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Welcome to the April update.  

A last-minute call from the GCR for the Class 33 to be turned out for the Diesel gala at the end of April meant that all available hands were rubbing down and painting the bogies and bodyside of the Class 33 

Work has commenced removing the nuts from the first 4 rows of roof stays. However, the first two rows of stays are different to the other rows we need to replace. As I said last month, we have not   been able to locate the modified drawing. A second opinion was sought before we got too far into the process. This indicated that the best was forward was to cut access holes in the firebox sides. This was something we had done in previous overhauls but were trying to avoid this time. It was well worth it though as a couple of broken stays have been found which will be easier to deal with given the improved access. 

In the Machine Shop, work has progressing on machining the valve ports on the valve liners. We have also now received the new casting for the Blast Pipe cap, which will also require machining. 

Celebrate Sir Lamiel’s 100^th birthday with us.

June 21^st marks the 100^th birthday of Sir Lamiel. A celebration is planned at Loughborough. We hope to be able to draw the frames out in to the sunshine. Our sales stand will be open selling second-hand models, books and other items. Our volunteers will be on hand to show visitors round Sir Lamiel and there will be birthday cake I’m assured. All knights and 5305LA members are invited to come and see the engine and to celebrate her birthday. 

If you would like to get involved in the overhaul and join us on a working weekend, please contact us at comms@5305la.org.uk. We are  a stage where we can outsource some of the technical work. If you are able to offer us further financial support through donations, please go to https://www.sirlamiel.org.uk/monthly-donations/ We also accept donations of railway related items and books to sell in our shed shop and sales stand.. If you would like to get involved without getting too dirty, our sales shop at Loughbough is open during events at the GCR. We’re always looking for people to man the shop and you get to see the loco’s going on and off shed! Please contact us at comms@5305la.org.uk 

Thank you for your support for the overhaul of Sir Lamiel.

Alan Berck-May 

Chairman 

Welcome to the January update.

After the Christmas and New Year break our volunteers are back on site at Loughborough.

After discussions with the Boiler Inspector we now have a clear plan of action on the roof stays. Work has commenced to remove the nuts from the first 4 rows of roof stays. The stays will be measured, threads cleaned and new nuts fitted.

Further progress has been made, when weather permits, with external descaling work on the boiler. The work is now focused on the firebox and backhead.

As reported last month, we’re still waiting for a big shunt in the shed which will give us the opportunity to lift the tender. A start has been made of refitting the brake work to the front tender bogie.

The motion and crank pins are being polished and covered in fresh oil to protect the clean surfaces.

After some machinery movements in the Machine Shop, work has restarted on getting the valve liners prepared for refitting.

If you would like to get involved in the overhaul and join us on a working weekend, please contact us at comms@5305la.org.uk. We are  a stage where we can outsource some of the technical work. If you are able to offer us further financial support through donations please go to https://www.sirlamiel.org.uk/monthly-donations/ We also accept donations of railway related items and books to sell in our shed shop and sales stand.. If you would like to get involved without getting too dirty, our sales shop at Loughbough is open during events at the GCR. We’re always looking for people to man the shop and you get to see the loco’s going on and off shed! Please contact us at comms@5305la.org.uk

Thank you for your support for the overhaul of Sir Lamiel.

Alan Berck-May

Chairman

Welcome to the October update.

As I’ve previously reported, the valve liners have been cast and are now in the machine shop being machined to size. The piston valve heads have all been de-carbonised and examined for any cracks and damage all looks to be in good order and fit for further service.

The Boiler Inspector has asked for 2 rows of roof stays to be removed and replaced. This is not the easiest of tasks. It will require the removal of two large pieces of boiler plate to be removed to access the top of the firebox. Looking at the boiler, there is evidence of previous practice. It would appear that the whole top half of the boiler over the firebox was cut out and lifted off, judging by the large weld lines. That’s not something to take on lightly! A further discussion with the Boiler Inspector will take place before we start cutting anything out.

We’re waiting for a big shunt in the shed which will give us the opportunity to lift the tender. This will enable us to replace the front bogie and remove the rear bogie for overhaul.

If you would like to get involved in the overhaul and join us on a working weekend, please contact us at comms@5305la.org.uk. In addition to our shopping list above, we are also at a stage where we can outsource some of the technical work. If you are able to offer us further financial support through donations please go to https://www.sirlamiel.org.uk/monthly-donations/ We also accept donations of railway related items and books to sell in our shed shop and sales stand. Please contact us at comms@5305la.org.uk.

Thank you for your support for the overhaul of Sir Lamiel.

Alan Berck-May

Chairman

Welcome to the June update.

Once again, work has continued  on the frames. The bottom of the cab sides, running plate and running plate framework has been needle gunned and primed. The running plate top has received two coats of undercoat black. The inside of the rear splashers has been cleaned, primed and undercoated. Apart from a few final cleaning and painting jobs the frames are virtually finished presentation wise. The cab sides and splashers will remain in red primer until we do the final painting when Sir Lamiel is all back together.

The three cracked valve liners  have been removed and the bores cleaned out. An order will be placed for casting three new liners which will need to be machined before fitting.

A start has been made on cleaning up the motion in preparation for refitting. Interestingly, whilst cleaning the driver’s side connecting rod the number 787 appeared. King Arthur 30787 Sir Menadeuke was scrapped in 1959.

The work on the boiler is in the final stages. The new grate carriers have been trial fitted ready for some serious riveting to the bottom of the firebox and foundation ring. On the superheater header all the studs have been removed and are in the process of hole taping ready for new studs. The front tube plate studs for the header have been removed and the holes rethreaded. The studs for the clacks on the boiler sides are also being removed.

It really feels like we’ve turned a corner this year. The locomotive is coming together and even with a fair bit of red oxide, it looks good with new paintwork. As I’ve said before work can continue at a much quicker pace if we had more people working on the locomotive. We have had a couple of new volunteers recently but there’s always room for more. We are working most weekends  If you would like to get involved in the overhaul and join us on a working weekend, please contact us at comms@5305la.org.uk We are also at a stage where we can outsource some of the technical work. This obviously will impact our cost plans. If you are able to offer us further financial support through donations please go to https://www.sirlamiel.org.uk/monthly-donations/ We also accept donations of railway related items and books to sell in our shed shop and sales stand. Please contact us at comms@5305la.org.uk.

Thank you for your support for the overhaul of Sir Lamiel.

Alan Berck-May

Chairman

Once again I apologise for the lack of monthly reports recently. As you are aware we have been unable to make much progress due to the asbestos found behind the cylinders. The NRM quarantined the frames and tender pending remediation work to remove any trace of asbestos. At the end of February a scaffold tent was built around the engine and contractors have spent the past month cleaning the frames and surrounding areas. The tent is expected to be removed during the first week of April. We are standing by to quickly paint all the newly cleaned areas.

Things have not stopped completely though. We have continued work on the boiler. The replacement stays have been fitted. All the lap set screws have been replaced. The tube plate holes for the large flue tubes have had their threads taped. The replacement tubes are on hand ready to go back into the boiler. We then plan to complete hydraulic testing to make sure everything is ok. The grate carriers were found to be extremely worn. New grate carriers have been produced and trial fitted ready for reviting. 

Once we get back to work on the frames we plan to refit the slidebars and prepare the frames for lifting as we need to check the axle boxes and journals. 

It’s now a few years since we launched the Knights of the Round Table to help fund Sir Lamiel’s overhaul. Some of the Knights monthly donations are now coming to an end. We would really encourage Knights to maintain (or increase) their monthly donations to support Sir Lamiel’s overhaul. Every contribution make a real difference. Without your help the overhaul would not be possible. All donations can now be made with gift aid. https://www.sirlamiel.org.uk/monthly-donations/

Once again we apologies for the lack of regular reports over the past few months.

Thanks for your help and support. We are looking to have a members day at Loughborough in May. Look out for further details once we have developed our plans. 

Alan Berck-May

Chairman 

Welcome to the January update.

Firstly, I apologise for the lack of a report for December but as there had been no change to the situation regarding Sir Lamiel and the asbestos contamination I had nothing really to report. The more positive news is that there is now a tentative schedule for the remediation work to be completed next month. We hope that we can return to work on the engine in early April. This has set out work schedule back some six months. However, the remediation work will entail a thorough cleaning of areas on the frames and cylinders which will mean that they will be paint ready at the end of the process. This may mean that the schedule may not have slipped as much as we fear.

We have continued work on the boiler. The set screws in the firebox have been replaced and our boilersmith is cutting the threads in the tubeplates for the flue tubes. The small and large tubes have all been delivered. We will also be placing an order for the “bottle ends” for the flue tubes. These will all need a thread cutting to match the tubeplate, then welding on to the flue tubes. Any help with the purchase costs of the bottle ends would be much appreciated. The plan is to refit the tubes and then to do a hydraulic test on the boiler.

The front bogie of the tender has been reassembled. The tyres have been reprofiled and the axle journals polished. The axleboxes were examined, measured and machined before reassembly. We now await some time on the jacks to lift the tender body to replace the front bogie and remove the rear bogie. The tender will be covered by the remediation process, so once again we are unlikely to make any further progress before April.

The 5305LA committee and I are very frustrated that we have had to stop work but remain fully committed to getting Sir Lamiel back into traffic in time for her centenary in 2025. If you have any questions, please contact me via comms@5305la.org.uk

Thank you for your support for the overhaul of Sir Lamiel.

Alan Berck-May

Chairman

Welcome to the November update.

I was really hoping to announce that, following the discovery of asbestos between the frames and the rear of the cylinders, we are able to return to work on the locomotive. Unfortunately we are still awaiting clearance from the NRM.

After the asbestos survey, the NRM had concerns about how widespread the contamination might be as this would affect the scope and process for its removal. The NRM requested the GCR to undertake a further survey and sampling in the MPD. This took place in mid November. Further samples have been analysed and the good news is that it has been confirmed that the contamination is restricted to the cylinder block area. A meeting has been held with the NRM and GCR to confirm next steps. These are that the work of removal scoped out in the next week or so, with a tender document going out soon after. It is hoped that the removal work can be completed by the end of January.

I have requested that the NRM allow us to return to working on the boiler, tender and other p[arts in storage and I await a formal response to the request.

The 5305LA committee and I are very frustrated that we have had to stop work, but remain fully committed to getting Sir Lamiel back in to traffic in time for her centenary in 2025. If you have any questions please contact me via comms@5305la.org.uk

Thank you for your support for the overhaul of Sir Lamiel.

Alan Berck-May

Chairman