Year 2000 News Items
SELG Work Parties
Further work parties have been organised each month next year to structure work being carried out on our locomotives and coaches.
These work parties are open to Members and supporters only and will take place on the following Sundays next year, commencing at 10.00am at Shepherdswell;
25th February 2001 (follows AGM on 24th)
18th March 2001
22nd April 2001
20th May 2001
24th June 2001
Please note these work parties are for work on our locomotives/coaches only.
33063
The Work Weekend of 25/26 November 2000 was a great success with the locomotive receiving a full oil and coolant/anti-freeze change. Through the dexterity of members, the difficult task of removing the air tanks for testing and re-certification was successfully completed. The tanks would be certified on Friday 1st December and will allow 33063 to continue operating trains next year. The air tanks will now be tested under full pressure to test the emergency relief valves are functioning correctly and that all controls work on 14th December. If 33 063 passes this inspection it is planned to operate the locomotive along with ‘Spitfire’ on the Santa Specials on Saturday/Sunday 16th/17th December.
The opportunity was also taken to review the possibility of restoring the locomotive’s ETH generator. However on close examination, it was discovered that the generator was in danger of ‘shorting’ which in turn would risk the main generator. The decision reluctantly therefore was taken not to proceed with the restoration. However, the good news is that the ETH generator on 33065 is more suitable so this may be an option so a member’s hard work may not have been in vain.
Throughout the weekend it was evident that 33 063 had not escaped the recent months of appalling wet weather and the lack of covered accommodation resulted in the locomotive being extremely wet throughout. This water together with a period of inactivity led to several small problems in starting and operating the engine for some shunting on the Saturday afternoon (25/11). However, with the help of some appreciated ‘Crompton’ expertise, these electrical problems were overcome and repaired and the fine weather on Sunday 26/11 together with running 33 063 for several hours helped dry the locomotive out. As a direct result we are now considering covering the locomotive with a ‘tent’ style tarpaulin which would provide protection over the winter months but also allow ventilation to prevent condensation.
33065
A small number of dedicated members have commenced work on rubbing down the external bodywork and have completed a superb job on the roof which is now in full undercoat. The radiators have also been drained for winter. Over the weekend of 25th/26th November, an opportunity was taken to examine the electrical damage caused by a small fire in the locomotive’s final months with EWS. After removing the relevant engine room floor panels, the good news is that the damage is not particularly significant and should not preclude operational restoration. Naturally, due to 063’s rapid return of good looks and operational status, 065 has fallen in the shadow somewhat, but to make amends, a picture page dedicated to 065 will appear soon.
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S.E.L.G. Working Weekend Photographs by D.Robinson On 6th November a memo was issued as a call to arms, appealing to members and supporters alike for a work weekend on 25th & 26th November. The intention was to include repairs to the 2nd support coach, damaged by the storms in October and coolant/oil changes to the Group’s operational locomotives, 33063 and 427.
 The intention was to have 33065 put into undercoat, at least, by the time Winter came. However, I don’t think anyone could have forseen the wettest Autumn since records began following on after a pretty damp Summer. The restrictions imposed by the frustrating weather has allowed just a few of the planned jobs. As can be seen in the above picture of 065 on 26/11, painting is limited to the sole bar and roof, having received grey undercoat. There has been some rubbing down of the cab sides. |
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 Replacement tarpaulins on Coach 2 due to damage by October’s gales. This operation on Saturday 25th in driving rain and gale force winds closely resembled a kamikaze kite flying club as members struggled to remain on the ground! In the end it took the complete work party, several bricks and the ingenuity and experience of a Falklands gale veteran to ensure we completed the task successfully. All the more important given the extremely wet conditions.
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| 33063 on Sunday, before work began in earnest. The difficult task of removing the air tanks for testing and re-certification was also successfully undertaken. The tanks were certified for insurance purposes on Friday 1st December and subsequently refitted. The air tanks will now be tested under full pressure on 14th December to test the emergency relief valves are functioning correctly and that all controls work. If 33 063 passes this inspection it is planned to operate the locomotive along with ‘Spitfire’ on the Santa Specials on Saturday/Sunday 16th/17th December. |
| 33063 with engine running to warm the lubrication oil, prior to having it drained. |  |
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427, once again, adopted the vital support role in the work being carried out on 33 063 by supplying power to operate the ground pump to fill 33 063 with coolant, anti-freeze and oil, speeding up the job up by several hours! 427 is pictured doing it’s bit. |
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