What I get up to on the weekend

[gav0994]

Thought you all would like to see a few pictures of what I get up to at the weekend whilst volunteering at the Scottish Industrial Railway Centre in Ayrshire.

Im currently working on the green diesel shunting loco. Built by Andrew Barclay, sons and Co in Kilmarnock approx. 1955. Straight 8 Gardiner engine! Mechanically wise it is all good, just refurbishing the body panels and she'll be ready for paint.

Hope you all enjoy

 

[RonA]

The Sentinel brings back memories. The steelworks I worked at had loads for towing the iron & slag loadles about. They even had some radio controlled ones for positioning iron ladles under the filling spouts on the blast furnace to reduce the danger to the loco drivers & shunters.
RonA

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Nice. When the kids are older....
Try to visit Buckingham railway as often as I can. Always a good day and great to see the engines being restored. Would love to get involved but life won't allow it right now.

 

[gordon stephenson]

I remember the Dorman long steel works getting a few Sentinel loco's to replace the steam shunters when I was serving my apprenticeship, The engine sheds were next to our main work/machine main workshop, Around about 1960?. Rolls Royce engines, The only thing I can remember (I think) the big end keep bolts were stretched 0.011" instead of torquing,

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Saw the thread title and thought "Do we really want to know this?"

Saw the pics & report and thought "Oh, yes we DO!"

 

[gav0994]

Saw the thread title and thought "Do we really want to know this?"

Saw the pics & report and thought "Oh, yes we DO!"

 

[mechman]

Thought you all would like to see a few pictures of what I get up to at the weekend whilst volunteering at the Scottish Industrial Railway Centre in Ayrshire.

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Im currently working on the green diesel shunting loco. Built by Andrew Barclay, sons and Co in Kilmarnock approx. 1955. Straight 8 Gardiner engine! Mechanically wise it is all good, just refurbishing the body panels and she'll be ready for paint.

Hope you all enjoy

Good stuff, I do the same on the lincs Wold Railway Very interesting work.

 

[fizzy]

Incredible!
Although I prefer steam to nasty smelly diesels!
Having said that A Gardner is not just any old diesel...........

 

[gav0994]

Incredible!
Although I prefer steam to nasty smelly diesels!
Having said that A Gardner is not just any old diesel...........

One of our Barclay 0-4-0 diesel locos is actually older than the Steam loco! The Steam loco, NCB No.10 Ayrshire Area, was built in 1947 and has spent its whole life working out of the shed its in now.

We've also got a Barclay Fireless loco that was used at the BP oil terminal in Ardrossan up until the late 80s. Its the only one in steam in the UK.

What we don't have enough of is volunteers to get more rojects completed quicker, but thats the same with all preserved railways - especially small ones like us.

 

[gav0994]

This is our machine shop

Colchester Master 2500 - new in 1980
Bridgeport mill
Radial arm drill
nice pedestal grinder

All 3phase hard wired in.

Oh, and a heated cabinet for storing the lathe and mill tooling!

 

[gav0994]

I remember the Dorman long steel works getting a few Sentinel loco's to replace the steam shunters when I was serving my apprenticeship, The engine sheds were next to our main work/machine main workshop, Around about 1960?. Rolls Royce engines, The only thing I can remember (I think) the big end keep bolts were stretched 0.011" instead of torquing,

The Sentinal has a problem with the clutch on it so its out of action for now. Sounds good when the Rolls Royce engine is fired up though

 

[slim_boy_fat]

This is our machine shop

Now, that's what I'd call "Men in Sheds"

 

[gav0994]

Now, that's what I'd call "Men in Sheds"

Its a great set up. We have shelves and shelves of lathe tooling, morse taper drills, taps, dies - nearly all brand new and were new old stock left over from the Barclay works in Kilmarnock that Wabtec Scotland were clearing out.

 

[Revs1972]

Is there a waiting list to become a volunteer in these please or can anyone play ??

 

[gav0994]

Is there a waiting list to become a volunteer in these please or can anyone play ??

No waiting list. we are crying out for more volunteers to carry out work, but I think Ayrshire will be a hell of a drive twice a week from where you are

 

[Revs1972]

No waiting list. we are crying out for more volunteers to carry out work, but I think Ayrshire will be a hell of a drive twice a week from where you are

We've got one down here at Buckfastleigh which isn't that far.
Good excuse to get the bright orange overalls on.
Are they something that you can learn new skills at , or do they expect you to have a good knowledge etc ?

 

[gav0994]

We've got one down here at Buckfastleigh which isn't that far.
Good excuse to get the bright orange overalls on.
Are they something that you can learn new skills at , or do they expect you to have a good knowledge etc ?

There's the chance to learn new skills and any skill set that people bring is a bonus!

 

[Revs1972]

There's the chance to learn new skills and any skill set that people bring is a bonus!

I shall look into it. Give me something else to do in my semi retirement

 

[Tigman]

Ive been in the sheds at Chinoor and Princes Risborough Train Society , all volunteers I think ! I do the odd bit of welding and pipe bending for them , its a mighty big job refurbing the rolling stock , the carriages are Huge !

all power to you Gav keep the pictures coming !

 

[Robotstar5]

I was a volunteer on the Severn valley railway for a few years in the S&T (signalling & telecomms) dept.

They had a big lathe in the workshop capable of taking loco wheels & tyres

I think they even take on apprentices these days.