Bulleid Society - Blackmoor Vale

STATUS REPORTS 2006

November 2006

The syphon elbow patch is still awaited from Pridhams.

No date for a retrun to trafic is curently available.

September 2006

The syphon elbow patch is still awaited from Pridhams. The three flexible stays on the syphon diaphragm now await removal and then replacement.

July 2006

No 21C123 is out of traffic while further repairs are being carried out on the firebox. This is due to a leak in the elbow of the right hand syphon and the need to replace three flexible stays in the diaphragm of the same syphon.

This type of patch repair was a standard SR/BR procedure along with the replacement of flexible stays.

May 2006

The repairs to Blackmoor Vale's firebox have been completed. This involved welding a crack sited on the inner firebox plate below the door and replacing three small tubes. The fire was lit up on Wednesday (10th May) to warm the platework through and the boiler was brought up to working pressure yesterday and satisfactorily passed its steam test with no apparent problems.

No.21C123 was back in traffic for Bluebell's Southern at War weekend (13/14th May) and will be in service for about three weeks.



Blackmoor Vale in the yard of Sheffield Park on Thursday 11th May. The Locomotive has been thoroughly cleaned by the Society's Chairman, John Fry, ready for its return to traffic. Photo: © John Fry



No.21C123 at work during the 'Southern at War' weekend. Photo: © Paul Pettitt



Blackmoor Vale, with steam to spare, amongst the bluebells. Photo: © Nick Beck

April 2006 -Update

No.21C123 has failed due to typical Bulleid firebox problems. The extent of the problem is still being investigated.

April 2006

No.21C123 is back in traffic. This is the earliest in the year that the engine has worked and is due predominantly to the lack of availability of other locomotives in Bluebell's fleet.



The unusual sight of Blackmoor Vale taking on coal at Sheffield Park on a bright April evening. The Atlantic shed (to the right) is taking shape. Photo: © John Fry

During the winter, work was undertaken by Tony Deller to refurbish the drive to the Wakefield lubricator supplying the middle engine. The footplate gauges were removed and cleaned. Machining is awaited of a new Klinger valve supplying steam to the Stone's turbo generator.

Much of the grime was removed from the engine's wheels and the brake gear also received similar attention.


The dirty but valuable job of emptying the smokebox of all the accumulated ash.
Photo: © John Fry

March 2006

Blackmoor Vale was unexpectedly called back into service over the weekend of 4th/5th March to stand in for failed locomotives.



	No.21C123 at Horsted Keynes on Sunday 5th March. Photo © Tom Waghorn

February 2006

It is 60 years since No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale
entered service on 4th February 1946



On Wednesday 16th November 2005 Blackmoor Vale was used on a photo-charter to re-create a Kent Coast Pullman boat-train. Photo © Jon Bowers

Blackmoor Vale is not currently in service - having been 'Winterised' and withdrawn for the winter period - but it is getting a lot of TLC from members of the Bulleid Society to get it ready for its anniversary year!

Join us in toasting this fine locomotive and in thanking those far sighted people who raised money to purchase No. 34023 from British Railways to ensure future generations could enjoy an unrebuilt Bulleid pacific at work!

January 2006

No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale has been taken out of traffic for the winter period. The boiler and tender have been drained and the tender cleared of coal. The fire box has been thoroughly cleaned and oiled along with the front and rear tubeplates to prevent decay.

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STATUS REPORTS 2006

It is 60 years since No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale entered service on 4th February 1946

PREVIOUS REPORTS

It is 60 years since No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale
entered service on 4th February 1946