Blog Ethos

A blog to provide up to date information on the restoration of Dubs and Co. steam locomotive, builders no. 1415. An initiative to pass on the skills and knowledge necessary to restore a steam locomotive.

Builders Photo

Builders Photo
Builders photo depicting sister engine #1414

History

HISTORY

Steam locomotive carrying Dubs and Company's serial no. 1415, was one of two purchased new by the Queensland Government Railways for use on the Bundaberg - Mt. Perry railway. They were shipped from the United Kingdom in the ship "Scottish Admiral" and were first used in February 1881. They carried Dubs and Company's nos. 1414 and 1415 and were given running numbers on the Bundaberg Railway of 1 and 2 respectively.

In the 1889-90 renumbering of Queensland Railways rolling stock, both locomotives received the classification of 4D9 and No. 2 was renumbered 131. In August 1894, it was sold to the Colonial Sugar Refining Co. for use at their Childers Sugar Mill. The Childers Sugar Mill closed down about 1915, and the locomotive was sold in 1917 to the Macquarie Harbour Board for use in the construction of the Macquarie Harbour breakwater Strahan Tasmania.

The latter sold it to Mr. R.J. Howard a saw miller of Zeehan on the 23rd May, 1941 and he, in 1942, sold it to a Mr. J. Hood. It was to have gone to the Butler Gorge hydro-electric station construction, but this did not take place. It was later sent to Hobart, where it lay idle, in the Railway Yard, for many years.

Project Overview

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The key aim of this project is to restore Dubs No.1415 back to its as built condition, so that it sits proudly in the Don River Railway collection. It will help future proof steam operations at the Don River Railway, by providing a more cost effective locomotive to run, maintain and keep in regular service.

By having this project at the Launceston workshop it is hoped that new and existing members, young and old will get involved in this exciting restoration project. The project is a tool to educate members on what it takes to inspect and restore a steam locomotive. Of particular importance is the passing on of knowledge and skills before they are lost to time.

Help

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO RESTORE DUBS NO. 1415 BACK TO AS BUILT CONDITION.

The restoration of a vintage steam locomotive is no easy task and can cost considerable money, we need to raise money to pay for materials and services to get this loco back in pristine condition. If you can afford to donate some money towards the project we will be very grateful and for all donations over $2, we can provide you with an official receipt to claim the donation on your Australian tax return where applicable.

If you can donate time to the project, why not become a member. no skills required!

If you feel that you or your company can contribute to this project in anyway, please feel free to contact the project coordinator by the contact details on the right side of this blog.

Saturday, 30 July 2016

A few things have happened since the last post, small in the big picture of things but never the less important,
 Plans for a new boiler are being drawn.
 A dfx file was drawn which allowed a new reverser quadrant to be lazer cut and put into store.
 Enough Celery Top pine has been donated to make all the cab window frames.
 A Fantastic Donor will purchase two new clack/feed check valves.
 We now have a bell shaped whistle.
 An "A" frame sandwich board should be available from Monday 8th of August.

 I have expressed previously the difficulty in getting some components to separate because they seem to be welded together by rust. Today we finally removed the left side valve rod. The right side is a different proposition. The pin that joins the valve rod to the 1 to 1 lever is seized solid in the centre section of the joint. I don't know how we are going to overcome this because its not in a position where you can use a porta power or similar.
We still have about 12 stubbornly seized components to deal with.
The exhaust steam pipes from the cylinders have been removed and blanks bolted to the flanges.
The valve rod gland followers have been removed for cleaning out the oil reservoirs and polishing.
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Tuesday, 12 July 2016

I am excited that a very kind person has developed the design to enable a pattern to be made so as to cast the Builders Plates for Dubs 1415. It is hoped that the pattern will be manufactured by a 3D printer. If you have a 3D printer that could do the job and are willing to print this pattern could you contact me at dubs1415@gmail.com I thank the design sponsor for a very nice piece of work.
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Sunday, 3 July 2016

3rd July 2016

I know posts are too few between, for this I apologise. Having been away for on holiday which incidentally included the magnificent Ipswich Railway Workshops in Queensland has slowed things down. I have spent many hours chasing up costings, when you think you have listed everything there is something else to consider.

 The axle boxs have been removed from the leading driving wheels, both the condition of the journals and brasses are in reasonable condition considering this locomotive has sat in the open for about 75 years. The journals and eccentrics were lightly cleaned up with strip emery cloth coated with Denso grease and covered with Denso tape.

 The reversing lever and reach rod have been removed,The lever was badly twisted and bent and had the quadrant welded to it, the weld was ground off, the rod straightened with a fair bit of effort. It now waits to be cleaned and prime coated. The reverser's fulcrum foot is having its eyes reamed. The quadrant will be renewed for which a drawing has been completed for laser profile cutting.

 The fire bars were knocked from the carriers so that the radius of the fire box corners could be found. This was achieved by bending a piece of soft solder into the corner. The firebox tube plate is in very poor condition, I will take some photos when I remember to take my camera.

 The weigh bar shaft has been has been removed, the bearings cleaned and greased, once again the condition of these are very good.

 We still have several stubborn components to remove these being,
The Trailing Driving Wheels.
The Expansion Links from the 1 to 1 rockers,
The Drain Cock actuating lever which we have had a couple of goes at.
Several Driving wheel spring pins.
Removal of pins from the Valve rods.
Removal of the wheels from the Pony trucks.

 On the plus side all the pony truck spring hangers have been cleaned and primed,
The hand brake column and mechanism have been repaired, cleaned and primed,
New components have been made for the fire hole door, these have been fitted.
Taper pins for the collars were bought from Champion Products in Victoria. This is the only place I have found that sell them.

 Unfortunately the biggest set back to this project has been that if you wish to donate to this project I have been unable to establish the means which would enable you to do so. I see that it is highly important that any money donated to this project be easily identified from monies going into general revenue. Frustratingly I have often been tempted to use my own Paypal account but that would not be ethical so please any of you who might like to make a donation to this project you will need to contact the Don River Railway at donriver@donriverrailway.com.au or 61 (03) 64246335

We will soon be looking for steel for the rear buffer beams, foot plate and running boards.

I will when possible continue provide from my own finances what I can.
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