Well, again it's been a few months, for which I do apologise.
A few quick updates on the happenings lately.
The first is to say a big thanks to everyone at the open day... Was a great day from my perspective, simply as a volunteer helping out around the museum on the day, and during the lead up. We had a few things happening during the day, including the Shay and the Sub Nigel locomotives outside the museum in the goods loop in Menzies Creek yard.
We also had our Hudswell Clarke loco, Number 4, in steam along with our boilerhouse in operation and a portable steam engine, along with various displays around the museum. Some of the displays included a working model railway, using a mix of HO scale and 0n30 locomotives (namely a Climax locomotive), a display of HO scale Victorian Railways locomotives and rolling stock, various lamps used on the railway, and elsewhere, and of course our gang shed, setup with appropriate tools, etc.
The day went very smoothly, and was very enjoyable. We are looking forward to next years Gala Weekend. See the Puffing Billy website for further details.
Now, on to current works. We have been working mainly to clean up the site for the coming building works, and finishing off some small projects to make room for these works. Currently we have been clearing the area in front of the boiler house, to make way for this building. We have also been loaned an Aveling and Porter steam roller to assist with these works. This roller (which I hope to photograph in the near future) is very similar to our own Aveling and Porter steam roller which is currently under restoration.
Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
A small update
Good Evening
Unfortunately, I have not been able to put updates up for a few weeks.
However, things are starting to really get moving, with a few updates from last time (did not have the chance to ask for further info...). The side tipping wagon is now completed, as is the exhaust for the Malcolm Moore.
Work is progressing on cleaning up the museum for the 3rd of October, when Puffing Billy will be having an 'open day'. See here for further information: http://www.puffingbilly.com.au/?id=openday2010
Please come down, as this will be chance to see inside the museum, and see the current works around the museum.
Work is also progressing on the many improvements for the museum, although full information will have to wait.
I hope to have a better update sometime soon.
Unfortunately, I have not been able to put updates up for a few weeks.
However, things are starting to really get moving, with a few updates from last time (did not have the chance to ask for further info...). The side tipping wagon is now completed, as is the exhaust for the Malcolm Moore.
Work is progressing on cleaning up the museum for the 3rd of October, when Puffing Billy will be having an 'open day'. See here for further information: http://www.puffingbilly.com.au/?id=openday2010
Please come down, as this will be chance to see inside the museum, and see the current works around the museum.
Work is also progressing on the many improvements for the museum, although full information will have to wait.
I hope to have a better update sometime soon.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
A long time coming...
I would like to apologise for the delay between the first post here, and this post. Time has been short, which has meant that the blog has been neglected.
I do hope to update this more regularly, with updates (text only) to be sent directly from the Museum on a relatively regular basis, so as to give more 'up to the minute' updates. It is hoped to put photos up fairly soon afterward.
Current work on the roller has been working on wire brushing various parts, with work having been done on the rear wheels, as well as storage of many parts. Due to the cold weather, work has been focusing on most other projects, such as the side tipper wagon. Work has also been progressing on the boiler (more on this later), which is now coming along fairly rapidly, with work being done on it as I type at the Belgrave workshops.
The main project recently has been the Side Tipping wagon, which has had the body cleaned up and repainted, as well as the roller bearings having been repaired and the wheels currently being sand blasted to get the last of the dirt, etc, off. Once completed, these will have the roller bearings re-fitted, and the wheels placed back under the wagon.
We now also have our Horizontal Tangye operational, with this running off of the George and George boiler. Work has also been completed on 'Number 4', our 2ft gauge Hudswell Clarke 0-4-2st locomotive.
Having also had to do maintenance to the ex Alishan Shay locomotive recently, we are currently re-assembling the external piping and classing to make the locomotive suitable for static display again. Work is being done tonight on wire brushing the firebox, amongst other things.
On to the Aveling and Porter... This project is progressing slowly, with work being done at both Belgrave and Menzies Creek. Unfortunately, the original boiler was condemned. However, we now have a second hand boiler, which is being worked on
Tonight, work is progressing on the firebox of the new boiler in the Belgrave workshops. The boiler has had the barrel removed, since this is to be replaced with a new boiler barrel, new tube plates, and new tubes.
Work is also progressing on the motion gear, with this being steadily cleaned and then stored.
There are also a number of changes happening at the Museum itself, in preparation for the eventual re-opening. The current works are to build a back wall on our 2ft gauge loco shed, so as to make it more weather proof (it's bloody cold in there!). We are also working on CAD drawings for the new buildings, with some work on these currently being done by one of the volunteers in the museum. As more on this is confirmed, it will hopefully be posted here.
This will likely be the longest blog post for the time being, since it is hoped to have at least fortnightly blog posts in future.
Have fun, and thank you for reading.
I do hope to update this more regularly, with updates (text only) to be sent directly from the Museum on a relatively regular basis, so as to give more 'up to the minute' updates. It is hoped to put photos up fairly soon afterward.
Current work on the roller has been working on wire brushing various parts, with work having been done on the rear wheels, as well as storage of many parts. Due to the cold weather, work has been focusing on most other projects, such as the side tipper wagon. Work has also been progressing on the boiler (more on this later), which is now coming along fairly rapidly, with work being done on it as I type at the Belgrave workshops.
The main project recently has been the Side Tipping wagon, which has had the body cleaned up and repainted, as well as the roller bearings having been repaired and the wheels currently being sand blasted to get the last of the dirt, etc, off. Once completed, these will have the roller bearings re-fitted, and the wheels placed back under the wagon.
We now also have our Horizontal Tangye operational, with this running off of the George and George boiler. Work has also been completed on 'Number 4', our 2ft gauge Hudswell Clarke 0-4-2st locomotive.
Having also had to do maintenance to the ex Alishan Shay locomotive recently, we are currently re-assembling the external piping and classing to make the locomotive suitable for static display again. Work is being done tonight on wire brushing the firebox, amongst other things.
On to the Aveling and Porter... This project is progressing slowly, with work being done at both Belgrave and Menzies Creek. Unfortunately, the original boiler was condemned. However, we now have a second hand boiler, which is being worked on
Tonight, work is progressing on the firebox of the new boiler in the Belgrave workshops. The boiler has had the barrel removed, since this is to be replaced with a new boiler barrel, new tube plates, and new tubes.
Work is also progressing on the motion gear, with this being steadily cleaned and then stored.
There are also a number of changes happening at the Museum itself, in preparation for the eventual re-opening. The current works are to build a back wall on our 2ft gauge loco shed, so as to make it more weather proof (it's bloody cold in there!). We are also working on CAD drawings for the new buildings, with some work on these currently being done by one of the volunteers in the museum. As more on this is confirmed, it will hopefully be posted here.
This will likely be the longest blog post for the time being, since it is hoped to have at least fortnightly blog posts in future.
Have fun, and thank you for reading.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Welcome!
I have created this blog to provide a record of the progress of the museum at Menzies Creek, on the Puffing Billy Railway, for the group of younger (teens/20's) guys on Wednesday work nights. Or more, the blog is focused mainly on the restoration project for our Aveling & Porter Ltd Steam Road Roller. However, I will also include updates on various other projects at times. I hope to update this weekly, for each work night.
As the main focus is the Aveling and Porter roller, some history of this would be appropriate. The Steam Road Roller was built by Aveling & Porter Ltd., in Richester, Kent, England in 1923, and has the Builders Number 11629. The roller weighs approximately 14 Tons (14.3 Tonnes approx) and was used by the South Melbourne City Council for construction works.
The Aveling and Porter was donated to the Menzies Creek Museum by the South Melbourne City Council in 1963.
This project is being worked on mainly by the younger volunteers at the Menzies Creek Museum, with most of the group being in their teens or 20s.
On the last weekend of February, we worked on dismantling the roller so as to be able to remove the boiler for some works, which will be performed at the Belgrave Workshops. Further details on this weekend will appear in the next blog post, as well as some more up to date details. However, to show some of the work done, I have included a photo of the roller in the shed at Belgrave, whilst work was progressing to remove the bunker.
Over the coming weeks, I will also obtain further history on the roller, including some historic photos of it, which will also be posted up.
Until next time.
As the main focus is the Aveling and Porter roller, some history of this would be appropriate. The Steam Road Roller was built by Aveling & Porter Ltd., in Richester, Kent, England in 1923, and has the Builders Number 11629. The roller weighs approximately 14 Tons (14.3 Tonnes approx) and was used by the South Melbourne City Council for construction works.
The Aveling and Porter was donated to the Menzies Creek Museum by the South Melbourne City Council in 1963.
This project is being worked on mainly by the younger volunteers at the Menzies Creek Museum, with most of the group being in their teens or 20s.
On the last weekend of February, we worked on dismantling the roller so as to be able to remove the boiler for some works, which will be performed at the Belgrave Workshops. Further details on this weekend will appear in the next blog post, as well as some more up to date details. However, to show some of the work done, I have included a photo of the roller in the shed at Belgrave, whilst work was progressing to remove the bunker.
Until next time.
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