The Time Has Come - Spirit of Sandringham contemplates the next move...
The redundancies served upon Llangollen’s qualified engineering staff arising from the internal restructuring of their Engineering business are very unfortunate. As a consequence, dependent skills and competencies required on the B17 new build project no longer exist at that site.
In addition, both tenders will be removed at the request of the Mid Norfolk Railway by 21st September 2020, to return siding space for the storage of extra coaching stock acquired by the railway.
Vision for the Future...
In the near term, purchase of steel castings is to commence for the rolling chassis consisting of hornblocks with horn stays, coupled wheels, cannonboxes and coupled axleboxes. Steel forgings for tyres, plain axles and the crank axle will follow as will sets of roller bearings corresponding with the growth of funds.
A New Home...
Identify a secure and covered building of adequate overall size for craneage and with track fixed on each side of ‘pit’ to a solid floor to provide facilities for construction and test of Spirit of Sandringham through to completion. Space for a small machine shop capability will be of particular benefit. This may be a separate building with good road access, hard standing outside, sufficient space for storage and appropriate services. Alternatively, adequate covered working space and storage generally affording the facilities mentioned previously but within a shared site will be considered. In any event rail access will be vital. This also presents an opportunity for co-locating both tenders to the same site.
A working base in the vicinity of professional engineering and manufacturing suppliers including similar groups engaged in this sector of work is likely to offer cooperative benefits in terms of the provision of certain parts as well as shared experience and occasional help in both directions. Working relationships with organisations where a common theme in locomotive design and working practices exist is likely to further influence and enhance expertise in this field of locomotive engineering.
This change will be handled by the B17 Management Team including the selection of staffing for the new location commensurate with the required skills and competencies needed for setting up the mainframe assembly and the continuance of subsequent fitting activities associated with the rolling chassis. Currently B17 are in negotiation with a reputable heavy haulage contractor who can move the mainframe assembly and both tenders in due course.
Finally, B17 wish to record their grateful thanks to Llangollen Engineering for their good work and results we have shared together on Spirit of Sandringham during previous years.
Stop Press - Discussions are already underway with potential sites for both loco and tenders.