Last month saw a massive weekend for the ULS. The Watercress Line Engineering Open Weekend and Swanage Railway Autumn Gala featuring 30506 both took place on the 13th and 14th of September. We combined the open weekend with our Urie Loco Society open day and successfully raised just under £1,000 towards our boiler appeal. Special thanks to Tori and our other volunteers who made the trek to Dorset enabling us to man the sales stand and supervise the loco, as well as everyone who welcomed the public at Ropley.
30506 proved extremely popular at Swanage with many compliments from their footplate department and gala attendees. She has since returned to Ropley and is having a few broken stays renewed that were identified during recent washouts. The loco will be back in action at this weekend’s Autumn steam gala, along with our sales team and their range of merchandise. Please do come along and enjoy what promises to be a very entertaining event. All sales help us keep up the momentum with getting 499 back in steam.
As for engineering progress… Within a matter of a month, we have completed the new dragbox buffer beam. All rivet and bolt holes have been drilled and reamed using the chassis and old beam as templates. It now awaits final fitting.
Also ticked off the list in September was the riveting of the second sheet on the fireman’s side of the tender tank. This completes the riveting on this side, and we can now turn our attention to the ‘lid’ and coal raves. Our younger team members were on the guns for this riveting job and Barry was particularly pleased to be able to let them get on with it. It won’t be long now, and our steel box will start looking a lot like an LSWR tender.
Before I sign off for this month, an important date for the diary for all society members… Our Urie Locomotive Society AGM will take place on Saturday 8th of November at 2pm. Please do come along so we can update you further on 499’s restoration, and our plans for the year ahead.
Photos Jamie Karslake and Sam Wyatt.