Spa Valley Railway, West Station, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5QY
Telephone: 01892 537715
Email: enquiriesatspavalleyrailway.co.uk
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News From 75F

Welcome to the 75F Loco Shed News Page. This is where the latest news on all the projects going on, in and around the only working London Brighton & South Coast Railway loco shed left in existence, can be found.

This part of the website will bring you any of the latest news on the number of projects currently under-way in the loco shed at Tunbridge Wells West. This will include anything engineering, locomotives and carriage and wagon.

One of our working members, Stuart Pay, has set up a Fotopic website showing the amount of work going on around 75F. It has lots of photos and is regularly updated. The address is www.75f.fotopic.net.

7th July

Spartan - The boiler has successfully undergone a number of light steamings which has culminated in a steam test reaching 145psi on 29th June. There is still another 50psi to go, but it's been decided to return the boiler to the frames where an injector can be set up to allow the safety valves to finally set. If all goes to plan, this will be undertaken on the 18th July. After that further steam tests will be undertaken with the final one in front of the boiler inspector. After which, reassembly will begin in earnest.

Jinty - The work on this engine is really starting to progress quickly now. We have borrowed a stay tap from the Llangollen Railway to tap the holes for the new stays and these are now all in, after four hard days of work by the team. These all need caulking in position. A few more weeks work should see the engine be prepared for testing. 

Ugly - The boiler has now been stripped down to a point where all the old boiler plate has been removed. The boiler smith hopes to make a start on repairs soon.

The frames have been cleaned and readied for painting. The bunker has received a new set of coal rails and an internal coat of paint. Outside, the bunker and cab sides have been rubbed down in preparation for a fresh coat of paint.

J94 - Finally the second piston rod crosshead succumbed to intense pressure and has parted from the rod. This has really proven stubborn. A couple of weekends work has seen longitudinal stays removed from the boiler, to allow access inside the barrel. Here all the old scale has been removed and preparation for needle gunning the inside can now be done.

Lady Ingrid and Fonmon - Both of these stalwarts have held the fort well in the absence of the Jinty and apart from regular maintenance and washouts, have been used in regular service. 

Class 10 - The aux generator has been returned to the engine and all connected up. The loco has been started up and moved around the yard a little bit, but still requires a lot of work.

37254 - Some of the brake system has been stripped down and sent away for overhaul. Apparently these brake valves should be back soon so that the engine can run at the forthcoming diesel gala.

Carriage and Wagon

SK 25845 - The coach is now almost finished with the final top coats applied and the new lino floor fitted inside. Final items to finish include applying the transfers, lining and painting of the underframe which may be done outside.

CCT - The new floor has now been fitted and the interior is being painted. The plywood for the new sides is in stock, ready for cutting and the new roof will be applied soon.

One of our working members, Stuart Pay, has set up a Fotopic website showing the amount of work going on around 75F. It has lots of photos and is regularly updated. The address is www.75f.fotopic.net.

10th June

Spartan - Pictures below show the boiler sat in the yard at Tunbridge Wells in mid May. On Saturday 7th June, the fire was lit in the boiler for the first time in three and half years and Spartan began to warm through. Initially, the boiler will undergo gentle warmings whilst various fittings are refitted, before a steam pressure is built up over a number of days. The boiler has also been receiving the attention of a paint brush, getting a fresh coat of silver paint.

Above Left and Right:- After 3 years away, Spartan's boiler sits in the yard at Tunbridge Wells West, awaiting its initial warming fires, in mid May - Photos M. Dives

Other work has concentrated on re-assembling the right hand piston. All high pressure relief valves on the cylinders have been serviced and just require re-setting. Both union links are currently undergoing re-bushing and the big ends require re-metalling too. It's hoped that the chassis should be ready in late July to receive the boiler if all goes well with the test steamings.

Jinty - Work has resumed on removing the crown stays. All but a few stays have now been removed and all the wholes are now being reamed and tapped in readiness for opening the holes up for the new stays. The replacements have now arrived so work is proceeding apace.  

Ugly - The boilersmith reports some good progress on the boiler and all being well, it should return to the railway in mid summer. 

Sutton -  The frames are now receiving their last coats of paint. It is hoped that work will now start on the platework around the cab area. Some of the vacuum piping has been cleaned up and painted too. 

Class 12 - The engine received a brake block change in late May, and a thorough steam clean. The former is believed to be its first in preservation (over 20 years), whilst the latter has improved the look of the engine immensely.

Class 10 - The armature has now been returned to its housing in the auxiliary generator and final assembly has been completed. Final refitting to the engine can now commence. 

Class 09 - The frames have now been painted and all the pipework is being painted in its correct colours, representing what is carried through them.

Carriage and Wagon

SK 24845 - Work is now drawing to a close on this project with the final top coats being applied to the vehicle as and when the good weather allows. This vehicle should be outshopped in the next month or so. 

CCT - Two machines that were in one end of this vehicle have now been removed, allowing the removal of the final parts of the old floor. After this the frames are being wire brushed and painted. The new floor is starting to be fitted at the Tunbridge Wells end of the vehicle. The new roof and sides should be fitted to the van over the next few months. 

14th May

Spartan - The boiler passed its official hydraulic test on 8th May and is now sitting in the yard at Tunbridge Wells West, having arrived back today. Preparations for some light warming fires will now commence, working up to a full steam test too. The work carried out certainly looks good.

Ugly - The boiler has now departed to our boilersmith for work to commence. This started almost as soon as the boiler arrived.

1st May

Spartan - Starting with the big news first!!! A report came through last week that Spartan's boiler had been filled with water at the boilersmith's workshop for the first time since the work was completed, and that there were only a few very minor dribbles. Today, the boiler underwent its first hydraulic test, reaching 300psi, and early reports suggest there were just a couple of minor leaks that will be seen too in the next few days. It is hoped that an official hydraulic test can be undertaken early next week, with the boiler inspector present, and then a return to Tunbridge Wells West can be planned. Maybe within a week or two!!! Fingers crossed! 

Once back, work will commence to prepare the boiler for a steam test, prior to reassembly of the engine. The photos below were taken earlier in the week when the boiler had some water in it, and awaiting some additional parts. They show the overhauled fittings in place for the first time since dismantling commenced. 

Above Left:- Spartan's back-head with all the fittings on refitted - Photo S. Pay
Above Right:- A few of the newly fitted stays show a few dribbles, showing the boiler is holding water for the first time in three and half years - Photo S. Pay
Below:- A close up of the overhauled back-head fittings. The plate in the middle is blanking off the regulator stuffing box. A new regulator rod is required too - Photo S. Pay

After a lot of uncertainty with the boiler and its return, it seems that a light may have just appeared at the end of the tunnel and hopefully this will now start to get bigger as the long awaited return to service of this useful engine approaches.

Jinty - We are waiting on the delivery of the new crown stays which are reported to be another couple of weeks away, and the arrival of the stay tap from the Llangollen Railway.

Ugly - The boiler will depart for its work on the return of Spartan's. Hopefully this will start in early summer.

Class 10 D3489 - The armature is now being refitted into the auxiliary generator, ready to be put back on the locomotive.

Class 12 - This engine has received running repairs but will require a major overhaul as soon as it can be released from service.

15th April

Ugly - Since the last report the engine has continued to make significant progress. In mid-March, the boiler was lifted from the frames and the latter placed inside the shed to allow repairs to be carried out. 

Above Left:- Ugly's boiler is slowly lifted from the frames in mid March - Photo V. Skinner
Above Right:- The boiler is positioned ready to have its ashpan removed - Photo V. Skinner
Below:- The frames await movement to the shed where cleaning is now well underway - Photo D. Skinner

The new boiler has been given a thorough inspection and a works plan developed. These are likely to take a lot longer than anticipated and it will go away upon the return of Spartan's boiler. It's thought that there is not too much work to be done. At the moment new studs have been made and various holes blanked off in preparation for filling the boiler. The main steam pipe has already been hydraulic tested.

As for other repairs, all the boiler fittings are being overhauled and the frames are being thoroughly degreased and steam cleaned. It's thought that the frames will receive a coat of paint whilst the boiler is out. A new ashpan needs to be fabricated as the old one was found to represent nothing but a sieve!!! The bunker is also receiving a new set of coal rails to replace the previous flimsy looking ones. 

Above:- Ugly's rotten ashpan is cut off following the removal of its boiler in mid March - Photo V. Skinner

It's hoped that the engine will still return to service this year although the original target of Autumn/Christmas seems more likely now. 

Spartan - The news here is the manifold has received a hydraulic test and passed following all the work carried out in the workshop. The gauge columns and clack valves have all been stripped down, cleaned and reassembled, and returned to the boilersmith in preparation of hydraulic and steam tests. 

Above:- One of Spartan's overhauled gauge columns prior to returning to the boilersmith - Photo M. Dives

On the frames, the left hand piston exam is now complete and reassembled. It's hoped to make a start on the right hand side soon, after which, the high pressure relief valves will be overhauled and refitted to the cylinders.

Fonmon - Following running in, the engine has made a much welcome return to service after all her repairs and certainly appears to be settling back into working life once again. It's hoped that the engine will take some of the strain off Lady Ingrid until the Jinty is returned to traffic. In early March It passed its annual boiler exam and is now in its final year of her ticket before a general overhaul. Some of the side rod bearings were re-mettalled during this period and these have had to be monitored in case they ran hot.

Lady Ingrid - The engine has seen all the work for the first part of the new season whilst Fonmon was run in. Apart from some minor maintenance, it seems to be coping well. 

Jinty - Work here is currently stalled whilst we wait for the new crown stays to be made by a contractor and for the arrival of a stay tap. It's hoped that these will not be too long in the waiting and should be with us shortly so that work can re-commence on getting this engine back into traffic. The first samples are now on site. 

J94 - Work proceeds as and when there are opportunities. Work is currently centred on removing worn platework and the front bufferbeam. 

Sutton - Again work proceeds as and when the opportunity arises. The guys have been concentrating on Fonmon's repairs recently. The front bufferbeam has been restored with all its fittings, to give visitors an idea of what the finished product will look like. 

It's hoped to launch a fund raising initiative for this old engine at soon to raise more funds for the overhaul.

09004 - Work continues with frame painting and on overhauling the cab fittings.

37254 - Since arrival, the owning group have made good use of having a pit, to inspect the underneath of the engine and carry out a brake block change.

DMMU 51669 - Work has recommenced on this vehicle with the air filters being stripped down, cleaned and reassembled. 

Carriage and Wagon

BSO 9414 - The conversion of this coach to a wheelchair friendly vehicle has been completed and looks superb. This only taking around six weeks from start to finish. The coach returned to service over Easter and was seen to have a wheelchair in the passenger saloon a couple of days later.

Above:- A view of the BSO 9414 prior to the commencement of its conversion to a wheelchair friendly coach - Photo T. Parsons
Above Right:- 9414 following completion of the work in mid March - Photo T. Parsons

Above:- A view into the passenger saloon on 9414 following the conversion. The seats immediately in front of the door allow wheelchair bound people to sit and travel with their companions, and get a good view from the window during the journey - Photo T. Parsons

The work undertaken has included removing four seats and moving and widening the saloon door to the corridor side of the coach. The door to the guard's area has also been widened. The guard's compartment has also been narrowed to increase the width of the corridor outside, and the luggage cage moved so that wheelchairs can gain access to the saloon.

More details on the wheelchair facilities at the railway will appear soon.

SK25845 - The interior overhaul of this vehicle is now complete apart from the fitting of the lino flooring. The exterior painting will commence once the warmer weather is here.

CCT - Work has stalled on this vehicle until funds are available to replace some of the side sheets of ply wood.

BR Brake Van - Stripping down and repairs to this vehicle continues on Sundays.

12th February 

Ugly - Three weeks after arrival and this engine is now heavily stripped down. Since its arrival, the plan has changed and it is hoped to get the engine into service as soon as possible to help cover the early season, whilst the Jinty undergoes repairs. 

Right:- Ugly awaits the attention of the crane on Sunday 10th February - Photo V. Skinner

Work on the donor boiler should start shortly and it's thought that it won't take too long. Work on 'Ugly' itself saw the saddle tank and cab roof lifted on Sunday 10th, with the boiler almost loosened later in the day. It is hoped that the boiler will be lifted from the frames in the next couple of weeks to enable minor works to be undertaken on the motion, as well as a thorough clean. At the same time the new boiler will be placed in the yard ready for hydraulic and steam testing. Fittings are now being stripped down for assessment and new studs for the boiler are being made in the workshop.

Left:- The saddle tank is lifted from Ugly prior to being placed in store - Photo V. Skinner

Right:- Ugly's cab is lifted and placed in store too - Photo V. Skinner

Spartan - The boilersmith informs us that he has four people working on the boiler and can at last see the 'light at the end of the tunnel'. It is hoped that completion and a return to Tunbridge Wells is not too far away. The various fittings are now being prepared for hydraulic and steam tests. Work on the frames has paused for the moment whilst the service engines are prepared for the new season and attention is turned to 'Ugly'. 

Jinty - The firebox crown has now been exposed ready for work on the crown stays to begin. Some have been removed but this has now stopped whilst we wait for the replacements to be made. 

Fonmon - The new motion bracket is now permanently fitted and the slide bars roughly lined up. The latter require final setting. Meanwhile the right hand side rods are now fitted but the left hand side requires some side rod bearings to be re-metalled which will be undertaken shortly. The boiler is now re-assembled ready for its annual steam test following fitting of the grate, plugs and mudhole doors. Completion of these repairs should not be too far off.

Lady Ingrid - Minor works are being undertaken here. She is receiving a new smokebox floor as the previous one was causing corrosion around the tubeplate, due to a build up of ash.

Sutton and J94 - Both of these projects are progressing as and when the manpower allows. Sutton continues to receive numerous coats of paint and some small fittings are beginning to go back on.

Carriage and Wagon

BSO 9414 - The Wednesday gang have been hard at work converting the passenger saloon into a wheelchair friendly area. It is hoped that these modifications, which should be complete by the beginning of the new season, will improve the visitor experience for our disabled passengers and allow them to enjoy the same standard of travel as our other passengers, for the first time in the railway's history and be able to sit with any companion who may be travelling with them.

Flatrol - The Wednesday gang's other current project should be started in the next week or so after the vehicle was recently moved into the yard. 

CCT - Work has ceased for the moment whilst the gang wait for some heavy machinery to be removed from the van, and more funds to be made available for the extensive works required. 

BR Brake Van - The weekend gang continue to strip this vehicle down and carry out repairs as required when they find it.

SK 25845 - Currently awaiting better weather so that the external paint job can be completed.

28th January - NEW ENGINE!!!

Ugly/Samson - As detailed on our news page, the railway has become the home to another steam engine. This is RSH 0-6-0ST "Ugly" and it was previously based at the Barry Island Railway in South Wales. The engine, purchased by a private individual, was loaded on Friday 18th January and arrived at Tunbridge Wells West the following day.

Right:- 'Ugly' sits on the back of the low loader shortly after its arrival from South Wales on 19th January - Photo T. Christian

The engine requires heavy firebox repairs to its current boiler, but as it is from the same class as 'Samson', the boiler from the latter will be brought up to spec and a boiler swap will be carried out. 'Ugly' requires little work to its frames, unlike 'Samson', and its hoped that a return to steam should not be too long. This does mean that the future for 'Samson' is uncertain as it restoration is likely to be suspended. 'Samson' will provide a number of spares for 'Ugly' for the time being. 

Right:- 'Ugly's builders plate detailing its year and place of construction - Photo T. Christian

It's a third time meeting for these two engines, as 'Samson' and 'Ugly' both worked in the same iron ore mine at Corby, before being preserved at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, where they were separated for around 30 years when 'Ugly' left for other railways. 'Ugly' also meets up with the J94 once again.

At the same time as 'Ugly' was unloaded, the wheelsets for the J94 and 'Sutton' were sent away to the South Devon Railway works for tyre turning. Apparently these will be on the wheel lathe around the end of January, with a planned return sometime in February or March

Left:- The J94 and 'Sutton's wheels sit on the low loader, awaiting dispatch to South Devon on 21st January - Photo V. Skinner

Spartan - Work on the boiler continues well but the discovery of further works has set the planned hydraulic test back a few weeks. It's hoped that this will be undertaken in the next couple of weeks. The pictures depict the amount of work that is being undertaken. 

Right:- A view of the right hand side of the firebox, showing the repairs that have had to be carried out. The bottom two rows of stays are brand new as well as the outer wrapper in this area. Problems with cracking around stay holes has led to collars being welded into the firebox and the stay holes re-drilled - Photo D. Skinner

Left:- A view inside the firebox. Some stays are being replaced with new screw stays. The stays on the right hand side of the picture are all brand new, having been replaced when the throat plate was renewed on the outer wrapper in an earlier stage of the overhaul - Photo D. Skinner

Away from the boiler, one of the pistons is now back in the cylinder with the other being prepared for removal and inspection. After this, all the high pressure relief valves and drain cocks will be serviced, before attention is turned towards refitting the remaining motion.

Lady Ingrid/Fonmon - Winter work continues on these two engines. The latter has passed its annual boiler exam and is being prepared for a steam test, whilst its repairs draw to a conclusion. Lady Ingrid is undergoing light maintenance which includes renewing the concrete floor in the smokebox.

Jinty - Unfortunately a bit of bad news here. Whilst undergoing winter maintenance, it has been discovered that the firebox crown stays will require replacement before the engine can steam again. Work on stripping the engine down has already begun so that it can return to service at the earliest opportunity.

10th January

J94 - Big news here. Last week, the frames were lifted from the wheelsets for the first time as the overhaul reached another major stage. The frames were placed on the accommodation bogies that had been released from under Sutton and then steam cleaned over the weekend. They are now back in the shed where sandblasting will commence over the winter. 

Right:- 68077's bunker was the first item to be lifted off the frames. This requires a lot of work - Photo V. Skinner

Whilst out of the shed, the bunker was also lifted off ready for replacement. All the wheels have had their axleboxes and springs dismantled now. The wheels will be sent away for tyre turning, along with Suttons, in a few weeks time.

Right:- The front end of the J94 was the first lift, releasing the leading set of wheels. This was then placed down on one of the accommodation bogies - Photo V. Skinner

Sutton - The benefits of having the frames back in the shed have been seen over the last month since they came in from the yard. Numerous coats of paint have been applied, with the first top coats starting to go on inside the frames. 

The machine shop are also busy machining up new suspension parts, including pins and bushes. Work is beginning to turn towards the platework at the back of the frames where the cab sits.

Right:- The rear end of 68077 was then lifted to release the other two wheelsets - Photo V. Skinner

Spartan - The ashpan was removed recently to allow repairs to be carried out more easily. These have now been completed and it has been placed back in the engine. Some extra work is needed on some brake rigging, which will be undertaken when there is time available in the machine shop. 

The next job is to refit one of the pistons. All the components are now cleaned up and ready to go back on, which is hoped to be accomplished in the next week or two to enable the other piston to be removed and worked on. After that, the big ends will be re-metalled and machined.

Samson - No work has been undertaken on this engine right now. There are some developments currently in the pipeline which  we hope to announce shortly. 

Lady Ingrid & Jinty - Winterisation and maintenance works i.e. washouts and general cleaning, are now underway on these two engines. Fortunately there is nothing major to be undertaken on either engine. 

Fonmon - Parts for the new motion bracket are being gathered and it is hoped this will be progressed over the winter towards completion and running in. The engine is now ready for its annual boiler exam, having had its safety valves and gauge columns all stripped down and inspected.

09004 - The overhaul continues with work underway to restore the engines Southern region marker/shunting lights.

Class 33s - Both Cromptons have received attention on their batteries, with 33063 "R.J. Mitchell" receiving a new set, and 33065 "Sealion" the best of 33063's to replace the worst ones.

Southerham - Receiving work to a broken front draw hook which has all been removed. This requires new parts making and the hook straightening. 

Class 73 & Class 12 - Both in service and ready to haul works trains as required. 

Carriage and Wagon

SK 25845 - This vehicle is now ready for outshopping after a long but successful overhaul. Much metalwork has been cut and new material applied. The toilets have been removed to be replaced by a storage area for push chairs. New seating has been fitted and the running gear has been checked and renovated where necessary. The coach awaits its paint job which will be undertaken when the weather gets better. Hopefully it will be available for the start of the new season.  

BSO 9414 – This is the next vehicle for treatment. Work will start to enable wheelchair access to the main seating area through a re-siting of the main cage in the luggage area, the emergency toolbox, guard’s door and the main sliding door to the vestibule. Four seats will be removed from the coach and replaced by three wheelchair spaces. Whilst this is in hand, the roof will be sanded and painted and some remedial work to the body will be undertaken. The coach will be back in service for the start of the new season.  

CCT - The roof is now ready for its new covering, hopefully by the end of February. Removal of the rotten timbers along one side is now finished. Stripping down has revealed that the wagon received a hefty shunt at some time which damaged the brake gear at one end and broke a buffer spring, all of which will need repair before the floor is replaced.  

Flatrol - This wagon, owned by the SELG, is also coming into the shops for completion of repairs that started some time ago and which were delayed whilst more important work was undertaken.

BR Brake Van - Work on stripping this vehicle continues with renovation work underway as the team progresses.

Archive of Previous 75F News
Latest News On LB&SCR Terrier 'Sutton'
Latest News  On LNER J94 68077
Axlebox Overhaul of 47493 - November 2005 to July 2006
Re-metalling of 47493's eccentric straps - February 2005
Stock List

Last Updated 7th July 2008. ©M. Dives