September 2016 Engineering Report

Health and Safety
There is now a ‘hot work’ permit system in operation on the railway. Any hot work (gas cutting, welding or grinding) that needs to be done outside of the welding area in the work shop will need a permit from myself. This is to ensure that the person carrying out the work is trained to do so, that the equipment being used is fit for purpose and has been inspected and that the environment that work is being carried out in is safe. This permit system will apply anywhere on Talyllyn Railway premises.

The isolators on the machines in the workshop have been fitted with padlocks. This is to control the use of the machines as per safety recommendations. Keys will be issued to authorized people that we know to be capable of using the machines correctly and safely. Training has been carried out by our staff in the use, transportation and inspection of cylinder gases and associated equipment. Training has also been undertaken in the use of abrasive wheels and working at height.

Permanent Way
A separate report on Summer Outdoor Week appears elsewhere in this issue, as usual, so will not be covered here. Maintenance is continuing along the line with routine tamping and repairs being carried out as per work orders. Flailing has also been carried out (machine permitting) over the past three months - focusing mainly on grass-cutting until the restrictions on hedge-cutting are lifted at the end of the summer season. A period of forecast dry weather also allowed the annual herbicide spraying to take place. Various repairs have been made to platform edges to correct loose or damaged edging stones.

Two sections of rail were replaced, beyond Hendy farm, due to broken joggle plates and rail movement. The opportunity was taken to fit standard fishplates to this rail in the process. Fishplate oiling will take place during the August bank holiday weekend with the gang hoping to build on last year’s totals.

Steam Locomotives
Loco No. 1, Talyllyn, had all its brake blocks replaced in April. These required several adjustments as they bedded in. The fireman’s side front spring on the locomotive was replaced and a completely new set of springs has been ordered in preparation for future maintenance. One boiler tube failed with a pin hole leak which resulted in the tube being plugged. Upon inspection, four further tubes required re-expanding. Routine maintenance was also performed on the safety values, which required lapping in. Loco No. 1 Talyllyn is due its boiler lift and ten-year exam in 2017.

Loco 2, Dolgoch, has been running well. It has had a new L&B air pump fitted during the season and it is hoped that this will result in improved reliability in the long run. The driver’s brake valve was cleaned, lapped and tested to reduce a problem caused by the value ‘blowing-through’. A new pressure gauge has also been fitted. The left leading and left driving end caps have been built up and machined to reduce side play and the troublesome Fireman’s side clack valve was replaced with new.

Loco 3, Sir Haydn, has had a visit from the boiler inspector who visually inspected the stripped boiler. The work to be carried out has now been agreed and will shortly be commenced. The cylinders will be able to be skimmed (so will not need replacing) but will be life-expired at the time of the locomotive’s next ten-year exam. The locomotive will require a new axle and all new crank pins, which will be fitted over the coming year. It is expected that Loco No. 3will be ready for a return to service at the start of March 2018.

Loco No. 4, Edward Thomas, passed its cold inspection by the boiler inspector and has only required routine maintenance. A new clack valve was ordered and fitted to resolve a long-running issue. The driver’s side rods were removed to allow their oil-ways to be cleaned out. The driver’s side, right leading and right driving spacers were built up to reduce side play and the left leading rod had its brass built up in length, white metalled and machined, to also reduce side play.

Loco No. 6, Douglas, has required little routine maintenance. The new set of springs reported on in the last issue have now arrived and it is planned for these to be fitted at the end of the season. O-ring seals, for the safety valve seats have been sourced and replaced. It was also necessary to replace the ratchet on the mechanical lubricator.

Loco 7, Tom Rolt, has had its axle weights checked and springs adjusted accordingly. It was withdrawn from service before the peak season for cold inspection, which it passed on the 12th July. It has since been re-assembled and was ready in time for the Grand Finale Gala. It is currently the locomotive with the greatest mileage so far this year.

Diesel Locomotives
Loco 5, Midlander, has been in service, with no major issues reported. Its brakes were subject to some minor re-adjustment to correct their position.

Loco 8, Merseysider, left the railway on the 19th May and will no longer be reported upon here.

Loco 9, Alf, is running well.

Loco No. 11, Trecwn, has had a service. During this its transmission oil and engine oil were changed and new filters fitted to both systems. The fuel pump failed during operation and had to be replaced with spare. The locomotive is now also running well.

Loco No. 12, St Cadfan, has had a number of repairs and modifications carried out that included the fitting of new brake blocks. Loco No. 12is now in the paint shop, being painted Furness (Indian) Red ready for its naming ceremony later in the year.

Carriage and Wagon
A number of carriage bogies have been refurbished and, consequently, the spare bogie currently under carriage 18 needs to be replaced so that this spare can also be subject to a birthday. The bogie frames for carriage 22have been to The Vale of Rheidol for shot blasting. The wheel sets for these bogies have been rebuilt and are ready for use. The body from carriage No. 22needs to go into the paint shop and resources for its continuing refurbishment need to be found.

Building and Civil Engineering
The roofs of the Blockposts at Brynglas and Quarry Siding have been resurfaced. It is hoped that the new roof covering will provide many years of trouble-free service. The publicity shed located on the former lawn around the back of Llechfan is complete and now in use. Work has continued on the maintenance of the railway’s bridges, culverts and creeps. The culvert at Ceunant Coch is being subjected to on-going work to reinforce it. In addition, the culvert at Cynfal has been subject to its annual clear out, lowering the water level by almost a foot.

Plant and Workshop
A new covered store for the storage of short lengths of steel stock is currently being built. This is a first of a number of planned improvements to the general Pendre site. In the workshop digital verniers are now available for use. These will be kept in the engineering manager’s office and will be available on request. A suitable new mobile generator has been sourced and procured and has already been used successfully during the Summer Outdoor Week. The cost of this generator has kindly been met in full by a volunteer.

Electrical and S&T
The mechanical stores in the old slaughter house are to be cleared to make room for the materials currently being stored in the station building. This will allow the building itself to be put to new use as an S&T hub as part of a general transformation of how the railway’s S&T system is run.

Thank you to all volunteers and permanent staff, for both your excellent work and continued support.

Stephen Davis