335 and 345 News update.

Evening everyone ......

Here is an update on progress on 335/345 front.

Last weekend myself, Mark Hornby, Mark Jopson, John Stephens and James Bottomley were working on 345 progressing through a list of 50 items of repairs and testing prior to a visit by our VAB inspector now scheduled for 29th October where he will undertake inspection on 345 so she can re-gain her mainline certification.

Work last weekend comprised off the following:

• Steam cleaning and refitting rocker covers and fuel pump covers after fuel pump and injector overhauls.
• Control cubicle checking over and cleaning.
• Repairs to faulty OTMR pressure sensor.
• Testing of GSMR radio after replacing faulty speaker.
• Testing of NRN equipment.
• Continuation of exam work.
• Investigation into faulty screen washers. 
• Removal of main generator ammeters for Calibration as they were both reading low during load bank tests.
• Load regulator resistors checked and cleaned.
• Various small jobs like securing loose engine room door handles and freeing off radiator shutters. 

This Saturday another work party is scheduled to attend Barrowhill to continue with work on 345.

Items we are looking at this week are:

• Full brake test
• OTMR test and data analysis.
• TPWS test.
• Continuation of repair work including window washer repairs.
• Refitting of floor panels near to main generator.
• Re-labeling cab desk and controls
• Cab signage.  

It does not seem much when you read this but I can assure you its a long and laborious jobs completing these tests but they are part of routine safety tests to ensure safety of the people who travel behind the loco.

I am also pleased to inform you that moves are booked with WCRC to transport D335 and 345 to London Midland depot at Tyseley for tyre turning the moves are booked to take place on Monday 4th November. This will be confirmed nearer the time and timings will be posted. 

Here's the bad news!!!! and we need your help.

Costings:

345 certification for mainline running : £1500.00

Fuel for the moves: £1400.00

Movement costs:£ 2000.00

UAT costs for D335: £650.00

Tyre Turning costs: £5500.00

Speedo re-calibration after Tyre turning: £250

Grand Total: £11,300.00

 

 As you can see by the costings above to keep our machines running costs a great deal of money and effort. Our sales team does a sterling job raising funds to help our cause as do many of our members by donation of money or items we can sell. 

I am appealing to you all to dig deep in your pockets and assist us in anyway with donations big or small to achieve our target to get 335 working again and 345 fighting fit for CFPS charter work. We are so close to achieving it after a three year slog of bad news and set backs.......

Finally a big thanks to John Stephens, Mark Hornby, James Bottomley, Mark Jopson for their assistance last weekend. John and James have both been busy all this week as well, James has continued the exam and repair work on 345 after finishing work with HNRC working well after 9 pm some nights.

 John has been picking up parts and materials we require to get 345 finished off as well as sorting out Whistler mags, sorting the accounts out for the AGM, organizing and collecting sales stand stock for the CFPS sales stand at ELR's steam gala this weekend as well as day to day running of our society.  

Further update next week.

Thanks for your support so far.............!!

Cheers

Lee

345 load bank tests and hectic few weeks to come.

Hello again........

Unfortunately I have been unable to upload the video foot from Thursday's load bank trials with 345 after several attempts the video refuses to play.

We now have a few hectic weeks ahead finishing off maintenance work and iron out a few niggling issues.

Today - James Bottomley has spent the day re-connecting traction cables after load banking and the loco can now be moved under its own power again.

Work still to complete is as follows:

• No.2 end straight air brake valve to replace as blowing through.
• No.1 end NRN aerial base to replace.
• Brake pressure transducer part of the OTMR system requires repair / replacement.
• Maintenance exam to complete around 60% completed.
• Mainline re-registration examination and certification.
• Loco to re-block after tyre turning.
• Speedo Calibration after tyre turning.

Tyre turning plans.................

It is hoped that week commencing 14/10/2013 D9009 which going back home to Barrowhill will haul D335 from the East Lancs Railway to Barrowhill where it will stable for around 14 days whilst repairs and maintenance work is completed. 

D9009 also requires tyre turning so once 345 is fully fit it will haul D9009 and 335 to the wheel lathe facility which will act as loaded test run. 

Once turning is completed and necessary inspections and tests after tyre turning, its then planned for 345 to haul the three loco's back to Barrowhill dropping off D9009 and then 335 and 345 will return home to the ELR. 

Thank you to the Deltic Preservation Society for their help and support.

There is a possibility that we will not be able to have one of our loco's running for the CFPS Annual General Meeting on 9th November. But it would be great if they are both home by then so 345 can run with another loco for heat and show our members how the dosh or goods  they have donated have been put to good use. 

If you wish to get involved with the CFPS as we desperately need more help and support in both the engineering teams and sales teams please get in touch by email using the addresses below.

chairman@cfps.co.uk

engineering@cfps.co.uk 

Finally Thank you James for your efforts today on 345. 

Cheers

Lee

 

345 Update ...... Good News!!!!!

Evening All

Having only just got home this evening from Barrowhill I have good news to report........

Due to some swift planning by the staff at HNRC yesterday tonight we have been able to load bank 345.
I am pleased to report that the low power issue has been resolved due to installation of overhauled pumps and injectors.

The loco is now developing 1800 horsepower to the rail which is slightly up from the workshop overhaul spec of 1765 horsepower.  The loco performed at full power for over 30 minutes and the results were getting better as time went on.

A few minor fuel leaks need to resolved and work can now turn to the completion of the maintenance examination and VAB inspection for mainline certification.

We do need to get the thermostatic bypass valves overhauled but these can be attended to on the Loco's return to the ELR.

I will upload onto the blog tomorrow evening some footage of the loco being put through her paces.

Thanks to the staff at HNRC, Shaun Wright, James Bottomley and John Stephens for their assistance....

Cheers for now

Lee

D335 FXP

Hello again

Just a quick post to inform you that the CFPS had intended to run a further driver experience course with D335 during October but unfortunately the wear on the wheel flanges has reached a stage were we can no longer permit the loco to run till the tyres have been turned.

Further use could jeopardize hauling D335 over Network Rail to a wheel lathe facility and land us with a hefty cost of road transport to the lathe.

More news soon .....

Cheers
Lee

D335 and 345 Update

Hello All

Sorry its been a while since my last post this due to pressures of work and trying to take a bit of break from the hectic workload I have.

I am pleased to report of a few developments with both of our loco's.

D335

I am pleased to report that 335 this evening is hauling the second diesel hauled diner and the train is sold out. Both of the diesel diners that have run at the ELR have been a success and will be repeated again next year with 345 at the helm.

The loco will also be working a couple of services this weekend see the ELR website for details. This will be 335 definite last working until  tyre turning is completed.

There is currently plans a foot to haul 335 for tyre turning in the next few weeks and I will advise you all when these are firmed up.

D335 steam heat generator is currently out of commission awaiting some modifications to satisfy the railways insurance company. The mods will be high on the priority list once tyre turning has been completed.

345

Since my last post the pumps and injectors have returned from Colchester fuel injection and we managed to raise the funds needed to pay them but only just. I would like to thank all who dug into their pockets to assist us with the cost of overhaul of these parts.

Over last couple of weekends and some late night working by James Bottomley the pumps and injectors have now been refitted to the power unit. The low water level switch has been refitted and system has been refilled with coolant.

The next phase is load bank the power unit again and set up load control system to gain the correct horsepower output. We may have to wait a week or two for this to happen due to the workload at Harry Needles workshop. As ever we are very grateful for Harry and his staff for their continued support to the CFPS.

I would also like to thank Mark Jopson ,John Stephens and James Bottomley for their valued help to refit the parts back on the power unit.

Once load banking is completed and we are happy with the loco, we shall seek to regain re-certification for mainline running which should take a couple of weeks to complete.

Her first job will be to haul 335 to the wheel lathe as both locomotives require tyre turning which is our next major expense and is projected to cost around £10K inclusive of movement costs.

Sales Stands and annual raffle.

The CFPS this weekend have two sales stands at two different locations, these being the ELR Diesel Gala and Barrowhill for their Model railway exhibition.

The annual CFPS raffle will also be drawn at the ELR on Sunday 29th 2013.

If your attending any of these events please do come and have a mooch at our stand and say hello. Our sales team needs your support to keep these money hungry beasts in good fettle.

I would also like to thank our sales team for their continued efforts in raising the funds we desperately need. Hats off to you good folk!!!

I will post again next week once we have confirmed load bank trials with HNRC.

Cheers Folks

Lee

345 Update

Evening All.

Here is an update with work ongoing on 345.

Firstly Colchester fuel injection reported that all 16 fuel pumps from 345's engine were worn out and required mainly new pump elements to be installed and 3 new delivery valves.

It was a relief that they found these issues with the pumps which is likely cause of the low horsepower issue we have experienced during recent load bank trials.

We expect the pumps and injectors will be returned to us within next week or so, however the cost of overhauling the pumps and testing the injectors is in the region of £5000 that we need to find. So if you can spare a few quid please donate it to our loco fund as it would help us out greatly and would be very much appreciated.

Our preservation officer James Bottomley found a fractured bedplate drain pipe which was causing leakage of oil and fuel onto the bogies, this pipe has been re-welded and now free of leaks. Thanks James for sorting this out.

GSMR

The GSMR system has now been fully approved by the ORR (Office of Rail Regulator) which means the loco once full re-certification is granted to run on Network Rail the loco is free to operate in GSMR and non GSMR area's.

A new software update has also been installed to the system in last few days.

The next step.....

Once the pumps and injectors arrive back we shall arrange a working party to re-fit them, run loco up and check for any fuel leaks, check each cylinder is firing etc;

We will then book a further load bank trial with HNRC to check the engine output and re-check engine is cooling correctly. We also need to check traction motor overloads and power earth fault circuits are working as per specification to ensure 345's major electrical equipment is protected.

I suspect when the loco is first load banked its likely that it will be producing too much power and will need to be adjusted down to 1780 HP at the rail as per specification in BR workshop overhaul manual.

Once we are happy with the results we will conclude final exam items and then book for the mainline registration exam to be undertaken and any subsequent corrective actions are completed.

More news soon.....

Cheers

Lee

D335 Update.

Hello again.

Sorry for lack of reports for last couple of weeks its been a hectic couple of weeks for me. 

Today I and Seton have carried out some work on D335 ready for the weekend. I began some of the work and Saturday and got it finished off today.

1)    Wheel slip indicator light fault, after some tracing through we found the fault to be No.1 end multiple working jumper cable  wire 21 within the cable of socket end is life expired or dirty soldered contacts are causing tracking across the socket. For now the wire has been disconnected from the cab gate and taped up.

2)    No.1 end bogie proportional valve slow release, fault traced to blocked up ports within relay valve manifold, these have been cleared for now but the manifold needs to be removed and cleaned out as there’s still rust inside which will probably cause issues in the future. This will need to be dealt with before loco moves on national network to the wheel lathe, hopefully in October.

3)    No.1 end bogie straight air brake proportional valve, this valve again gave trouble during 1T57 gala, after stripping again it was found that signal ports where obstructed with rust as per item 2 and will require the same treatment.

4)    No.1 end driver’s door which kept jamming shut has been dealt with today now opens and closes easily thanks to Seton’s efforts.

5)    Loco has been serviced ready for Saturday.

Andy Hardman’s Saturday gang are on with painting No.2 cab at present and doing a sterling job to, already looks cleaner and brighter.

Huge thanks to Seton Spencer for travelling down from Edinburgh to assist me with the work. 

If your not aware D335 is booked to work this weekend in lieu of 345 which was penciled in originally for its return to service. The tyre profiles have been checked again and I have given the green light on the loco's use providing that use is restricted and a re-check of the profiles is made regularly. 

Further to this D335 will be working our second diesel hauled dining training on 27th September 2013 use link details below for further details on this special working. 

CFPS website: www.cfps.co.uk/news/

ELR website: http://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/food-drink/diner2011/book-online/

I will post an update on 345 to follow shortly.

Cheers

Lee