TIR Ltd

Archive for June, 2009

Steam Up at Chirk!

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

On Saturday 27th June 2009, Chirk Fun Day played host to the first working narrow gauge steam engine in Chirk for over 74 years.

The Glyn Valley Tramway Trust undertook the operation in conjunction with TIR Ltd who supplied the locomotive.

Volunteers constructed a 120-foot long temporary tramway in the Car Park of the AAA Sport Club in Chirk (venue of the Fun day) using materials transported free of charge to the site by Richard Burbidge Ltd. Jewson of Chirk provided two dump-bags of sand to act as a buffer stop at one end (with a real one at the other)

On Thursday 25th, the loco was steamed at Statfold Works and ran a number of trips along the line there to test the new Regulator Valve. The loco worked faultlessly. 

Duncan Milner’s Lorry arrived at 09:00 and the loco was on its way by 12:00 arriving at Chirk at  14:00 on Friday 26th and the engine was unloaded onto the track by 15:00 after which the volunteers including Ben Williams, David Carter, Ian Davies, Ken Nowell Terry Evans and Will Appleton, laid the remainder of the track while the engine was lit up.

The Tramway Trust provided their first loco Crew for the morning of Saturday 27th, consisting of Dave Dilnot (Driver & Fireman) and Pete Ward (Driver, who also drives for Wrexham & Shropshire in his spare time!) assisted by Chris Phillimore of TIR. The loco was in full steam and running up and down the (very short!) length of track by 11am.

After the rain cleared and the gates opened the engine was flooded with young and old keen to get on the footplate. Approximately 143 people visited the engine during the day and the sound of the whistle (pulled vigorously by young and old) drifted across the town: no-one could be in any doubt that the Glyn Valley Tramway was back in town! Distinguished visitors included Cllr Hilary Spragg, Chair of Chirk Town Council. Many people came forward with stories of the old Tramway including a lady whose great-grandfather was a ‘driver’ on the original horse-tramway to Gledrid!

Through careful management of the fire she did not blow off once despite the restricted operation. The loco was back on the road by 10:00 on Sunday!

This event marked another milestone in the GVT Trust’s ambitious plan to re-open a section of the late-lamented Glyn Valley Tramway in Chirk.  The Trust had a marquee with displays of the proposals for the Tramway that have been developed over the last 6 months.  There were also sales stand and displays of models of the Tramway.

TIR is pleased to have been able to support the Trust in this important and well attended event and look forward to continuing to work with them as the project develops

Posted in Glyn Valley Tramway, La Meuse 3243 | No Comments »

Narrow gauge steam returns to Chirk after 74 years!

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

On Saturday 27th June 2009, Chirk Fun Day will play host to the first working narrow gauge steam engine in Chirk for over 70 years.

TIR will be supplying our ‘La Meuse’ loco to the GVT Trust to run on temporary track at the AAA Show ground in Chirk from 10am to 4pm. Visitors will be able to visit the loco cab (for a small donation to the Trust) and watch it run along a short length of track. Visitors will receive a Certificate to commemorate the event. The loco will carry as near accurate as possible ‘GVT’ livery, complete with lining and lettering.

TIR is very pleased to have been given the opportunity of supplying a loco for this high-profile event. Thanks should also go to Richard Burbage Ltd (Chirk and Oswestry) and Jewsons (Chirk) for their support to the trust in supplying transport and materials for the track.

This event will mark another milestone in the GVT Trust’s ambitious plan to re-open a section of the late-lamented Glyn Valley Tramway in Chirk.  The Trust will have a marquee with displays of the proposals for the Tramway that have been developed over the last 6 months.  There will also be a sales stand and displays of models of the Tramway. In a recent Public Consultation at Chirk, 94% of those who completed a questionnaire were in favour of the Trust’s proposals to re-instate 1 mile of the former Tramway route from Chirk Station as a heritage attraction.

The Trust intends that the re-creation of the Tramway will act as a stimulant to the local economy attracting more visitors to the area and boosting local businesses and the community.

The Trust is confident that steam engines can be running on part of the original Glyn Valley Tramway route by the end of 2010.  To make this happen they will need continued support from local people and railway enthusiasts alike.  To support the Trust come along to the event, become a member and help make it happen

This project has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Additional funding has been given by Wrexham CBC.

For more information about the Glyn Valley Tramway Trust please go to their website: www.glynvalleytramway.co.uk

 

 

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La Meuse at the SBR Open day

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

The loco was successfully run on Friday 5th June without any problems, hauling a variety of trains around the entire line and proving that the air brake system was functioning. The crew for Friday consisted of Dave Dilnot(Trustee GVT trust) and myself and we were later joined for the last trip by Keith Vingoe (MD L&B Rly)

Saturday dawned very wet and along with the 7 other locos, she was steamed and was the first to come off shed. We were sent down the line to water at Oak Tree Loop while shunting went on and when we returned we were put straight onto the Mixed passenger. After the usual Crew briefing at 09:30 we were dispatched as first train. Our crew for the first trip consisted of Keith Vingoe, Pete ward (W&S Driver and formerlyof Hammersly Iron in Australia where he drove Pendennis Castle on a number of trips and was instrumental in getting her repatriated!) and myself. we ran easily on the outbound trip to the loop, however when we came to leave after the second train had passed, Ifound that the reverser was very stiff. once going there appeared to be no problems and we stormed the bank with ease! Once again leaving Oak Tree halt we experienced the same problem and after arriving at Statfold Central we decided to retire to shed for an investigation. After much shunting up and down, we came to the conclusion that the regulator valve was not closing properly. The fire was thrown out and steam allowed to escape which took over an hour. Dismantling of the (very hot) regulator housing showed that the valve had warped and was not repairable on the day. Further investigation has shown that the valve as fitted, may have an inherent tendency to drop into the port thereby causing the distortion. A new modified valve will be made and the loco will be available again within a few days.

We were nevertheless very disappointed to have let everyone down and hope that we will be able to show the loco’s true abilities later in the year. The next public event will be an appearance at Chirk on 27th June - watch this space for more info!

I would particularly like to thank Graham Lee and all the guys at Statfold Works and especially Phil Bates. My thanks also go to David Dilnot, Keith Vingoe, Pete Ward and David Herbert for their help as ’support crew’

Posted in La Meuse 3243 | No Comments »

La Meuse 3243 steams!

Monday, June 1st, 2009

On Wedsnesday 27th May 2009, our steam loco gained a new 10 year boiler ticket. The loco had been steamed a couple of times in advance of the final Inspection (the boiler had been steamed out of the frames for the Inspector before) to check everything was sound. After some minor fettling the loco was pronounced sound and passed fit.

The loco has also had a full-repaint and only a few jobs remain including completing the polishing up of some of the shiny parts! After the Inspector had left the loco was given a good ‘load test’ hauling a two SAR wagons loaded with heavy, rusty diesels up the very steep gradient on the Statfiold Barn Railway where the loco is based. Brief experience has shown that a reasonably thick fire is needed, particularly at the front as the blast is quite hard and the fire can lift. With a good fire and the injector running, the bottom of the bank was approached a low speed (there is no opportunity to charge the bank as there is a very steep curve at the foot!) with the loco blowing off. With about 20% regulator she charged up the bank and had to be eased off before the top as the train was accellerating rapidly. By the time we came to a stand in the passing loop the loco blew off again!

I think it would be fair to say that she is a bit of a beast - the loco was built originally for a steelworks in Antwerp and has a theroretical TE of over 8,000lbs! A little bit of historical update - the loco was bought carrying the original works plates of No 3355 of 1929. During the overhaul many components were identified on the  chassis with the number 3243. This was a sister loco which was supplied to te same owner in 1926. We have to conclude therefore that the loco is a hybrid of the two as the boiler has a plate with 3355 on it. We do not know when this ‘merger’ took place. The side tanks are also clearly not original but the cab is! She will run as 3243….probably!

For those of you lucky people who will at the SBR Open Day on 6th June, we intend to be the star of the show, blackening the skies and deafening the wildlife (with apologies to my environmentalist friends!)

Photos will be posted on the gallery.

Posted in La Meuse 3243 | 1 Comment »

TIR rescues historic Signal Box

Monday, June 1st, 2009

TIR is pleased to announce that phase 1 of ‘Operation Axminster’ is complete. This project has taken over 12 months to come to fruition to remove and ultimately re-erect and restore the original LSWR Crossing Keeper’s Box from Axminster Gates (Level Crossing). Network Rail is in the process of an exciting project of line enhancement on the Waterloo - Exeter route that will see an hourly service to london for the first time in over 40 years! As part of the works a three-mile section of the line around Axminster is being re-doubled. TIR’s managing director, Chris Phillimore became aware, through Industry contacts, that the original Box would be in the way of the works which include new signalling controls and re-alignment of the track.

The building which was one of only two remaining along the route is beleived to date from the 1880s and was erected to house the winding wheel for the manual gates and a 6 or 8 lever frame to operate the signals either side of the crossing. The structure is a timber semi-sectional building in softwood with a slate roof and glazed on three sides. Although much altered including erection of a brick chimney at some stage and more recently boarding over 3 of the 4 sliding windows at the front, the building was substantially original. Dismantling has revealed a number of interesting historical features - two sperate locations for the chimney from the original cast-iron stove passing through the roof boarding, the original wooden flooring still showing the shape of the frame where it sat in the floor, a five-foot deep void below with traces of the mountings for the frame and winding gear and much more including a large pile of coal in the corner of the basement!

Phase 2 which wil begin in a week or so will be to concerve, re-erect, and repair the structure at private site in the South-West. This will include using the excellent condition bricks (stamped ‘PINHOE’ in two different styles recovered from the chimney and rear lean-to) to make a new base and manufacture of new windows to replace the missing ones. The work should be complete by the autumn.

To undertake the work TIR had to create and have approved a Work Package Plan and other documentation to NR standard to integrate the works within the overall project. Much of the dismantling was undertaken over 30th / 31st May in connection with a total Blockade of the line. TIR also provided a COSS and suitably  workers to undertake the work.

TIR would like to thank the following individuals for their assistance: James Lofts and David Morris  at Network Rail, Stuart Barnes and John Skeet of BAM Nuttal Construction and all the other local guys from NR Operations, Bam Nuttal, S&T Cover Ltd who were so helpful!

Photos will be posted on the gallery

Watch this space for progres on Phase 2!

Posted in Railway Buildings | 2 Comments »