NEW WATER TANK

There is a new structure visible at Boat of Garten Station. Using salvaged components from Alloa, a proper water tank structure with a capacity of 7000 gallons has been erected. This was done by contractor Ross & Thomson of Huntly, who also recently erected the new carriage shed. The cost has been shared by SRC & SRA (who donated £3000).

The tank will be plumbed in over the summer and connected in the next close season allowing the temporary, installed in the 1970s, tank to be disposed of at last. The visual appearance of the station area will improve.

The new tank is offset slightly to allow safe platform access and to allow a new signal to be added in due course.

Alan Stuart, Davie Dow, George Macnair and others had earlier done a lot of preparatory work cleaning up the old cast iron sections.

The tank will be painted black and some thought will be given to insulating it, easing the problems of watering locos in the winter.

This is a big improvement in the SRC infrastructure and was a very badly needed. It is a good example of recycling old but quite sound material.
 

The restoration of Ivatt Class 2MT No 46512 IS COMPLETE

The restoration of Ivatt Class 2MT No 46512 is complete and on the 11th of March, the loco was rolled out at Aviemore yard.

After last year’s impressive return of Caledonian Locomotive No 828, Friday 11th March saw the return of the LMS designed steam locomotive number 46512 after restoration, overhaul and re-paint thanks to the help of the Heritage Lottery Fund. After a complete re-build under the control of Shed Foreman Colin Vaughan and expertly finished and lined out by Murray Duncan whose attention to detail has resulted in another superb sight for regular services on the Strathspey line.

Things could have been very different for No 46512 which was retired from BR service in 1967 and sent to Woodham’s scrapyard in South Wales for cutting up. Fortunately, the yard owner had other priorities which meant that this and other locomotives were placed on sidings awaiting their fate. In March 1973, the recently established Strathspey Railway Company was looking for suitable steam locos for its Aviemore to Boat of Garten line and this one was purchased and stored initially at the Severn Valley Railway where restoration began before being taken up to Aviemore in 1982. Founding director, Mr Eric Cooper, was particularly responsible for her acquisition and return to service in Aviemore.

After full restoration and appropriate naming as “E V Cooper Engineer” the locomotive ran on the Strathspey line from 2000 until 2005 when boiler tube and bearing problems prompted her withdrawal. Since then she has awaited funding for a further restoration to service condition. The works cost a total of £142,800 with the Heritage Lottery Fund contributing £50,000. While much of the work was done by SRC engineers and volunteers at Aviemore shed, certain specialist contractors were needed for work on the boiler, wheels, axle boxes and springs. The SRC is also grateful for private financial contributions as well as help from some local engineering firms and Inverness College.

You can see the various stages of the restoration of locomotive No 46512 in a new gallery here.
 

OFF comes the boiler.

The boiler of 5025 came out of her frames in early March, which will allow for the remaining small tubes will be removed. This will allow three different boiler repair contractors to come and give us a quotation for the overhaul of the boiler. It is hoped to have all the quotations by the end of spring time. While this is ongoing, the locomotive and tender wheel sets will be removed and despatched to a contractor for the tyres to be turned.
 

RESTORATION Work Has Started on LMS BLACK 5 NO 5025

A start has been made on removing the boiler on LMS black 5 No. 5025.  The lift is scheduled to take place on Thursday the 23rd of February 2011. This will allow for a full survey of the 70 year old engines boiler allowing a more accurate estimate of the cost for the locos overhall and eventual return to traffic.

In this image we see the engine's cab roof being removed in preparation for the lift by the staff at Aviemore shed.