752 is to feature in TV series STEAM TRAIN BRITAIN which is to be shown on the Yesterday channel, a Freeview channel also available on Sky.
The first showing will be on Thursday 19th December 2019 at 2000 but will almost certainly be repeated.
The filming took place in October 2019 when 752 was incomplete but capable of moving under its own steam.
Author: Eric Ring
2019 Annual General Meeting
The meeting was held in the Conference Room of the East Lancashire Railway at Baron Street, Bury and was well attended despite the wet weather that had let to public transport disruption.
Following the meeting those present were able to view 752 running along one of the workshop sidings under its own steam, albeit incomplete.
752 can run under own steam
In the middle of October work on 752 was advanced such that it was able to move under its own steam in the yard of the ELR workshops at Baron Street, Bury. Much remained to be done on 752, for example it was running without the tank, but it is expected that this and the remaining reassembly and painting can progress such that trial running can start in early 2020.
There is likely to be a formal relaunch at Bury in 2020, details will be given to Trust members when known.
Brake 1474 – work on suspension
Bogie Brake 1474 has been the subject of investigation and repairs to the bogie springing during 2019. This has prevented its use in service trains but the Worth Valley agreed that it could be used for a filming contract (see news item Filming for NETFLIX) along with our 6-wheelers. The main issue is that 1474 rolls quite a bit when in use, probably indicating that there is weakness in the suspension almost certainly due to its age.
The bogies suspension consists of primary and secondary (or auxiliary) components. The primary suspension comprises large coil springs located in the central bolster, the secondary being the leaf springs located over each axlebox together with a pair of auxiliary coil springs located at the outer end of each leaf spring.
Much of the investigation work has taken place with the active co-operation of the Worth Valley’s Director of Engineering, the Worth Valley having responsibility for the safety of the carriages when in use. Currently (November 2019) it is hoped that replacement of the 16 auxiliary coil springs will be the answer, it being believed that the leaf springs are satisfactory.
Copies of the original L&YR general arrangement drawings of the bogies were obtained earlier in 2019 via the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Society and it is believed that more detailed drawings are held at the National Railway Museum. in the meantime a number of the auxiliary coil springs are to be removed for testing, being temporarily replaced with steel tube. Examples of the auxiliary coil and leaf springs can be seen below, these are supplied by the Trust’s team of of Jim Hindle, David and Daniel Winters as well as Trustee Peter Eastham.
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Carriages in NETFLIX filming
Our six-wheel carriages 279 and 1507 together with the Bogie Brake 1474 were used under a contract with a production company NETFLIX.
This is for a forthcoming film covering the formation of the English Football League, a six-part drama ‘The English Game’ which will start broadcasting on NETFLIX TV in 2020.
Our carriages were used with Coal Tank 1054 during May and July 2019, much of the filming being in Keighley station which was renamed Darwen for the purpose Although Brake 1474 was not available for public service at the time, the Worth Valley had approved it for use in the filming, for which the brake compartment was modified by the fitting of wooden benches for a team to sit.
Vintage Trains June and July 2019
Our 2 six-wheelers 279 and 1507 together with Club Carriage 47 were used for six Sundays between 9th June and 14th July 2019. This was during the period when Bogie Brake 1474 was not available for public service and its place was taken by a VCT Metropolitan carriage, with the Old Gentlemans Saloon bringing up the rear.
As usual, the carriages were very popular and sales of stock in the Club Carriage as well as donations raised valuable funds.
Royal Visit by Duke of Kent May 2019
On 31st May 2019 our Club Carriage 47 was used in a Worth Valley Service train to carry their Patron, HRH Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, between Ingrow and Keighley. The Duke’s journey was completed by a journey to Oxenhope on the footplate of the service locomotive, 75078.
L&YR Saloon 12 rescued
In the last ON TRUST we advised that we had inspected Saloon 12 which had been owned by the late Dave Lewis, which was for sale by his widow. We had decided that we could not take on the project but a few months later there was a threat of destruction, so it has been rescued and put in safe storage pending looking for some charity or society who can take it on for full restoration.
Below is a photo of it in storage prior to being covered with a large waterproof cover.
752 back on wheels
In recent months the trustees have accepted a proposal from the East Lancashire Railway regarding the accelerated reassembly of Saddletank 752 by their labour force at Bury. Instead of the outer wheelsets being the subject to the same treatment as the centre wheelset by fitting of inserts, some basic repairs will be carried out which will take advantage of the adjustable spring hangers for generous donations were received in 2017. There will also be some specialist professional boiler work to satisfy the ELR boiler insurance by replacing a series of tubes with ‘stay tubes’, which are of larger diameter and provide reinforcement.
The ELR were very pleased with the mechanical condition of the cylinders and motion when the chassis was reassembled and hope that 752 may be able to move under its own steam by the end of 2019.
Worth Valley Gala March 2019
Our 2 six-wheelers 279 and 1507 together with Club Carriage 47 were used for the three days of the Gala between Friday 8th March and Sunday 10th March 2019. This was during the period when Bogie Brake 1474 was not available for public service and its place was taken by the VCT Chatham Brake. The set ran with a variety of locomotives, mainly shuttle services between Keighley and Ingrow, with the occasional journey through to Oxenhope.
As usual, the carriages were very popular and sales of stock in the Club Carriage raised valuable funds. See some photos below.