ON SHED EXTRA 1st November 2013

ON SHED EXTRA 1st November 2013

ON SHED EXTRA

Latest News

Locomotive projects and New Builds

Flying Scotsman restoration update

29 Oct 2013

The National Railway Museum has today announced that work to complete the restoration to mainline operation of the iconic locomotive Flying Scotsman, will be undertaken by Riley & Son (E), Bury. The locomotive is moving from York to Bury today.

The announcement comes during the Museums Autumn Great Gathering showcase, a celebration of another Gresley–designed steam giant, the worlds fastest locomotive Mallard which broke the world speed record 75 years ago. The dazzling display of all six survivors of Gresley’ A4 class pulled in 20,000 visitors in its opening weekend.

Taking the advice of engineering specialists First Class Partnerships, a decision was made earlier this year to complete the remaining stages of the project using an external contractor and tenders were sought. Riley & Son (E), Bury were appointed as an outcome of their successful bid to take on this high profile project –making a 1920s locomotive, the sole survivor of the A3 class, fit to operate within the stringent requirements of today’s modern railway network.

Paul Kirkman, Director of the National Railway Museum, commented:
"We are pleased to have appointed a contractor with the specialist skills and expertise required for the final stages of the project. We are now progressing cautiously towards completing the restoration, subject to reviewing the condition of the main side frames. We are currently showcasing British engineering genius, with our Mallard 75 Autumn Great Gathering celebration so it’s great that we can now announce the next step for another Gresley-designed icon. Now contracts are signed, Flying Scotsman will leave our museum for Bury so work can commence as soon as possible."

Ian Riley, Director of Riley & Sons, added:
"We have been closely involved with this complex project to restore this iconic locomotive to working order. We are delighted to have been selected to work together with the museum to see the restoration through to completion and its first two years of operation."

The remaining works that will be undertaken at Bury include the alignment of the middle steam cylinder. All three steam cylinders are also currently oversize and need to be fitted with new liners and rebored to a nominal 19 inch diameter. This corrective work on the cylinders means that they will have to be separated from the frames of the well-known locomotive.
There is a small section of the main side frames that cannot be examined until the steam cylinders are removed. A final assessment of the viability of the restoration will be made once the condition of this final piece of the locomotive is known.

First Class Partnerships will continue to provide specialist engineering and project management advice to the museum.

The timescales involved with the remaining stages mean that Flying Scotsman will not operate on the mainline before Summer 2015.

Once the return to mainline operation is complete, a commercial partnership agreement has been reached, under which Riley & Sons will manage the operation of the locomotive for a period of two years. This will include a programme of ongoing maintenance and helping to resolve any issues that may arise.

Welcome to the official website of the Victorian Steam Locomotive Company, which will keep you up to date and informed about the V499 Project.

“Whatever the mind can Conceive, and Believe, can be Achieved!”

A powerful statement that many of us would have seen and heard over the years and one that every great achiever has known, from athletes and artists to builders and the railway preservation industry. This statement can be said to be true for those who in 1990, muted the idea of building a new A1 class steam locomotive, filling a gap in the preservation of LNER designs. In 2008 their vision was realised after 18 years of hard work, persistence and determination.

This website http://www.vicsteam.com/  will provide you with a bevy of information about the V499 Project, from archival photographs, history of the V class locomotives and who the Victorian Steam Locomotive Company is, to an increasing video collection, bi-monthly newsletters and details of our supporters. You will find all the details of how your business can support our project, or how you can donate to us as an individual.

We are building this new locomotive which will have the appearance of the original V class locomotives – in the condition that represents the period 1899-1902. We are planning on providing an efficient, easy-to-maintain and powerful engine that is highly capable for many years of service in the 21st Century. Some examples are: Roller bearings for the wheels, higher grade steel for coupling and connecting rods, original boiler pressure of 200lbs, welded tender (with dummy rivets) and various other improvements.

You can donate to the V499 Project right now, by simply clicking on the ‘Subscribe‘ button on the right hand side of your screen. This will take you to Pay Pal where for only $5Au a week ($22Au per calendar month) you can automatically donate to the project.

The Latest Compound Chronicle
TCC014 November 2013









The Ground-Up Club will consist of at least 100 members, whose objective is to raise the funds for the cutting, delivery and assembly of the frames for Vauclain Compound locomotive V499.


Members of The Ground-Up Club each donate $1,000 ($250 a month over a period of 4 months) allowing the purchase of the steel and subsequent cutting to take place, hopefully during late 2014. In return for this commitment and as well as being the first major contributors to this unique project, members receive these
exclusive benefits:
* An invitation to see and follow V499’s first loaded test train
* Reserved VIP seat on V499’s first public train
* Reasonable access to V499 at all times, during construction and in operation
* 30 inch B&W photo of V499, taken by the Victorian Railways in 1903
* Opportunity to join the team building V499
* First choice of components to sponsor
* Limited edition photograph (signed/numbered) of the official launch photograph of V499
* A cab ride in the locomotive during the ‘supporters thank-you’ day

This is where it all get’s real – building the frames of V499. One of the most vital parts of the locomotive. This is no longer a pipe dream, or a wouldn’t it be nice to-do… It will happen. However, we do need your assistance.

If you would like any help becoming a member of The Ground-Up Club, or have any further questions, do not hesitate to get in touch by emailing us at
info@vicsteam.com


ON SHED EXTRA 1st November 2013