SDLR updates, quite a lot happens (believe it or not) at the SDLR, so here's where I'll put up the latest news.

Plans for our new shed are in full swing. An external drawing has been produced by an architect and the neccessary documents from our local council received.

Barry Metcalfe's 2-4-2T version of Giles Favell's 2-6-0 'The Priest' is progressing very well and is now a rolling chassis. Pics of which can be found here, albeit at an earlier stage: 2-4-2T Loco kit

Giles has started on Valve Spindle Glands for 'The Priest': The Priest page 3

Barry Metcalfe's 'Royal Scot' is back with us, but is due a boiler inspection before it can run.

The Duchess is away, last I heard it had been to 'Steam, Steel and Stars' at the Llangollen Railway. Where it is now is beyond me...

Brian Bird's Exmoor loco is progressing well, as can be seen on the SDLRS website. The number is now knwon as well. She will appear in GER blue with red and white lining, along with brass name and numberplates and a copper capped chimney. She will also be fitted with air braking.

LMS Mogul 13245 is out of service. Not sure why.

The new brake van is coming alon, the control panel and handbrake are now in palce and fitted out. Pics on the SDLRS website.

The station canopy is now complete, having had SDLRS logos fitted on the gable ends. The waiting room and ticket office is also being constructed, with the sides and trusses nearing completion, it should be finished by the gala.

The signal box is undergoing a repaint to match the station as well, it should be complete by now.

The grey bridge by the road will be replaced/fixed in the winter, as a board holding the track has fallen out. So the bridge is a cause for concern at the moment.

The water column in the station has had a new section of tubing on the end. It is better than the old version as it is made from woven plastic and does not leak.

A temporary platform was erected by the bottom of the extension to serve an auction that the swimming pool centre was holding last bank holiday weekend. As to whether it will remain is a mystery.

Aidan Favell's Hymek is on blocks as a bogie has been taken away to be worked on, so currently we are down to one serviceable diesel engine.

The Mardyke is planned to visit the Eastleigh Lakeside Railway's Autumn Visiting engines weekend this year.

For this years gala, the new Exmoor loco will be officially launched into service, and it is thought that the Chcihester club's 4-4-0 'Winnie' will vivist. She has visited before, but didn't go out onto the main circuit.

That's all folks!

The Signalbox's repaint has finished, and the little signal box by the crossover has also received a repaint.

Sir Sagramore, Royal Scot and the Mogul were steamed today for their boiler tests. Nice to see Sir Sagramore in steam (sadly I wasn't there) as I'm a fan of Southern engines. See the SDLRS website for some pics.

The Hymek is still missing its front bogie, I don't think there is a timescale for the work to be finished.

The Duchess is still away, according to our loco sheet "At the Mid Hants Railway"

The work on the Mogul is finished.

The Royal Scot (if it passed its boiler test) should be hauling summer services this year, a welcome return for such a handsome engine.

Hopefully our scale locos will see more use in the summer, seeing as most are now back in working order.

The new station building is taking shape. It is being constructed as a 'kit of parts' on site and looks very impressive! The canopy has been very well received, and sports SDLR logos on the gable ends.

The No. 1 Shed Road is being extended to the very back of the shed, which will provide room for one more scale engine.

Barry Metcalfe's 2-4-2T variant of Giles's 'The Priest' is growing at a rapid pace. Apparently the cab is due on soon.

Giles has started on valve parts for 'The Priest'. See his website for more details

The 'sack' on the water tower at Stopham Road Station has been replaced with a new, quality one. Albeit a little difficult to use when filling up 'Pulborough'.

The new Exmoor engine is still coming together quickly, and is likely to be with us by the end of June or July.

The new brake van is very near to completion. See the pics using the link to the SDLR website above.

In order to finish the ticket office and waiting room in good time, one of our successful 'Work Weekends' is being held between 22-25 June inclusive. This is where an email/letter is sent to all of our members asking if they can spare a day or two (or four!) helping out on a particular project. We held two or three for the extension, and I think another for the station canopy. Without our members, we might not have been able to complete these projects B)

There is a picture of the Royal Scot on the SDLRS website in steam.

Gladstone might be out next month on the goods train.

The July roster has been published, although it is not up on the website, but should be soon.

There are some pics of Brian Bird's new Exmoor loco on the website now that were taken today at Bratton Fleming. The boiler is in and it all looks set for delivery by the end of August :rolleyes:

SDLRS Home

Apparantly the Stirlands have 9 machines in build - quite a production line. I'm told that the railway is perfect & the gardens look a treat - if only they would reopen!

Maybe I'll have to blag a visit as potential future customer.. :rolleyes:

A few of our members went to see Pulborough being built, and they were treated to Denzil being steamed and had a few trips around the line. I think it would be great if they reopened the line, then you could visit the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway and the ESR in one hit :D I believe the reason they closed was so they could concentrate on loco building, is this correct?

Yes, i believe they were finding it increasing hard to keep on track with all the builds and run the railway as well.

Alex

That's the official reason. They first closed in order to get Exbury up to scratch (basically had to relay the whole line), and then found that building locos was much more profitable and stress free than running a tourist attraction.

The Ticket Office and Waiting Room is half way through construction. The sides and roof are on, just needs a floor and fitting out!

The extension to road 1 in the engine shed has been completed, providing room for another engine.

The owner of Arctic Prince has ordered a diesel engine from Roanoke, not sure as to what type...

David Henshaw from the Miniature Railway magazine visited today as I believe he is visiting a few lines in the South...

The new Exmoor loco is likely to be delivered now either late July or early August.

Sounds like things are coming along well Simon! A Roanoke will suit the railway well!

Thanks
Peter

I think one more diesel engine won't hurt. Just a matter of finding space for it first!! As long as it isn't a steam outline thing like the one at Poole Park I won't mind it being at Pulborough :P

Very true! :)

That is hideous!!!

Craig

The Teddy Bears Picnic event over the 21st/22nd July is our next event this year. It's basically our gala but not so many engines in service ;) So far the historic HCS Bullock 'Gladstone' is rostered for the goods train, and a visiting engine should be present. I am unsure as to what it might be though!

Sir Sagramore is still out of action awaiting a boiler test.

The Royal Scot hasn't been declared useable for service yet.

The Hymek last time I looked had both bogies back on. Not sure as to status.

Mardyke 'Arctic Prince' is due to visit the Eastleigh Lakesdie Railway for their Autumn Visiting Engines weekend (6th & 7th October).

Brian Bird's Exmoor loco is still growing in size. Still on time for arrival.

Talks are being held for the Chichester and District Society of Model Engineers (CDSME) historic 1908 built 4-4-0 'Winnie' to visit the railway for our gala (15/16 September). This engine has visited the line before, but unfortunately is a bit underpowered for hauling passengers. Just like Gladstone then, but the possibilty of a double header with the two is still questionable :rolleyes:

I could find a space for that class 47!!!!! ;)

Craig

I bet anyone could, it would be in active service if it weren't for the sharp curves :rolleyes:

As seen on the UKMiniature Railways Yahoo! Group, the Roanoke is a 7 1/4 Petrol Hydraulic. To be regauged of course. I'm more concerned by the fact that it is a 7 1/4 one, and that it might not be up to the standards in terms of haulage of the other engines at Pulborough. Believe me space is limited at Pulborough, in the running shed there is at the moment only room for either Peggy or the Roanoke. The carriage shed is also full, so this new shed we are planning had better be built quick :(

Looking at the Roanoke website, their locos are the same and the wheelsets are merely pushed out or in depending on the gauge of choice, rather like Ruston and Lister used to do.

See page: http://www.roanoke.co.uk/acatalog/Locomotives.html

Cheers,

Dom Greenop
DMR

It ought to be an RS-2 if it's re-gaugeable, by the way :) :rolleyes:

Cheers,

Dom

Good Good. So it should be powerful enough then :rolleyes: Roanoke and Exmoor Steam are quite close together aren't they?

Roanoke is quite literally just down the road from Exmoor.

Question is though, will there really be enough work for another loco at Pulborough? As it is only a few locos seem to get a monthly outing with the Stirland machine taking the bulk of the work...

That's the reason behind 'Pulborough', to ease the workload off of the scale locos. This is how it came about:

At a working party constructing the new Brake Van, our Buildings and Structures Officer suggested using Pulborough the majority of the time. Because what happens is that our scale engines slog their guts out going up the extension, and by running two at a weekend we carry the same amount of passengers but just lightening the workload on the engines. Plus our signalling system gets used more often, as it tends to only get used at the gala, so problems are found with it in the interim.

So two weekends a month the diesels come out together, and the steam engines as well.

Pulborough is at the moment getting on a bit. The motion is knocking, piston glands need repacking and all the motion could do with some attention. The firebars have also started to bend and corrode.

So maybe Peggy will take over from 319 for a bit :P

The Teddy Bears Picnic wasn't a great success, although little publicity and bad weather we believe contributed to this. Milky's (Phil) GNR Atlantic put in some good performance on the Sunday, I shan't go into what happened on the Saturday... Gladstone was also out on the Sunday, and I have claimed her to be my 'pet' until the owner reclaims her :P Although I am hopefully going to fit a spark arrester and do something about the regulator gland before the gala in September.

'Peggy' is still on course for August delivery...

4 of Giles's 2-4-2T's are now being constructed!

Aidan's Hymek is still missing its front bogie. I believe major work is being undertaken...

Due to some thrashing from the drivers of 5156 on the Saturday of the Teddy Bears Picnic, 5156 maybe out of service for a couple of weeks until the fire cement around the bottom of the blastpipe is replaced. (Guilty as charged guvnor)

The waiting room and ticket office is continuing slowly. Two pews from a church have been claimed for seating, which will save time and money.

The LMS Mogul No. 13245 is out of action again...

Alice is now back in service having had her injectors overhauled.

Phil and his dad are bringing the gorgeous GNR Atlantic back for the Gala in September, when it is hoped that a double header can take place with both it and Gladstone...

LMS Mogul No. 13245 is now back in service.

The Hymek has had it's axles replaced, just needs its drive train putting in and a couple of embelishments and she should be back in service.

The Roanoke engine should be arriving in two weeks time.

Pictures of the progress of No. 334 are due when the Roanoke arrives.

5156 has had the fire cement around the blastpipe replaced, so it is still in rostered service.

The Ticket Office and waiting room is currently having the internal roof planking fitted.

It has been discussed in generalities that 319 might be sent back to Exmoor when 334 arrives so that 319 can have an intermediate overhaul. (Grooves in the wheels!).

334 has been put on hold as I believe Exbury have placed an order for another engine so that currently is taking priority.

The new IC engine was in service today, see here

The ticket office and waiting room (under construction) has gained a rather nice sign informing our passengers of the need-to-know information.



Our S&T man has installed a point motor on the point that leads to the extension and the original loop line, another one will be installed on the loco release point.



Next weekend is our annual gala, see here

Some seating has also been sourced for our ticket office & waiting room. Two pews from a church in the Worthing area.



The Royal Scot is out of service as it is missing a stud from the regulator dome, which will need to be replaced as well as one next to it which has had part of it sheared off.

Gladstone has also dissapeared, Brian Gent has taken her home.

Three pictures of 334 in the works at Bratton Fleming.

Pictures removed on the request of B. Bird and T. Stirland

This weekend is our gala, but all you lot will be at Kirklees no doubt!

Lookin' good.

Is there a revised projected delivery date?

Dom
DMR

I believe so Dom. It will teach me to post SH information :P I think when 334 is completed they will take it to bits, paint it then reassemble. Good thing we have the space for it now seeing as Gladstone has gone. Although I believe Brian Gent's 'Flying Scotsman' is nearly ready for service, and once the neccessary tests have been completed it will come to the SDLR to haul trains ;)

I hope so - it wouldn't look nice covered in rust and no paint!! :P

Dom

334 is due for delivery this Thursday! I have seen a few pictures of it and it looks gorgeous in dark blue. It has a different style whistle fitted than that on 319, so I won't go mad :P It has air brake controls and piping fitted. It is slightly longer than 319, has longer tanks and is 2 inches wider than 319

Chris Knibbs' GWR 2-8-0 is currently on site, but probably will not go round the main circuit. Well it didn't last time when it was just the chassis and tender!

The Roanoke has gained some more weights and some rather fetching wooden 'dumb' buffers on the front. It has also gained the name 'Merlin' and has the nameplates fitted.

A new website is currently being produced, work so far can be seen here: SDLRS Website

The new ticket office and waiting room is largely complete. All it needs now is a floor covering (most likely non-slip lino), skirting boards and a dado rail:







Mardyke Hymek 'Arctic Prince' suffered a wheel slippage on the axle at Eastleigh, and I believe this needs to be fixed before it enters service again.

Simon,

Thanks very much for posting updates and pictures. The new building is looking very nice, and so is the new website design.

Make sure you get pics of the new engine when it's delivered!

Thanks
Peter

Hi, Simon.

I echo Peter's sentiment's - looking good!! :)

Cheers,

Dom Greenop
DMR

Thanks guys. If the weather is good on Thursday I will probably go along to help unload it. See the UK Pics board for some more pics from today ( :ph43r: )

I forgot to add to the last update that the LMS Mogul is soon to be fitted with a speedometer B)

See if you can beat Alan Wilsons 7¼ King. 35 MPH.

CRaig

:blink: I doubt you would be able to get up to those speeds at Pulborough. You'd meet a curve sooner or later :P

Well???

I know the weather wasn't grand, but did you still go??

Dom

I'm afraid not. I'm sure there will be some pics up on the website soon ;) I was too busy at Amberley working in the warm and dry :P

:o :o :o :o :o :o
Ouch, bet that was scary and fun :P

and eye watering :D

Anyways, I will be at Pulborough on Sunday this weekend as I have swapped turns so you can expect some pics of 'Peggy' ;)