BMEG

Volume No.13 Spring Issue 2005

 THE ARCHIVE BUILDING PROJECT

 Since the last Signal the archive extension and a new storage shed have completed structural steel work. The extent of closure of much of the site has resulted in considerable inconvenience. Parking at the bottom of the hill means a major struggle particularly if tools are needed. However the end result should leave us with some improvement of the site with additional flat space behind the new building.

Part of the building works

KITCHEN EXTENSION

I hesitate to call this the workshop extension in case anyone should think of using it as a workshop. Anyway the extension has made steady progress with completion of brick and block walls. The three double glazing units courtesy of John Lambard have now been installed and the panels installed. Above the windows hardwood cladding is being installed and with that we shall be weather proof. The only problem is that the only door is 18 x 36 inches which makes it difficult for the better built of us to get in ( but does prevent snap inspections).

The kitchen Extension

After completing the internal walls we shall break through into the present kitchen.

THE COLLIERY AREA

 Normal working practice at Beamish ensures that before we have completed one project we have started two others.  Not all model engineering groups have a colliery but given that our site is on top of an old Drift mine it seemed unreasonable to pay for coal with so much at hand. To be serious we do have a need for a further storage area  and an enthusiast who wants to build a miniature pithead gear with an associated winding engine. We also had a ready made angle steel roof available and being painted by Ken Challoner.

Roof Trusses (redundant wagon covers)

 Digging the foundations has challenged our ageing membership and we now have area 30 x 12 ft. ready for concrete. It is intended to run rails from the mainline into this building, and one sketch shows  a chimney of industrial proportions.

The base of the colliery building

THE WATER TANK

 A splendid riveted water tank was found for our  use by Jim Rees before going onto greater things. For several weeks a cloud of red dust concealed Peter Federoff’s efforts with a wire brush . The intention is to place on a series of brick arches ( an arrangement still to be seen in full size at Newcastle, Haltwhistle and elsewhere in the NE. Situated between the lines outside the engine shed this will  allow convenient watering rather than our present source which brings traffic to a halt on the main line. The resemblance to the more primitive kind continental toilet has been noted.

The Water Tank and Base

THE TOKEN SYSTEM

 With multiple use a rack railway needs a system to prevent more than one locomotive at a time on the rack section. This system can be linked to the points and signalling. The system also has to cope with the possibility of several locomotives at the top or bottom of the rack railway. Friends of John Moore know that he is not easily put off by difficulties. His solution has been to devise an Electro-mechanical token system with token holders at each end of the rack railway which contain up to 10 brass tokens. Removal of one token locks both holders until the token is returned, and is intended to be linked to appropriate signals.

VISITORS

 Our largest group in 2004 have been from the Doxford Club, some fifty people including numerous grandchildren saw Koppel and Wren, in steam and a number of brave souls braved the rack. This was the last group before the archive building started in earnest. We hope to see them again next year. Jack Taylor came over again from Ireland and intends a further visit in 2005 .

 We have recently had visits from Paul Jarman and Chris Scott the newly appointed assistant Keepers of Transport and Industry, (Locomotives and mines respectively). Both of them have an interest in steam locomotives, but have so far resisted the charms of the seven and a quarter gauge. (But we are working on it.)

THE RACK GATE

 The possibility of an uncontrolled carriage or truck loose on the 1 in 10 rack section is too horrendous to think about. For this reason a gate has been constructed at the start of the inclined section.

 The Rack gate

Construction has been in the hands of Bill Crackitt The gate is largely constructed of point rodding and is designed to close back against a stop when is use. Electrical interlocks with signals are planned. The weight of the gate fractured the brick column, which had to be rebuilt with reinforcements in particular the structure to the right of the middle column...

LLOYD LEWIS

 We have been delighted to get a card and photographs from Lloyd now firmly established in New Zealand. We were particularly impressed by his workshop, (double garages not much smaller than BMEGs workshop). All our best wishes and expectation of great productivity to Lloyd.

Lloyd Lewis

THE WORLDS’ YOUNGEST RACK DRIVER

 A feature of Saturday mornings during much of 2004 has been to find Ron Soulsy and Matthew already steaming. Indeed Ron’s loco wheels are measurably smaller after Matthews's hours of practice. Matthew has been trained by Robin Hedley driving Koppel on the rack and has now completed numerous independent ascents/descents. Quite an achievement for a 12 year old!

Jim's Rees Boiler The multiple bits of "Dolgoch" ornamenting our work shop will shortly be added to when Robin Hedley and Adrian Morley finish the boiler they have been making for the year for the last year. the original copper sheet etc weighing over 50 kgs. Composed of 3/16^th copper, with 1/4" diam. Stays and an 8" diameter barrel, this is a real monster.

Fearing that the brazing ( two propane + 1 acetylene) would melt Adrian's workshop the job has been done in a converted barn up on the fells above Hexham .The owner Alan Stephenson, restores classic tractors and is not short of lifting gear or generosity.

Dolgoch Boiler dec. 2004

 The picture above shows the boiler with blanks prior to testing for leaks. Even putting water in needed a hoist but as shown below a Chardonnay wine bottle provides an ideal way of topping it up.

A soft landing?

There are several leaks which will have to dealt with before we can pressure test.

RACK CARRIAGES

 Koppel can manage three passengers and the driver but not much more. The possibility of a lighter carriage might allow one more passenger or more substantial passengers. In previous issues we have shown Ken Swan’s rack carriage bogies with rack wheel activated compressed air brakes. Ken has been delaying building the carriage in the conventional way in the hope of using aluminium panels, angle etc, Bending sheet aluminium has been something of a problem. With the arrival of Colin Mountjoy as a potential member who works in the aero industry we look forward to a new breed of streamlined super lightweight carriages.

Robin Hedley (driver,) Jim Duncan, , Matthew and Lloyd Lewis.

Mike Lax

 For several decades Mike Lax has been the boiler builders' boiler builder in the northeast. In addition Mike has built a number of locomotives to a meticulous standard, the most recent being a Koppel which is now fully operational and beautifully painted. Anyone privileged to see his pristine workshop will wonder where all the swarf went!

In the days before a workshop, Mike and Jim Duncan welding rail.

Finally at the tender age of 58 Mike has given in to the demands of model engineering and retired. It is a tribute to his importance in HSBC that within two days of his retirement all the money machines and credit card system went on the blink. We wish him all the best and look forward to seeing him at Beamish. His ability with a spade has been greatly admired and he will now have time and opportunity to hone his skill.

Mike (2nd left)