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It was on the 7th April, 2000, that the Ford Motor Company issued the invoice for the two Yorkshire 0-4-0DH locomotives destined to become "Jack" and "James" and which kick-started Andrew's collection.
Ten years later, and that collection has grown to 19 locos, with examples from 11 different manufacturers. Amongst them is the last s.g. shunting locomotive built by the firm of Hudswell Clarke, the oldest s.g. diesel-hydraulic locomotive in the UK (the North British "Coronation"), a unique re-powered BR class 14 and an ex BR class 03 which had been exported and re-imported back to the UK.
The immense amount of time and effort Andrew has expended in restoration (and make no mistake, to restore one loco is an achievement, but a collection this large takes dogged single-mindedness) has in no small measure aided him in securing his Engineering degree at the prestigious Loughborough University and started him on a satisfying career with one of the three train leasing companies (he was in fact, the only Graduate Engineer the company took on in 2009).
It has not all been plain sailing. Several locomotives he had hoped to add to the collection have slipped by - in one case going for scrap from a Museum - but Andrew is optimistic of filling some of the gaps in the modern industrial locomotive picture - he has as yet no Ruston, Fowler, Barclay or 'typical' Hunslet.
This tenth anniversary year looks like being a remarkable one. 14 901 (D9524) - to some extent his 'flagship' loco being ex BR and one which apparently, some people believed 'could not be got running' - is set to visit the Midland Railway at Butterley and possibly beyond. One of the main-stream enthusiast journals is planning a feature article (there was an article on Andrew in Heritage Railway when he was only 16) and at least three more of the fleet are due to be brought up to running condition.
Meanwhile....
WD 72229
The Drewry 0-4-0DM has at last had its exhauster mounted. After some minor tweaks it will be plumbed to its control valve to enable the loco to act solo on vac-fitted trains.
14 901 (D9524)
The tacho drive assembly has now been completed and awaits cabling. The stop solenoid has been repositioned on the ex-Port Talbot engine bracket but until the fuel pump returns from overhaul nothing can be tested. The pump repairer reports that apart from the usual linkage wear within the governor, one of the elements was sticking, causing the rack to be stiff and explaining the rather erratic behaviour of the engine, especially with the idle rpm.
Beverley
The oil cooler, suspected as a source of contamination of the engine oil, has been removed for pressure testing. That sounds easy, but as one of the 5 bolts is located behind the supercharger drive, it neccessitates removal of the dynamo and supercharger before any form of spanner or socket can reach that bolt head. A static air test confirmed that the brake valve is now satisfactory although a couple of valves in the gear change will require attention. Spares are in stock and will be overhauled ready for substitution. The next major task is to drain the torque converter circuit preparatory to re-connecting the converter lines to the new transmission cooler and installing the hydraulic oil reservoir to feed the converter.
New stores van
After NatWest Bank finally got its act together, the cheque has been forwarded and it is hoped to have the van uplifted from its present location befored the end of March.
Issued 8th March 2010
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