No title available
todays bird
official daine visual archive
Origami Around
Sweet Seals For You, Always
Three Goblin Art
Aqua Utopia｜海の底で記憶を紡ぐ
let's talk about Bridgerton tea, my ask is open
Not today Justin
oozey mess
YOU ARE THE REASON
Sade Olutola
macklin celebrini has autism
cherry valley forever
ojovivo
Jules of Nature
RMH
Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her
JVL
Janaina Medeiros
seen from France
seen from Philippines
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from Malaysia
seen from Saudi Arabia
seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from Iraq
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
@lcltadmin
WE’VE BEEN FRAMED
just a few days into the New Year and we’re greeted by this welcome sight. While it was a shock to learn late in 2019 that we’d need new tender frames we’re now used to the idea and are excited about seeing the tender come together in 2021.
The fundraising response has been very healthy - thank you to all our supporters - but we still have £40k to find if the J21 is ever to steam again.
Happy 21st: Key to the (Station) Door!
With New Year out of the way let’s start with some birthday talk; 2021 marks 21 years of the existence of our hosts and friends the Stainmore Railway Company at Kirkby Stephen East station in Cumbria.
This delightful NER microcosm is a fast rising star and hopefully this selection of pictures give some idea of what they’ve achieved already.
Yes, that is the J21 in the bay platform.... not too long now before she resumes her rightful place there!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
We love this image so much (thank you Richard Pearson)! All that’s missing is some smoke and steam but that’s been ordered and is on its way.
Despite the pandemic it has been a great year that has seen us well on the way to getting the J21 in steam again. A big thank you to all our supporters for getting us where we are; not at the finish line yet but a lot closer thanks to you!
Have a great Christmas everyone and stay tuned!
FEELING BOXED IN
If a picture paints a thousand words then you’re looking at an entire book here! As the restoration of our unique 1902 North Eastern Railway Bogie Stores Van nears completion a number of lost interior features are starting to reappear. Compare the images from before restoration, during the work and now; it hopefully gives a sense of the thoroughness of this first-class renovation.
One task we have completed has been to restore the van back to as close as square a structure as possible with an assortment of props, timber sections and wedges. Having got it square, we needed to keep it square and the initial thought was to install some vertical partitions.
This work is well in hand and the first section to be completed is the guard's high level seat. Stalwart Alan Headech, one of the dynamos behind the restoration, prepared working drawings from our copies of the surviving general arrangement drawings. Alan has completed the carpentry and joinery with the exceptionally fine results seen in these photos which illustrate the steps and seat at the top. The structure has added considerable rigidity to the whole van.
A LITTLE LIGHT READING
This weekend’s reading is the five bids submitted by various specialist firms looking to install exciting displays within our 1902 Bogie Stores Van No.2.
Aside from being appropriate and sympathetic to the restored vehicle, the design brief is that they tell the story of the Van and what it did (something unique to us), the story of the J21, and also of the extensive restoration from near firewood to what will be a first-class job when finished early in the New Year.
This is the other main part of the whole J21 project and we have been delighted to watch it all come together!
Stay tuned, more to follow soon including progress on the J21’s tender......
WE’RE GETTING TYRED NOW
It’s good to post a picture of the locomotive in one piece to remind ourselves every now and then what it looks like complete. For a while yet we’ll be focussing on the various parts that will one day be used to reassemble our engine after one of the mist thorough restorations in preservation.
Among recent invoices was one for new tyres for the driving wheels. As you can see here, the holes from the previously riveted tyres were very close to the wheel edge and so he recommended that the best option to save the wheel castings and ensure the longevity of the castings was to "bung" the old rivet holes. This entails reaming each hole, inserting a steel bung and then riveting it into a countersink and then as part of the tyre fitting process these would be skimmed back.
There will a lot of work reaming and then bunging 32 holes on each of the 3 wheelsets due to their very worn nature and age. Just one of the many jobs to tackle during this painstaking overhaul.
NO BLOCK TO PROGRESS
The last big worry about the J21 has been the state of the cylinder block....... and the news is good! After the shock and cost of having to replace both loco and tender frames the need for a new cylinder block would have been a real blow.
What we didn’t realise until it was stripped and examined was that the block was brand new when fitted during a general overhaul in 1952. So, with a little remedial welding here and there it will be as good as new, sat on the shelf awaiting the rebuilding soon.
With the block now confirmed in good condition we can crack on and find that last £50K we desperately need to finish the project that is shaping up to be one of the most comprehensive in recent times.
Spot The Difference
So then, can anybody spot the difference?
What a difference two years have made on our Bogie Stores Van. Yes, both pictures are of the same end of the vehicle but after a first-class and very thorough rebuild the contrast is striking.
Not long now before painting begins!
Wheelie Good News
With the shotblasting and NDT of the driving wheels complete, all that was required was some minor remedial welding of some small cracks by a coded welder. The wheels were then primed and will shortly depart to South Devon Railway Engineering Ltd for new tyres to be fitted.
Stay tuned!
That’s What It’s All About!
On this day in 2011, our friends and hosts the Stainmore Railway Company operated the first public passenger trains to depart Kirkby Stephen East station since 20th January 1962. This marked the opening of the 'Stainmore 150' event which celebrated the 150th anniversary of the railway opening over Stainmore, and the beginning of a new chapter in its life.
The J21 was present, sat as a static exhibit in the bay platform. Next time it’s at Kirkby Stephen East there will be the unmistakable sight and smell of steam!
Stores Van Resurrection
While we’ve been talking a lot about the locomotive of late, the unique NER 1902 built Bogie Stores Van also being restored as part of the overall project has also been cracking on. A few months work on it yet but you can see it’s getting nearer to the finish line!
COPPER BOTTOMED!
A few days ago I had the pleasure of giving the nice chap at Locomotive Maintenance Services Ltd a cheque for £40,000 to buy copper sheeting for the new inner firebox; a wise investment with the World price starting to rise. It will be a little while yet but this beastie here will be replaced and refitted into the rebuilt J21 some time next year.
A Good Foundation
For some time yet the updates will look like a random collection of parts rather than a complete locomotive making progress. So, for your delectation this week, the new foundation ring to replace the very cracked and wasted one we inherited.
Onwards!!!
Fight for Funding Begins!
Arrived on the door mat today... the latest Steam Railway magazine featuring our appeal for £50,000 to build the new tender, fit a new copper firebox and get the J21 back in steam!
Our website details schemes for all levels of support that we need if we are to return this forgotten engine to steam. Things are happening again..... more to follow soon!
We’ve Been Framed!!!
Okay followers, who’d like to guess what these are........ 😁
A TOWER OF STRENGTH
Our friends and hosts the Stainmore Railway Company at Kirkby Stephen East have been recalling their award winning reconstruction of the NER water tower from Wharram in North Yorkshire.
Why significant? This was the first jointly delivered and funded project by both the LCLT and SRC.
Why joint? When restored to steam in 2022 our J21 will come home to its old haunt of Kirkby Stephen East; a North Eastern Railway engine on an NER line hauling NER stock. That’s what this and every LCLT project is about!
Lots to look forward to; stay safe everyone!
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD
With the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic delaying the return to steam of J21 65033, our contractor can at least do the necessary work at his home of preparing the CAD drawings for the new tender frames that will begin fabrication as soon as guidelines allow.
Measure once, measure twice, and then measure again!
Check out our website at www.lclt.org.uk and find out more about the locomotive and our other exciting projects..... all from the safety of your own home!