Hopefully members have received their latest edition of Gridiron.
SInce Gridiron went to press we have seen 56301 move from Loughborough to Boden Rail Engineering at Rectory Junction. There the locomotive will undergo final work to prepare it for return to mainline use and long awaited transfer of ownership to Cappagh/DCR.
56006 – our volunteers numbers continue to grow and as a result there is steady progress on returning 56006 to service after it’s winter hibernation. We now have a healthy pool of around 15 volunteers , and most are progressing through the ELR safety process to ensure they are fully aware of the methods of safe working.
Next working dates are 1st/ 2nd March and 22nd / 23rd March with others being planned. The objective is to get the loco ready for starting up during April in advance of testing and prep ready for the ELR Summer Gala.
Please get in touch if you want to get involved. It is an interesting fact that most of our new volunteers have come from the ELR side of things, very few are home grown from our pool of 200 C56G members.
Those attending the Autumn gala will recall 56006 wasn’t developing full power and we this will be investigated and hopefully resolved before the Gala.
A good day yesterday, even if it was a bit chilly.
56006, for once! , did exactly what it was supposed to do. That is sit in the platform, do exactly nothing , and look so unloved that it encourages people to not only join thd C56G but to volunteer to help work on the loco.
Fortunately the rather faded and weathered side of 56006 was on the platform side.
And it worked, we recruited 8 new members , at least three of which have already begun the process of becoming working volunteers. Welcome on board.
Our layout ‘ Arnold Lane’ was reunited with 56006 for the first time since they both appeared together at Bartow Hill.
56301 has been out on trial runs yesterday and today
37099 was under test and 56301 went along as back up and also to carry out preliminary testing on the 56.The pair ran out to Allington Junction.
Work to prepare 56301 for a return to use will continue at Colwick.
56006 will be a static exhibit at the above event.
We will have a small C56G stand near the loco and our 00 gauge layout ‘Arnold Lane’ will be present too.
Visitors will be welcome to take a look on the loco, talk to volunteers about our plans and how to join the Class 56 Group or even how to get involved ( while that can be on the loco itself, there are other aspects of the group which also need volunteers- such as admin and sales activities.).
56301 has moved under its own power today from UKRL Loughborough to Rectory Junction where BREL will carry out work related to the signing off of the locomotive repairs.
56301 had been load banked at UKRL prior to today’s move.
Further testing including loaded test runs will need to take place before the locomotive can at last be transferred to the ownership of the Cappagh Group.
The 3 day tour is named the Jugo Brush. Details in links below .
https://www.wnxxforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=39147&sid=c6e5c546a64dec0197f9526d346dc92e
Update 24th September 2024.
In the week following the ELR gala the technical team started working through the loco systems methodically to resolve the low power issues witnessed during the Autumn Gala, eliminating possible causes and moving onto the next possible cause.
As usual no pressure – but the ELR had already requested and announced 56006 be used on the 3 booked diesel turns (with 40145) the day after the CFPS members day on the 29th September. Even at low power it was felt the loco is a big draw and could boost attendance on the Saturday.
As a result of the post gala investigation the Engine Speed Valve (ESV2) was checked and the solenoid coil found to be breaking down when the 110v supply was applied. The coil was failing unpredictably and sometimes it checked out ok and a few minutes later it was in a fail condition. As a result the valve was not reliably sending sufficient air pressure to the engine Governor to make the engine reach full power. This is what we saw at the gala when the loco would develop full power on a few occasions, but the rest of the time it reverted to half power as the valve wasn’t being opened by the failing electric coil.
As it happened one of the technical team had a spare in his van and was going to attend Baron Street on the Friday 27th to fit it. Hopefully 56006 will perform at full power and start its long awaited period of decent reliability.
Following the CFPS members day on the 28th , 56006 should partner 40145 for the diesel turn in the Sunday 29th September. Subject to availability.
Sunday 15th September.
Gala all over now and we are really pleased to report that 56006 performed all timetabled duties.
56006 passes Ewood Bridge working 1G65 Bury-Rawtenstall.
Photo Alfie Mottershead
The loco was only producing decent power output at low speeds and the power dropped off as speed increased. While the power was adequate for most sections and train loads on occasion one of the other locos gave a bit of a shove. After all the issues we’ve had in the last three years we are just glad the locomotive appeared at the gala and survived both days. A few negative comments were far outweighed by positive support and that’s great to hear.
Our greatest achievement has been building up our volunteer team to the point we are not reliant on the original core team of three or four regular volunteers.
We now have a decent team and without their involvement and efforts 56006 wouldn’t have progressed to the state we saw at the Gala.
So I’d like to thank the team:-
In no particular order , Mick Palfreyman , Danny Sladdin, Alan Flockhart, Phil Vidamour, Gareth Broughton, George Bulmer, Peter Coates, Alex Bulmer, Harrison Phillips, Paul Hulme, Allan Robertson.David Argent and many others involved in the background.
The Bury Hydraulic Group helped with some welcome online publicity for the Gala and specifically 56006’s return to traffic. The YouTube video may give the impression the whole of the BHG were involved with 56006 ,but it was mainly one chap, Malc who worked alongside our Tecnical Officer Mick Palfreyman for best part of a week to iron out the electrical issues on the locos complex fault detection circuitry. These issues were affecting the basic functioning of the locomotive and if they hadn’t been resolved the loco would have been a no show for the gala.
To mark the fact that both Mick and Malc were instrumental in making sure 56006 was available for the gala we’ve reallocated 56006 to the depot where they worked/work.
So with our core C56G team, supplemented by BHG and CFPS we have a much bigger team than we had, and we even have some younger volunteers which is essential. These younger volunteers are in the process of overhauling our communications and focusing on website and other firms of social media and this is already beginning to take effect and the team are aiming to give regular updates as we progress with work on 56006. A C56G on line shop and online membership and donation options are soon to be introduced ( which is something we should already have but plan to catch up fast)
In summary
We’ve got the loco to the stage we saw at the gala and there is a plan to investigate the possible causes of the low power issue.
But, we still have a lot to do and need your continuing support to get 56006 back in great condition.
Support , whether that is financial or volunteering, is what we will need to progress.
If you’ve read this far, thank you for interest in the Class 56 Group. If you want to get in touch please use the email address on the website, or our other developing social media platforms.
13th September 2024. GALA DAY #1
Considering 56006 was still effectively continuing test running,albeit in front of a decent crowd of people who were very eager to experience the return to service, the locomotive wasn’t performing 100% and did require a little assistance from the class 40 at some stages. .
That said the loco fulfilled all its duties and at the end of the day the class 50 was put on top of 56006 and 40145 for the final run to Heywood. At Heywood the 50 had an issue and 56006 was used to bring the whole train back to Bury. We stopped on the approach to Bury , but that wasn’t the 56 but a brake application from the 40 or the 50. On this run 56006 suddenly decided it would do what it should do and gave full power at various points on the run back to Bury. We then propelled the 50 back to Baron Street and stabled up for Saturdsy.
An early start for the team today as we’re going to try and fathom what the issue is, although the 56 did seem to fix itself on the final run.
Given the other issues encountered by several other locos during the day we are pleased 56006 survived the day unscathed and is out again today 13:50 is first train.
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12th September 2024
After some minor attention today, 56006 has been declared fit for the Gala this weekend. Subject to the usual caveats of course.
The volunteer team are really looking forward to the weekend.
11th September 2024
56006 undertook planned test runs today.There is some further resting to carry out tomorrow and then a fitness to run examination needs completing.
Updates to follow tomorrow.
Monday 9th September 2024.
56006 is expected to go on a test run on Wednesday afternoon. Of course things can change but loco should undergo further testing while running on the section between Bury and Heywood.
Saturday 7th September – early evening
A successful day today with all planned jobs being completed.
Enjoy this video made by our friends at the Bury Hydraulic Group showing some of recent efforts to get 56006 ready.
A test run is being planned for one day this coming week. Details to follow.
Saturday 7th September 2024 early morning
More testing on 56006 took place yesterday and in late afternoon the loco was taken for a short test run involving a run up Broadfield Bank on the way up to Heywood. No issues were reported and a further days work today should see some outstanding jobs completed. These include fully refitting the roof and floor plates which had to be removed to facilitate the overhauled traction blower motor to be refitted. Tidying up the cabs and generally removing the multitude of tools and test equipment from the loco in anticipation of some form of loaded test run which should take place in 6 days we have left before the Autumn Gala.
Updates to follow as we have more to tell.
56006 seen during recent preparation for an anticipated return to service at the upcoming Autumn Diesel Gala (Friday 13th/ Saturday 14th)
Thursday 5th September 2024
Further to earlier reports, we have managed to progress some of the electrical issues using a combination of C56G and BHG (Bury Hydraulic Group) Technical teams.
Progress is being made the loco taking power but still throwing up a few other issues. Work has been carried out during the weekend and Monday and Tuesday this week.
Further testing is continuing today (Wednesday) and a small team of volunteers are attending on Saturday to carry out :-
refitting of floor plates and covers and a general tidy up of cabs etc in advance of a possible test run next week.
Replacing a defective Ammeter, Temperature control module and fixing a cab droplight.
Of course the outcome is heavily dependent on the efforts of the technical team during today and we will update as they report back later today.
Further to the last update:-
56301– repairs continue- power unit is being reassembled but can only be progressed so far until two specially made bearings are received. These were necessary as one of the journals on the crankshaft had to be reground which then required a non standard diameter bearing to be fitted. Bearings were on around a 6 week lead time and are expected around end of September.
56006- the blower motor which caught fire ( resulting in the loco being withdrawn from the summer gala) has been overhauled and refitted. Fault finding continued on the outstanding issues and is continuing as I write , to try and get the loco available for the Autumn Gala. As is usual I will update any progress on here as and when we know more from the chaps on the ground.
We make no promises – despite having a significant increase in volunteers , this kind of testing is a skilled job and we only have a couple of volunteers capable of carrying this work out. Key restrictions are people’s day jobs/ Holiday season and family commitments…….
However as always we are striving to have the loco ready but obviously a lot of things influence that.
Website– at our recent AGM ( a full report to members will appear in the next Gridiron ) we agreed some action which should see our website and our facebook page updated more frequently ( with more reports on restoration on 56006 to suplement the reports on current mailnine workings) . Three of our new volunteers are keen to progress this aspect of our communication , which has been rather poor over the last few years- again due to lack of volunteers .
Online sales will also be subject to this teams remit and hopefully changes are afoot……
Unfortunately , despite determined efforts, it is not going to be possible to have 56006 available for the upcoming Gala. The recent small fire has put an additional workload on the team -which is additional to the existing list of repairs and work needed to bring 56006 back into traffic.
The good news is that our team of volunteers has grown over the last two months and we now feel we have the makings of a strong team which should allow steady progress on 56006 and we are hoping to complete repairs and carry out some thorough testing in advance of the Autumn Gala.
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