workshop team have been down working on 323 most weekends. The loco has now been rewheeled, but using the spings from No.27 in the absence of the new springs which have not yet arrived.

The photos by Rob Faulkner show progress as at 27 June. The boiler is being worked on by the paid staff and the front tubeplate has now been attached and is also been prepared, with the first few tubes already being inserted.

Whilst, visually, not much seems to have happened, behind the scenes much has. Much of the motion has been cleaned up ready to be added once the loco is back on its wheels, whilst other vital components continue to be worked on.

On Sunday 27 June, with temperatures of 30 degrees, the team were involved in working on filling one of the side tanks and sanding it down to as near a smooth finish as possible. Due to the heat, we managed to add two coats of filler paint, allow it to dry, sand it back and paint it, all in the course of one day and also allowing for breaks for ice cream to help cool us down!

With August looming even closer now, it's all hands to the deck. If any Bluebell members wish to assist in completing the restoration of 323 in time for the 50th Celebrations, then please contact us by e-mail for further details.

More photos of recent progress are available in Rob's and Derek Hayward's Photo Galleries.

These photo from Derek Hayward shows the new cylinder block in the frames, as seen at the open day on 23rd May, and the wheels being lined by Lewis Nodes on 8th May.

More photos of recent progress are available in Derek's Photo Gallery.

Despite the lack of reports, work has been progressing on 323 over the last month. Much work has been done rubbing down paint on the frames and bunker, and building up new coats of undercoat and topcoat. The frames are now starting to take bright red topcoat inside, and maroon outside. The first blue topcoats have started to go on the bunker, as seen in Derek Hayward's photo on the right.

Unfortunately, while cleaning up the top of the cylinder block, several thin areas were found, which developed into four fairly large holes. The block had already been patched three times in the past, so it is not practical to continue making more patches when the whole casting is obviously life expired.

When 178 came to railway 40 years ago, it came with a large number of spares, including an unmachined cylinder block casting from BR. This has been in storage since then, and has now been retrieved and machining has already begun.

We should be back to our regular meetings from April, and we could really do with some extra help. 323 Bluebell needs to be finished in time for the August celebrations, and the extra cylinder work means this will be extra tough to achieve. Why not come down and help out along with the other new volunteers who have recently started? It's a really exciting time to work in the Loco Workshop!

Photos from Derek Hayward.

The Loco Working Group were down Sheffield Park again this weekend. With 178 in steam and hauling the 1963 timetable service, the team have wasted no time in setting about their next project - 323 'Bluebell', with the loco needing to be ready for August.

323 has now entered the works as shown in Derek Haywards photo on the right. The loco has taken up the space in the works previously occupied by 178. The first job of the day for the group was to assist with the lifting of the boiler from the frames slightly, so that the front tubeplate could be lined up.

The other task for the day was also rubbing down the paintwork, so that painting can begin. The team have become used to this over the past few months, with 178's restoration, so no instruction was required! Most of the green paintwork has now been rubbed back to reveal 323's blue paintwork as shown in Rob's photo below.

Duncan made a start on cleaning up the handrails on the side of the loco. This was a long job, inovling him bead blasting the old paint off to reveal a clean metal surface. By the end of the day he had cleaned up the hand rails on one side, already improving the appearance of the loco. You can see the base of one of the cleaned-up hand rails in the photo above, compared to the one (just visible) in Derek's photo above right.

By the time the team next visit, it is hoped the boiler will be out of the frames, enabling the team to get on with the task of rubbing down the paint work on the inside of the frames and cleaning up the motion.

Now is a perfect time to come and help out, and ensure that 323 is available to join in the Bluebell Railway's 50th Celebrations in August 2010!

Photos from Rob Faulkner and Derek Hayward.

Derek Hayward's photo shows the wheels had returned by 23rd October from re-profiling on the South Devon Railway's wheel lathe, with a saving on transport by sharing the lorry with that transporting 73082's wheelsets. The wheels are now being cleaned and painted by volunteer members of the loco department.

The new smokebox tubeplate has been drilled ready for riveting to the boiler. The tubeplate for 178 was a very convenient pattern!

Earlier work on the overhaul of this loco was suspended some years ago whilst other higher-priority locomotives were dealt with. Then in September 2009 the loco entered the works and was lifted from its wheels, signifying the re-starting of its overhaul, with the intention that it be completed in time for our 50th anniversary celebrations in August 2010.

Andrew Strongitharm's photo shows 323 "Bluebell", being shunted into the Loco Works on 3rd September 2009. Derek Hayward's photo taken 6 days later, shows that the loco had been lifted off its wheels onto a machinery wagon.