March News

Update March 20th

The boiler inspector has been satisfied we're not going to blow ourselves up for another year and all is ready for the Easter steamings, though next winter will bring some repairs to the Marshall which were highlighted in the recent inspection. The steam test also gave a chance to check out some of the engines before the start of the new season: Ian found a slight problem on the Sissons, mainly that the LP end didn't have any oil and SOMEBODY had forgotten to plug off a gauge connection. Apart from this it seems to be working okay and replacing the two covers on the engine bodies with clear perspex sheet gives an insight into the guts of another engine. The exhaust pipework to the two turbines has been finished and the pedestal governor for the gas pressure raiser bolted back in place. The next operation will be to make a connection from it to the fan and see if it works!

The painting of the truck for the rope hauled railway has been finished. The haulage rope is somewhat long for the length of siding and there remains working out the best way of connecting the wagon but we hope to have it working at Easter. The Easton & Amos pump was also run up during the steam test and seems to be ready for another season.

Yet More Progress!

The Wills is back together and just awaits the next steaming to see if the repairs have had the desired effect. The Sissons in the main hall is now fixed onto its new steel frame and repiped, with the exception of a few drains, and the damaged LP valve spindle fettled. Nick and Athena painted the whole thing with red primer and Ian followed up with what is claimed to be the correct shade of Sissons 'battleship grey'. Another loan of the pipe threader has allowed us to pipe up the exhausts from the two turbines, although completion is delayed while I source some more 2.5" pipe!

Moves are now afoot to lift the Coltman boiler at the end of the month. The boiler will be placed in the car park ready for collection by the West Coker team and we can then start turning the boiler house into a combined workshop and pump display area, leaving space in the hall free for the Culverwell.

No sooner had Bill fitted spacers to the Marshall's firebars and put them back, than I removed them again for the boiler inspector. This year the inspection has been arranged four months early to get it out of the way during the closed season and some work was identified to be carried out this coming winter, mainly replacing some of the firebox stays.

Outside on the railway, Harold has almost finished painting the skip wagon which will be pulled up and down the siding by the Hemyock winch while Tony is putting the final touches to the trackwork by the car park. Bill and the 'A' team spent a Tuesday ripping the roofs off a couple of cow sheds at the adjoining farm. The sheds were due to be demolished and were clad with roofing sheets in very good condition, ideal for any of several projects we are talking about. Ian has also located a large building which would be ideal to house the Marshall, the large Ruston diesel and the allermoor engines, plus the contents of the tin shed which it would replace.

On the historic scrap acquisition front, the Environment Agency delivered the remains of Brunel's automatic tide gates from Langport to the station at the start of the month. These have been buried in mud for the past century and a half and most of the timberwork has rotted away, though other metal parts are still in moderately good condition. There are four gates and we propose to erect the best pair in 'as dug up' condition out in the 'sculpture park' together with the gates from Highbridge Clyse which have been sitting there for some years.

Andy

Photographs of machinery and buildings are © Westonzoyland Engine Trust 2008 Official Location Address: Westonzoyland Pumping Station, Hoopers Lane, Westonzoyland, nr. Bridgwater, Somerset TA7 0LS (Please do NOT send letters to this address, there is no letterbox!).
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