February 2022 - Sir Lamiel

Now that the pandemic seems to be receding and restrictions are being relaxed, we’ve had a good start to the year with some real progress.

We’ve made a good start on cleaning up the frames but realized that shifting the oil and grease is only the start of the process and we’ve had to employ some heavy-duty equipment to really get the surfaces ready for painting. All the old paint and exposed areas of rust will need to be removed by needle gunning the inside of the frames. Once completed the frames will be wire brushed in preparation for painting.

The brake gear on the tender continues to be removed. The vacuum cylinder has been taken out. Work is now focused on the tender steps and brake cylinder brackets as they will need to be removed to enable the placement of the lifting beams to lift the tender tank.

Cleaned tender steps with traces of original lining

The good news is that we’ve had the visit from the boiler inspector in January. The inspector has confirmed that we need to change around 70 stays, examine the roof stays and a weld on the outer firebox plate work. We also decided to change some seam set screws. All of this was expected and was already part of our work schedule. Our volunteer boiler specialist has started work on preparations for the stay removal.

The first stays are starting to be removed.

The locomotives’ cab floor has been removed to expose the drag box and wooden floor support structure. There are two large boards that support the fall plate (a steel flap that covers the gap between the engine and tender). These are rotten and will need replacement. The boards are about 8 foot long, 1 foot wide and 3 inches. thick We will need to source two pieces of hard wood as replacements.

We now have the start of our materials shopping list. It is going to be expensive but it’s very much in line with our initial expectations and budgeting. Anyone who can help us source or pay for the materials please get in touch (Comms@5305la.org.uk)

Current material requirements

New valve and cylinder liner castings £10k

Copper bar for stay production £1k

Boiler tubes – Small £7k

Boiler tubes – Flue £3k

Bottle ends for flue tubes £1.5k

Steel bar for set screws £1k

The next few weeks will be focused on getting the tender ready for lifting, needle gunning the frames and dismantling the wooden underfloor structure to remove the rotting boards.

Alan Berck-May

Chairman

5305 Locomotive Association.

We’ve made good progress on Sir Lamiel’s overhaul. Obviously the COVID 19 restrictions have affected progress. Our target is to return Sir Lamiel to working order in time to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2025. The overhaul will be to full mainline standard and will be based at Loughborough on the Great Central Railway. In 2020 we launched a fund-raising appeal “Knights of the Round table” to raise £80,000 to help us fund the overhaul.

Initial work to strip down the locomotive began in 2020. The boiler was lifted from the Frames in October 2021. The internal boiler surfaces have been cleaned up and all the cladding is being removed. The good news is that the boiler inspector has completed his examination and our assessment of the work required has been confirmed. With no major issues found, we can push forward with the overhaul.

Work is continuing on the tender. All the brake gear has been removed, cleaned up and painted and is now being stored. Currently we are preparing the tender for lifting. This will enable the tender bogies to be run out for examination and cleaning. The motion, pistons and valves have been removed from the frames. The cylinders will require reboring and new liners fitting. Work has also started on preparing the insides of the loco’s frames for painting. Degreasing is also continuing on the outside of the frames. The plan is to lift the frames from the wheels this year. We have, with help from the Great Central Railway, invested in two containers to store components securely.

We’re still looking to increase our membership and the numbers of working volunteers, especially anyone willing to join the sales stand team.

If you’re interested in getting involved, please contact comms@5305la.org.uk

The news from the boiler inspector is very welcome. However, the cost of the copper bar for the replacement stays and new tubes etc will not be cheap. Orders will need to be placed soon if we are to meet our target of 2024.

There are a few ways you can help us:

Join the Knights of the Round Table is main way of supporting the overhaul of Sir Lamiel

Knights

There is also the opportunity to make one off or regular monthly donations.

Monthly DOnations

Become a working volunteer.

Join US

Please help us to complete Sir Lamiel’s overhaul in any way you can.

Alan Berck-May Chairman
Alan.berck-may@5305la.org.uk

777 Sir Lamiel is the only surviving Southern Railway King Arthur Class locomotive. Sir Lamiel is part of the National Collection of locomotives loaned to 5305 Locomotive Association by the National Railway Museum.