Welcome
to the Projects and developments page of the FSMR website
This page was last updated
The FSMR members undertake a variety of projects on
the railway.
None compare to the task in the early days
back in 1995 of rebuilding the tunnel, but all can be challenging as well as
interesting. A "project manager" usually takes charge, and members
can just turn up and help on what suits them best, be it track, electrical,
civil, or locomotive engineering. The FSMR have a selection of dumper
trucks, and access to the farm estates JCB. And with mining engineers,
architects, electrical and mechanical engineers as members, no task is too
large in the preservation world!!!!
Just
to put in perspective what massive engineering challenge we constantly face
against nature on the railway here are some
pictures taken during March 2007 of the railway under water
Below
along the back straight in the distance is the normally “dry” culvert overspill
bridge, the actual small stream is piped under the track bed some 6 feet below
and only flows under the culvert overflow at times of heavy rain
Below
is “Coleby’s” culvert bridge, the stream runs through a 24 “ pipe, some 6 feet under the railway to the bottom left joining
the main river Eye behind the bridge
Below
is the second crossing, Jenny’s bridge under a torrent of water, the normal
river level runs some 7 feet below the deck height!! And is normal 6 feet deep
at this point!! So the water is over 13 feet deep
Note
the large tree trunk wedged against the bridge.
A constant danger which required the use of
the farm tractor to remove
Grass cutting
Grass
cutting prior to the August BH
Another cut will be needed prior to the
winter
Civils 
During winter and spring 2006/2007, we undertook a major
rebuild of the lakeside outfall spillway bridge. This had been identified as
requiring major maintenance and so it has been decided to update the design at
the same time. Abutments were renewed and a complete new wider and stronger
steel superstructure was fabricated in our workshops and assembled at the
lakeside. Work was completed prior to the 2007 summer events
There is a page created showing this work
click here to view
Below
is the new lake outfall spillway bridge in place March 2008
There was also a project over 4 years which was officially completed and
opened on 12th October 2008 to re-develop the whole terminus
platform and station area to provide better catering and seating facilities and
re roof the platform canopy as the old corrugated roofing is badly corroded at
the edges. Architect plans were drawn and passed by the council planning. Foundation construction was completed in 2006
by local building contractor, and handed over to the FSMR team (led by a member
who is a skilled builder). The building was completed prior to opening in
October 2008 although there was some internal fitting out completed for June
2009 when the station saw its first public passengers, but it had already been
used as a refreshment room with the log stove fire put to good use cooking
jacket potatoes! For the bonfire night event and during the Easter 2009 private
running
The
new station building being based on the Midland Railway Settle and
Follow
the link to the new station page
Some work was also completed in spring 2010
on the platforms to replace sections of frost blown concrete, in preparation
for the summer openings.
Track 
Ongoing re-sleepering
of track continues, the original 1970's jarah
sleepers showing their age, especially on the extension. Go to the picture
gallery for pictures of the re-sleepering methods.
We have started the process of lifting
complete panels and digging out the bed with the FSMR tractor loader. The bed
then receives a geo-tex membrane before new ballast
is added and the panel is replaced on
new sleepers. The record is 3 panels
completed in one day. The oldest sections are being tackled first
through the woods. We are also took the opportunity this spring to install an
access crossing at badgers curve to allow heavy machinery access without damage
to the track e.g
tractor mower and JCB .At the same time, 9 panels of original track were
renewed through the wooded section.
Another record in autumn 2006 with 4 panels
!! replaced over the weekend of 14th
And all this with the
Follow
this link for detailed pages and pictures of the October 2006 track work
below is the work completed looking, towards
badgers bend, on bonfire weekend with the
Yet
another record in Feb 2008 with 6 panels !! being replaced over the Saturday
16th on Chestnuts curve
Follow
this link for detailed pages and pictures of the Feb and March 2008 track work
See also the picture gallery for pictures of some more track work
Locomotives 
-5565
This was failed on inspection of the
boiler during the June 2009 event and will require a new boiler and or firebox
designing and constructing and thus is out of action till probably 2012.
The
boiler has been removed from the frames for detailed analysis of the options
available.
In
the Jubilees absence, the Curwen Atlantic and GWR Saint were paired up over the
June and August BH weekends and it is
envisaged the same thing will be done at the two events in 2011 with the new 31
class loco keeping the operational numbers at 5 the minimum needed for running
the intensive service. The Curwen is quite able to handle 9 coaches on its own
but the Saint could not. so this is the best way to be
able to have the Saint in operation.
751 John H Gretton had an extensive boiler
off overhaul with work on the tubes and mechanicals over winter 2009 2010 and
ran over the 2010 weekends and will be in use for private running over the
autumn and winter
752
Some FSMR members are also
constructing their own 1/5th scale 10 1/4" gauge diesel or steam locos,
these currently are:
Great
Central Railway 11F Improved Director 505 '
Work on the design started Mid
2005
Progress to date. Nov 2008-11-03
Tender completed
Frames, stretchers, footplates, splashers,
valences, smokebox made. All cast parts cast. Cylinders,
covers, valve chest all part machined and awaiting boring. Boiler
design complete. Front bogie complete. Connecting and coupling rods part
machined awaiting boring. Crank axle made
awaiting assembly. Axle boxes and horns machined awaiting
boring.
Length over buffers 3600mm
Height to chimney top 835mm
Width 540mm
Boiler 160 psi (superheated)
Cyclinders (2) 89 x 140mm
Piston valve inside Stephensons
Driving wheel 420mm dia
Replica of 1899
The tender is built, and work progresses on
the rest, no arrival date at Stapleford yet!
Brush
Class 60 D/E
Fully working Diesel Electric replica
featuring latest design in traction motors driven off a diesel alternator, just
like the real thing!!
Date
for arrival and commissioning 2011 or 2012 Who knows,
by which time with the national fleet now down to a hand full, it will probably
be a heritage diesel like the warship!!
