richbrummitt Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Looks like the book launch will be on Saturday 14th February at Didcot You really love that engine don't you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 You really love that engine don't you. Yes, but not like that! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium southern42 Posted January 21, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 21, 2015 Hi All, Looks like the book launch will be on Saturday 14th February at Didcot - it would be great to see my fellow RMWEB members there if you can make it! My team will be working on No. 4079 during the day so if you want to come and have a look and ask questions about the overhaul and what we are up to then please do! Nos. 3650 and 93 should be in operation too. See you there! All the best, Castle Hi Castle. How / when will the launch take place? If we're able to get down, we won't arrive (by train to Didcot Parkway) till about mid-day. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Castle Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 Hi All, Yes Rich, Pendennis Castle is referred to in the house by my better half as "the other woman" but thankfully in a completely understanding and very witty way. As Mrs Castle says "I have no competition there, she is 90 years old and by human standards over 130 tons overweight! As Mr Horsetan says, I have a soft spot for the loco but not in THAT way... It's actually quite hard not to be attached to it after working on the goal of running her for over 10 years. Having said that, it's as much about the great team I have. I have SO many great friends that I would not have otherwise through doing this. It's the simple process of a bunch of like minded people getting together and striving for a common goal that I guess is equally appealing. Hi Ray & Polly, We are going to set up a stand and do a few signings and allow people to meet myself and more importantly my team working on No. 4079 and get a good look at where we are up to and what we are doing! A representative from Haynes will also hand over a donation to the project as described earlier to me and the GWS chairman. I will see you when I see you if you can make it - no worries! Everyone is invited! All the best, Castle 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJS1977 Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 Hi All, Looks like the book launch will be on Saturday 14th February at Didcot - it would be great to see my fellow RMWEB members there if you can make it! All the best, Castle Odd, there was a trader selling it at the Guildford show on Saturday! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KGV Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 You can buy the Haynes Manual for the Castle on Amazon now. #1 Best Seller for Pictorial Railways Reference! Not as nice as having a signed one by Mr Castle himself though (possibly with authentic oil and grease stains?). Excellent job. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
richbrummitt Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 Yes, but not like that! Pendennis Castle is referred to in the house by my better half as "the other woman"... I meant more with reference to the date for the launch: 14th Feb is Valentine's day Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 I meant more with reference to the date for the launch: 14th Feb is Valentine's day Exactly. Not like that!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 57xx Posted January 22, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 22, 2015 Nowadays, some of us who struggle with DIY maintenance and repair are acquainted with the "Haynes Book of Lies".... A reputation they have long held! I lost count of the number of people I had on the phone wondering why their bike wouldn't run after a re-wire and have redrawn many Haynes wiring diagrams for personal use. The errors on the mechanical side of the strip downs were just abundant. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Castle Posted January 22, 2015 Author Share Posted January 22, 2015 Hi All, Hi RJS - it has been on sale since just before Christmas but we wanted to do an official thing so that people could meet the team and the loco. Hi KGV - thank you for your kind comments good sir! If you want it covered in authentic grease, bring a copy to the 2015 tour and we will sort that for you in no time flat! Rich / Horsetan - I am aware of the date! It was the nearest convenient No. 4079 working party date that also had a full running day attached. Funny coincidence though isn't it?! I maintain that my relationship with the loco is perfectly normal... Sort of... Ric - you can be assured that this manual is based on a complete strip down and (nearly finished) rebuild. All the best, Castle 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Brunel Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 Hi Castle, I was just wondering - have you ever considered running 4079 with the smaller 3500 gallon tender? If you ask STEAM nicely, they might let you borrow 4073's... P.S. - the manual looks excellent and you can rest assured that I will be getting my grubby hands on a copy one way or another! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Castle Posted January 23, 2015 Author Share Posted January 23, 2015 Hi Mr B, Thanks for the complements! The idea had struck us as a good one. The firing step attached to the tender has to be the right height - they are different and were swapped around at Swindon. The one on No. 4073 is not only out of bounds on curatorial issues (as would No. 4003s!), I suspect it would cost a fair bit to extract it from its current position in the museum. The one being rebuilt for No. 2999 would be correct but it would mean that we couldn't go on the main line with it as a good deal of equipment to do so will be on the 4,000 gallon tender! Suffice to say that there is nothing planned. However, for a jolly or special event perhaps? Never say never... All the best, Castle 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted January 23, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 23, 2015 Hi All, Hi RJS - it has been on sale since just before Christmas but we wanted to do an official thing so that people could meet the team and the loco. Hi KGV - thank you for your kind comments good sir! If you want it covered in authentic grease, bring a copy to the 2015 tour and we will sort that for you in no time flat! Rich / Horsetan - I am aware of the date! It was the nearest convenient No. 4079 working party date that also had a full running day attached. Funny coincidence though isn't it?! I maintain that my relationship with the loco is perfectly normal... Sort of... Ric - you can be assured that this manual is based on a complete strip down and (nearly finished) rebuild. All the best, Castle When I used the Haynes manuals to rebuild Dagenham dustbins I always had half a jam jar of bits left over, will the Castle be the same, all be it probably a 45 gallon drum. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJS1977 Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 (edited) When I used the Haynes manuals to rebuild Dagenham dustbins I always had half a jam jar of bits left over, will the Castle be the same, all be it probably a 45 gallon drum. [Reminds me of the story Brian Johnston used to tell of his Army training days when about a dozen of them had to strip down a tank engine (i.e. the engine from a tank, not Thomas!) each and reassemble it, and not have any bolts left over. So each one of them slipped the left over bolts they had into the next person's pockets when they thought they weren't looking. CO comes down the line, inspects the engines and asks the soldiers to turn out their pockets. The first has no spare bolts, nor does the second etc... until the last guy turned out his pockets and dropped more bolts than were in his engine to start off with!] Edited January 25, 2015 by RJS1977 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaz Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 Hi All, Yes Rich, Pendennis Castle is referred to in the house by my better half as "the other woman" but thankfully in a completely understanding and very witty way. As Mrs Castle says "I have no competition there, she is 90 years old and by human standards over 130 tons overweight! As Mr Horsetan says, I have a soft spot for the loco but not in THAT way... It's actually quite hard not to be attached to it after working on the goal of running her for over 10 years. Having said that, it's as much about the great team I have. I have SO many great friends that I would not have otherwise through doing this. It's the simple process of a bunch of like minded people getting together and striving for a common goal that I guess is equally appealing. Hi Ray & Polly, We are going to set up a stand and do a few signings and allow people to meet myself and more importantly my team working on No. 4079 and get a good look at where we are up to and what we are doing! A representative from Haynes will also hand over a donation to the project as described earlier to me and the GWS chairman. I will see you when I see you if you can make it - no worries! Everyone is invited! All the best, Castle We won't get there, but I hope you have a brilliant day, you deserve it. If only for the entertainment you have given us sharing your experiences. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Castle Posted January 25, 2015 Author Share Posted January 25, 2015 Thanks for the kind words Jaz! Sorry you can't get to Didcot on the 14th. Perhaps you and Kal will have to see if you can make it to Didcot on this year's RMWEB tour?! All the best, Castle Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev_Lewis Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 I will definitely be purchasing a copy when I next visit. Can't make it up there on the 14th. I'm heading in the opposite direction to Bristol to see Black Label Society. And the members day clashes with cricket But I will find time for a trip up to Didcot sometime this year! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Castle Posted February 18, 2015 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 18, 2015 (edited) Hi All, Prairie Power! A multitude of very serious 1:1 scale kit assembly sessions and a great deal of very hard work has resulted in a happy boiler inspector and an VERY happy No. 4144 restoration team! The boiler was signed off at midday today and therefore the large prairie is officially back! When you realise that the vast majority of the work on the overhaul was undertaken by volunteers who's average age (when you take myself and the chief boilersmith out of the equation!) is around 23 years old, you get some measure of the achievement that this represents. Needless to say we are very proud of them. Once No. 3650 had been taken off the main demonstration line at the end of the open day, we took her out to stretch her legs for the first time in well over 5 years! She was put through her paces and she performed very well indeed. There were a number of very minor issues noted but in the main it was all very good news. Once we were satisfied that there was nothing immediately and obviously wrong and, just as importantly, the whole team had a go a driving her (!) we declared the day a success. We then tucked her up again in the lifting shop ready for the overhaul to enter its final phase. There are a number of small bits to go back on, the handrails, steam pipe cladding and cab windows being the most immediately obvious, a number of small snagging points to deal with and then a final livery application. The big question is of course, what is it going to be? I can exclusively reveal that it will be a green and black one! I guess this is our way of saying wait and see... Although the boiler is signed off, she isn't yet regarded as being back in traffic. She will only be officially accepted once the last bits are finished and she has had a few more tests. The answer to the obvious question about the LT head code box is that No. 4144 is a 'Steam on the Met' veteran so it seemed appropriate to start the new ticket with a reminder of the old one. Edit: one of my No. 4079 crew was there and took a bit of video for us which he has posted on YouTube under his channel name of Bennymilk (he has some great Didcot and other steam videos on there) - Enjoy! All the best, Castle PS: I'm still grinning like an idiot... Edited February 18, 2015 by Castle 23 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Gough Posted February 18, 2015 Share Posted February 18, 2015 Great to see 4144 in the sunshine at the front of the engine shed this afternoon. The finish on the side tanks indicates she will look magnificent when finished. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darwinian Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 Livery? Bunker indent and fender, outside steam pipes, handrails on over boiler strap - should be postwar GWR or BR shouldn't it? Looks great steaming through the sunshine anyway . Well done to the team. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 Livery? Bunker indent and fender, outside steam pipes, handrails on over boiler strap - should be postwar GWR or BR shouldn't it? Yes, but presumably all are original fittings as it was built in Sept 1946. Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Brunel Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 4144 looks marvellous! My abiding memory of this engine happens to be a rather tired-looking static exhibit (painted in a strange, discoloured shade of green) so it will be great to see this one in steam. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Gough Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 One of mine from the afternoon. I don't know about the brick pattern on the tanks? Makes her look a bit like a tavern car! 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Bigcheeseplant Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 British Railways written out on the tank sides would look good Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted February 19, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 19, 2015 Congratulations Castle and team - that job seems to have gone fairly quickly as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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