VCT News 2013

 


25 November 2013 - BELLEROPHON successfully repaired by South Devon Engineering

VCT is delighted to announce that our historic 0-6-0WT, BELLEROPHON has been successfully repaired by South Devon Engineering at Buckfastleigh.

The defective Middle Axle has been replaced and a number of other tasks undertaken, including the repair & replacement of the springs, plus work to the axleboxes. The Loco was successfully tested at Buckfastleigh on 21st November and then moved by road back to Foxfield Railway, where it was successfully steam tested on Sunday 24th November. The locomotive is now fully operational and available for use at Foxfield and also hire to other organisations during 2014.

VCT is very grateful to the South Devon Railway for their care and attention to the overhaul of this historic locomotive and are very impressed with the professionalism shown by their staff.


22 October 2013 - BELLEROPHON FOR OVERHAUL AT SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY Updated

Haydock Foundry 0-6-0WT “BELLEROPHON” has been transferred to the South Devon Railway’s workshops at Buckfastleigh for replacement of all 3 axles.
A routine inspection in 2012 revealed that the wheels were moving on the axles and a subsequent examination showed that the best form of repair would be to replace the old, worn axles with new. The South Devon Railway has successfully tendered for this work to be carried out and thus BELLEROPHON has now been taken into their workshops for preliminary work to begin.
The work is likely to take until early 2014, due to the long lead time for the ordering of the new axles. On completion of the work, BELLEROPHON will hopelly be “run in” at Buckfastleigh before returning home to the Foxfield Railway.

More photos 22 October - the new ashpan (two views) and a new axle after fitting to its wheels.


13 October 2013 - Photos from Sir Berkeley at Embsay 5th & 6th October.

SIR BERKELEY was at the Embsay Steam Railway for their Gala on Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th October.  The J94 failed at Bolton Abbey so SIR B had to haul it and the Vintage Train back to Embsay and did so in some style!!  Non-stop all the way and lots of noise from the chimney.


19 July 2013 - Sir Berkeley at Middleton.

VCT’s Manning-Wardle 0-6-0ST “SIR BERKELEY” continues in service at the Middleton Railway in Leeds. See their website for details.


14 April 2013 - Updates to Education Pages


22 February 2013 - Metropolitan Railway Nine Compartment Third No. 465 at Quainton

On 17th February the 9 compartment Met was used for the first time at Quainton. The first two photos show it looking superb with Met No 1. The third photo shows Quainton's President, Andrew Bratton, VCT Chairman, Trevor England and Tony Lister in front of Met No1 after they presented Trevor with a limited edition painting of Met 1 and the Mets at Quainton Road in the 1930's. This was quite unexpected and we were honoured to receive the painting for the VCT Collection. See the the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre website for details of when 465 will be running.


3 February 2013 - Metropolitan Railway Nine Compartment Third No. 465  

The Third Class Met has made a cameo appearance in BBC TV's This Week.


1 February 2013 - Metropolitan Railway Nine Compartment Third No. 465  

The Third Class Met has now gone on extended loan to the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre at Quainton, where it will be hauled by Metropolitan No.1 on Sunday 17 February.


1 January 2013 - Sir Berkeley

Seen at Middleton on 1 January 2013. Photo Ian Smith


 

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