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

Working parties are normally held on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month. The next working day will be 28th March 2010. 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:

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.