February Roundup

Alright it’s been a while since we last posted an update. Behind the scenes things are progressing and we hope to tell and show you more in due course.

The eagle-eyed among you may have noticed a slight yet significant amendment to our website. Where formally you may have seen a PayPal button we have now signed up with Charity Checkout; a UK-based charity service providing a platform for secure and simple online donations. One of the many benefits of Charity Checkout is that now in choosing to donate online, you can make your contribution go further if you are a UK resident by selecting Gift Aid. Formerly, we could only accept Gift Aid contributions through our donation and standing order forms that required the donor to download, fill out and mail the completed form to us). PayPal simply didn’t provide the option for Gift Aid.

Of course the forms are still available through the links provided at the top of this page and at the bottom of the main site but if you would like to donate to this build online through a safe and easy system that also allows you to drive your donation further with Gift Aid, you can do ithere. The ‘Donate Online’ at the top of this page also provides convenient access.

Coverage of our stand at the London Model Engineering Exhibition at the Ally Pally was extensive. Coverage included the BBC radio, Steam Railway, a number of local newspapers and Old Glory magazine which provided this excellent coverage:

OldGloryMarch2015

If you have an passion for Britain’s rich industrial heritage encompassing steam powered traction engines, stationary steam engines, historic transport on land and water then we heartily recommend this magazine.

On the fabrication front we will soon commence the creation of the entire smokebox. Jamie Keyte and his crew have been tasked with this and has commenced the creation of 3D model of the faceplate, wrapper and angle irons. We’ve included the plan below.

We are also investigated the fabrication of the bogie, which will constitute the most complicated fabrication thus far. The problem we face is that the plans we are in the process of sourcing from the NRM may not be complete and consequently we may not be able to locate the plans for the bogie wheels. All is not lost however as there is ample photographic evidence from which to construct plans and given the degree of standardisation employed by the LNWR, plans for other locomotives may indeed suffice.

We will keep you posted.