28/5/16 The Left and Right springs had the pins through "T" links removed. Left and right axle box keep pins knocked out, the keeps removed, amazingly the wool packing in the keeps is still pliable. Both axle box's removed from the leading driving wheel journals. The journals were cleaned, greased with Denso grease primer and wrapped in Denso Tape as were the eccentrics. The leading driving wheel horn stays were cleaned, painted and refitted. The left driving wheel spring hangers are in the molasses rust removal bath with the hope that it may help loosen the seized pins. One of the pony truck spring hangers was found to have a crack. This crack was checked with flaw penetrant. The crack has been grooved out, welded up slowly cooled in lime.All other pony truck spring hangers have been in the molasses bath, cleaned, given a zinc phosphate treatment then painted. Only about four of the sixteen pony truck spring hanger pins are reusable so new ones will have to be turned up. At $205.00 a length for material they will be manufactured when the material can be afforded. The left and right horn wedge guides are being surface ground to remove the slight pitting at the lower ends of guides. 25/06/16 The cold weather and illness has hit us at Inveresk making the removal of the remaining seized components on the frame arduous. Since the last post.

This report in the Don River Railways E Happenings Newsletter September 2015 indicates that it is very similar to the statement reported in the Don River Railways Minutes of September 2015. This is not reflective of the "Cosmetic Overhaul" as latterly supported by some in the Railways Management.

This Project has come to an abrupt end!

Due to internal politics of the Don River Railway, this project to pass on knowledge and  restore Dubs locomotive #1415 has come to an abrupt end, with management withdrawing support for the locomotives restoration.

It is with regret I wish to inform followers of this blog that the Dub`s 1415 project will no longer go ahead as the Don River Railway Board of Management withdrew the successful application of $185,206.00.from the Tasmanian Community Fund (TCF).

http://www.tascomfund.org/grant_recipients/general_grant_rounds/grant_round_33

33Large00013

Van Diemen Light Railway Society Inc (withdrawn by applicant)

Macquarie Harbour Breakwater Railway Steam Locomotive Restoration Project

$185,206.00

Launceston

Note: The TCF application was called Macquarie Harbour Breakwater Railway Steam Locomotive Restoration Project (Dub`s 1415).

How this proposed project came about.
At the Don River Railway Board of Management Meeting on Monday 21^st September 2015 as recorded in the minutes, the proposal was put forward by D.C. in Correspondence dated June 2015 regarding a succession plan to pass on skills to younger members of the DRR. The intent in this was to restore Dub`s 1415 locomotive to working order to enable steam era skills to be passed on to a younger generation and also to try and attract more younger members to improve the longevity of steam operations of the DRR.
There was no mention of cosmetic overhaul in this correspondence.

This was the Resolution as recorded in the minutes from that meeting of the Don River Railways Boards.
“It was resolved that the Board supports D.C’s. proposal that there be a succession plan for the training of younger members in the repair / maintenance of steam locomotives”.

In October 2016 an anti Dubs 1415 (small locomotive) campaign was promoted by persons at the Don River Railway Workshops, Devonport, Tasmania, they suggested that the restoration was to be Cosmetic only. In my opinion these campaigners were asked to agitate.
This untruthful campaign was influential enough for the Board to withdraw the application from the Tasmanian Community Fund even though the Don River Railway application had been awarded the full amount requested $185,206.00. This amount included the design and manufacture of a complete new boiler and other new replacement components ensuring that the DRR would have had a cost efficient steam locomotive lasting for many years to come.
This move by the Don River Railway Board has alienated a number of members some of whom resigned their membership.
With money so hard to obtain for Heritage Railway Restoration many find this situation unbelievable. 

The Committee has been requested to explain its action and a reply is awaited. We won’t hold our breath though.

I thank you for your support in viewing this blog. If you wish to express your concern about this or the direction of the DRR write to the Secretary at donriver@donriverrailway.com.au
I thank those people who promised sponsorship. One last thing, because this locomotive was completely dismantled for overhaul the Board may want to send this historic locomotive for scrap. 

Saturday 5th November 2016.
Another attempt was made to remove the rear wheels and axle from the horn guides. We had welded 125 mm x 125 mm x 19 mm angles with gussets to the frame above the adjustable wedges so that we could push the wedges down thereby releasing the axle boxes in the horn guides letting the wheels come free. Unfortunately the Porta Power seal badly leaked meaning little pressure could be exerted on the wedges.

 A plea, is there a Dubs 1415 follower who could lend us a Porta Power with a 125 -130 mm long piston over a weekend we would be extremely grateful. I am sure a footplate ride once the loco is restored can be arranged in return for your generosity.
You can get hold of me through the contact details.

The drain cock rod and levers have been test fitted so as to locate the taper pin holes for drilling. I have ordered a No 6 taper reamer and will have to buy taper pins from Champion Products when next in Melbourne. This Company is the only one I have found where I can buy taper pins.

22nd October 2016

The lead up to todays work day was one of anticipation with the possibility of finally removing the rear driving wheels however rain, rain and more rain kept us in doors so its was a good time to clean components.
We started with brake block mounts, these are separate from and bolt to the brake hangers, where there was paint, beneath the cast iron the metal looked as cast. All four have now been cleaned. These have been prime coated.

Next was the turn of a connecting rod and an eccentric rod, After removing the paint and rust a belt sander was used to see if these 1880's rods could be polished enough to leave them bright. The right side connecting rod is badly pitted on the face side and may not be able to be polished because of this pitting. We also had a go at an eccentric rod. 

In the photo below there are from the top, an eccentric rod, two connecting rods and two vale rods the valve rods connect between the valve cross head and the 1 to 1 rocker arm.

The last photo is the right side of newly fabricated drain cock shaft with two of the levers fitted to its keys and one of its bearings mounted.

 

  

  

October 9th 2016.

Two 125 x 125 x 19 angle iron brackets with gussets have been fabricated. These will be attached to the frame to give hold fast point so that a porta power can be used to push on the rear wheel axle box wedges to release the rear driving wheels from their respective horns.

Some of the area behind the left rear cylinder has been needle gunned, cleaned and a coating of rust preventative applied.
Three brake hangers, one brake block holder have been cleaned and prime coated.
The right valve chest lid stripped of old paint and rust.To be primed coated

The  running surfaces of the right and left expansion links cleaned and polished. The expansion link blocks were tried in each link, amazingly wear is minimal.  
 

The 1 to 1 Rocker  Arm Bearing Mountings Cleaned and Painted.


Left Inner 1 to 1 Rocker Arm Bearing Mounting.

Left Outer 1 to 1 Rocker Arm Bearing Mounting.