Road run to Dorset
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Road run to Dorset
Frederick, the much travelled scenic showman’s engine is going on a new adventure very soon, in aid of Parkinson’s UK. We are going 120 miles to Dorset, to the 50th Anniversary Great Dorset Steam Fair: not in the back of a trailer, but towing it! There will be over 500 engines at the show, so all the more reason to do something special with Frederick this year.
The 120 miles will be covered over three days, starting from St Albans on Sunday 19th August. We will be stopping near Windsor on the first night and then Sutton Scotney on the second, before finishing (hopefully) at Tarrant Hinton on the Tuesday evening. We obviously have a route sketched out and over the next few weeks will be doing a scouting run. Logistics are being worked out. Anyone who would like to support us (myself, Steve & John Traill) with this run will be most welcome.
I will post more details as we get closer to the trip and look forward to your help for Parkinson’s UK!
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/parkinsons-miniaturesteamrun
The 120 miles will be covered over three days, starting from St Albans on Sunday 19th August. We will be stopping near Windsor on the first night and then Sutton Scotney on the second, before finishing (hopefully) at Tarrant Hinton on the Tuesday evening. We obviously have a route sketched out and over the next few weeks will be doing a scouting run. Logistics are being worked out. Anyone who would like to support us (myself, Steve & John Traill) with this run will be most welcome.
I will post more details as we get closer to the trip and look forward to your help for Parkinson’s UK!
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/parkinsons-miniaturesteamrun
Tim Watson- Number of posts : 585
Location : Herts
Registration date : 2008-07-02
Re: Road run to Dorset
Hi Tim
I will be at the steam fare, so I hope to catch up with you there.
Phil Allen
I will be at the steam fare, so I hope to catch up with you there.
Phil Allen
Kiwiconnection- Number of posts : 135
Age : 67
Location : Tauranga New Zealand
Registration date : 2011-10-25
Re: Road run to Dorset
That’s great Phil. Arrangements are beginning to fall into place.
Tim
Tim
Tim Watson- Number of posts : 585
Location : Herts
Registration date : 2008-07-02
Re: Road run to Dorset
Thanks to Stuart Gray and Heritage Steam for sponsoring us with supplies of Universal Steam Oil and boiler treatment. I like it when a plan begins to come together!
Tim
Tim
Tim Watson- Number of posts : 585
Location : Herts
Registration date : 2008-07-02
Great Dorset road run
Hi Tim, brilliant idea, if you need coal, water or anything else I can meet you anywhere between Sutton Scotney and Salisbury. Is Steve Trail coming along for the ride? Regards David Watts.
Watts&Son- Number of posts : 59
Location : Salisbury
Registration date : 2009-09-06
Re: Road run to Dorset
Coming along for the ride!!! I'm keeping the fire going for three days and making sure the front of the engine stays in one piece! (brake man) whilst one eye looks out for potholes on the off side. Tim's doing navigation, speed & potholes on the near side.
Basically if we hit anything it's my fault & if we get lost it's Tims!!
Basically if we hit anything it's my fault & if we get lost it's Tims!!
Steve Traill- Number of posts : 800
Age : 67
Location : Illogan Redruth Cornwall
Registration date : 2008-06-29
Re: Road run to Dorset
Would be great to have your help on that leg, David. I have a water source laid on the other side of Salisbury, but somwhere before the city would be good. I’ll pm you contact details.
Steve and I really do work like left and right hand on the engine. Couldn’t do it any other way.
Tim
Steve and I really do work like left and right hand on the engine. Couldn’t do it any other way.
Tim
Tim Watson- Number of posts : 585
Location : Herts
Registration date : 2008-07-02
Dorset road run
Sorry Steve that was a bit of a joke really, we have roaded our road loco for a few miles in the past and you certainly have to have your wits about you, let alone run for 120 miles! I really admire what you are both doing. I will speak to Tim next week. Regards David.
Watts&Son- Number of posts : 59
Location : Salisbury
Registration date : 2009-09-06
Re: Road run to Dorset
Cecily (who has Parkinson’s) and I have now surveyed the 120 mile route for Frederick’s Dorset run: it is an awfully long way!
Our route to the first overnight stop will be from St Albans to Watford then SW along the A412 to Uxbridge, Datchet and Windsor (past the Castle) to Jealotts Hill (New Leathern Bottle, RG42 6ET).
The second leg will take us on the A3095 South through Bracknell to Blackwater on the A30 which we then follow past Blackbushe Airport (probable stop), Hook, Basingstoke and then a short stretch on the A303 until the Micheldever Station turning and a final run back on the route of the old A30 to Sutton Scotney (Coach & Horses, SO21 3JH). Bits of the A30 between Blackwater & the A303 are quite rough, so this will limit our speed. I think we will be on the road for about 10hrs/day.
The final leg of our journey will probably be the hardest, with a dead straight (but seriously up and down ) A30 heading towards Stockbridge and then a steep climb back in to the chalk hills: we will probably pick up water at Tilshead Caravans (SP5 1BS) as Frederick will be thirsty and hungry for coal on this final leg. On leaving Salisbury, we make a final water pick up at Combe Bissett, climb up a long hill and then follow our noses along the A354 to Tarrant Hinton and the Steam Fair.
Anyone would be welcome to join us and support us along the way: I daresay we will have a beer in the pubs we are staying at each night. I will post more details as we get closer to the trip and look forward to your help for Parkinson’s UK!
Tim
Our route to the first overnight stop will be from St Albans to Watford then SW along the A412 to Uxbridge, Datchet and Windsor (past the Castle) to Jealotts Hill (New Leathern Bottle, RG42 6ET).
The second leg will take us on the A3095 South through Bracknell to Blackwater on the A30 which we then follow past Blackbushe Airport (probable stop), Hook, Basingstoke and then a short stretch on the A303 until the Micheldever Station turning and a final run back on the route of the old A30 to Sutton Scotney (Coach & Horses, SO21 3JH). Bits of the A30 between Blackwater & the A303 are quite rough, so this will limit our speed. I think we will be on the road for about 10hrs/day.
The final leg of our journey will probably be the hardest, with a dead straight (but seriously up and down ) A30 heading towards Stockbridge and then a steep climb back in to the chalk hills: we will probably pick up water at Tilshead Caravans (SP5 1BS) as Frederick will be thirsty and hungry for coal on this final leg. On leaving Salisbury, we make a final water pick up at Combe Bissett, climb up a long hill and then follow our noses along the A354 to Tarrant Hinton and the Steam Fair.
Anyone would be welcome to join us and support us along the way: I daresay we will have a beer in the pubs we are staying at each night. I will post more details as we get closer to the trip and look forward to your help for Parkinson’s UK!
Tim
Tim Watson- Number of posts : 585
Location : Herts
Registration date : 2008-07-02
Re: Road run to Dorset
Slowly getting everything all ready for the ‘off’ on Sunday. Steve and I have both invested in good quality waterproof outfits -which is an insurance that currently looks to be paying off!
Thanks to everyone for their offers of help along various stages. I’ll try and keep posts going as we make our way and also a big thank you to those that have donated to my Just Giving Page. I will be so pleased if we can make (or even exceed) the total for Parkinson’s UK.
Tim
Thanks to everyone for their offers of help along various stages. I’ll try and keep posts going as we make our way and also a big thank you to those that have donated to my Just Giving Page. I will be so pleased if we can make (or even exceed) the total for Parkinson’s UK.
Tim
Tim Watson- Number of posts : 585
Location : Herts
Registration date : 2008-07-02
Re: Road run to Dorset
Good luck on your first day of your mightily run to Dorset. I hope that the weather is nice to you both.
Kiwiconnection- Number of posts : 135
Age : 67
Location : Tauranga New Zealand
Registration date : 2011-10-25
Re: Road run to Dorset
We covered the 40 miles today over ten hours. Burnt two sacks of coal and boiled 300litres of water. A few minor glitches that were easily sorted.
Onwards to the SW tomorrow!
Tim
Onwards to the SW tomorrow!
Tim
Tim Watson- Number of posts : 585
Location : Herts
Registration date : 2008-07-02
Re: Road run to Dorset
Now we’re at Sutton Scotney, so we have covered 80 of the 120 miles to GDSF. Less than two bags of coal burnt today, the engine is really very economical. Nearly all the run was in high wheel (top gear). Frederick really flew when the roads were good: 15+mph on the A303. We all now need a really good clean.
Tomorrow will be the final and hardest part, with lots of hills through Stockbridge, Salisbury and then Tarrant Hinton.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/parkinsons-miniaturesteamrun
Tomorrow will be the final and hardest part, with lots of hills through Stockbridge, Salisbury and then Tarrant Hinton.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/parkinsons-miniaturesteamrun
Tim Watson- Number of posts : 585
Location : Herts
Registration date : 2008-07-02
Re: Road run to Dorset
What an eventful day! Frederick went well all day long but then we had a hiccup with the fusible plug, just three miles from the show ground. Soon replaced and we steamed onto the site in the dark. A great welcome for a truly amazing little engine that has made, I’m pretty sure, a world record. Tomorrow we all recover. Could not have been done without Steve Traill and John Traill (who gave us great peace of mind driving the support van as shotgun behind us).
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/parkinsons-miniaturesteamrun
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/parkinsons-miniaturesteamrun
Tim Watson- Number of posts : 585
Location : Herts
Registration date : 2008-07-02
Re: Road run to Dorset
Fantastic support at GDSF, both technical for Frederick, and financial for my Charity. I was particularly touched by the donation of the raffle proceeds from the drivers of miniature engines on Wednesday night. We have raised over £1400 so far on this run bringing the total from all of Frederick’s charity runs to £8236 of our £10000 target.
Tim
Tim
Tim Watson- Number of posts : 585
Location : Herts
Registration date : 2008-07-02
Getting closer!
We are edging very close to my £10000 overall target for Parkinson’s UK, if we include the tax gift aid in the total. Thankyou so much to everyone who has donated (£2000 for the current mega road run). We filmed this journey, and our previous Ten London Bridges run, so I could give a talk on our experiences if societies are interested. Fees/donations to Parkinson’s UK of course.
Frederick is currently in the workshop having a 120 mile service and will appear at BSEP’s Old Warden rally in a couple of weeks time in tip top order. Will shake the bucket there as well.
Tim
Frederick is currently in the workshop having a 120 mile service and will appear at BSEP’s Old Warden rally in a couple of weeks time in tip top order. Will shake the bucket there as well.
Tim
Tim Watson- Number of posts : 585
Location : Herts
Registration date : 2008-07-02
Re: Road run to Dorset
Poor Merlin the Morgan has been bounced out of the workshop / garage whilst Frederick has a 120 mile service.
I must say, that having made space for the 4/4, it gives a lot more room for working on the road locomotive.
Minor, but critical, components that need repairing (a damper rod pin) often lead to a major strip down to get access.
A major success story has been the red sticky grease that Wolf Automotive supplies for Morgan sliding pillar suspension greasing: it worked a treat on the main axle bearings. Looking forward to the next outing at the Beds Steam Engine Preservation Society rally at Old Warden 14-16th September: if any forum members are attending, do stop to chat. We will be near the entrance.
Tim
I must say, that having made space for the 4/4, it gives a lot more room for working on the road locomotive.
Minor, but critical, components that need repairing (a damper rod pin) often lead to a major strip down to get access.
A major success story has been the red sticky grease that Wolf Automotive supplies for Morgan sliding pillar suspension greasing: it worked a treat on the main axle bearings. Looking forward to the next outing at the Beds Steam Engine Preservation Society rally at Old Warden 14-16th September: if any forum members are attending, do stop to chat. We will be near the entrance.
Tim
Tim Watson- Number of posts : 585
Location : Herts
Registration date : 2008-07-02
Re: Road run to Dorset
With the recent 120 mile service for Frederick, I have been giving the engine a thorough check over for wear:
- The forward rod on the HP Stephenson’s link end had 0.1mm wear in the oilite bush and forked joint, so that was replaced with an oversized pin. The LP has some wear also, but that will be left as is for the time being. Earlier in the summer I took up some slack on the eccentric straps.
- The big ends are always being adjusted to keep them tight, especially on the HP cylinder, which effectively does all the work. The LP only comes into play when the engine is working really hard.
- The outer nearside hind wheel oilite bearing has been replaced as it had 0.4mm wear.
- The off side front wheel oilite bushes had 0.4mm wear and the near side 0.5mm, also replaced.
Bearing in mind that the engine has done well over 220 miles on our road runs for Parkinson’s UK alone, as well as many others, the amount of wear is very reasonable. None of the axle bushes were in a bad state, but they might as well be replaced as the bushes are easily sourced from STW and simple to knock out.
All in all, a wonderful testament to Steve’s design and engineering skills.
Tim
- The forward rod on the HP Stephenson’s link end had 0.1mm wear in the oilite bush and forked joint, so that was replaced with an oversized pin. The LP has some wear also, but that will be left as is for the time being. Earlier in the summer I took up some slack on the eccentric straps.
- The big ends are always being adjusted to keep them tight, especially on the HP cylinder, which effectively does all the work. The LP only comes into play when the engine is working really hard.
- The outer nearside hind wheel oilite bearing has been replaced as it had 0.4mm wear.
- The off side front wheel oilite bushes had 0.4mm wear and the near side 0.5mm, also replaced.
Bearing in mind that the engine has done well over 220 miles on our road runs for Parkinson’s UK alone, as well as many others, the amount of wear is very reasonable. None of the axle bushes were in a bad state, but they might as well be replaced as the bushes are easily sourced from STW and simple to knock out.
All in all, a wonderful testament to Steve’s design and engineering skills.
Tim
Tim Watson- Number of posts : 585
Location : Herts
Registration date : 2008-07-02
Re: Road run to Dorset
Amazing and I presume you're still running on the universal steam oil through out ?
LiveSteam- Number of posts : 777
Location : Hampshire
Registration date : 2013-09-08
Re: Road run to Dorset
Yes, but the wheel bearings have always been greased: much cleaner than oil.
Tim
Tim
Tim Watson- Number of posts : 585
Location : Herts
Registration date : 2008-07-02
Re: Road run to Dorset
Tim Watson wrote:Yes, but the wheel bearings have always been greased: much cleaner than oil.
Tim
Good to know, same as myself then.
LiveSteam- Number of posts : 777
Location : Hampshire
Registration date : 2013-09-08
Road run to Dorset
I have just received Vintage Spirit magazine, there is a good article on Tim and Steve's road run to the Dorset Steam Fair.
Watts&Son- Number of posts : 59
Location : Salisbury
Registration date : 2009-09-06
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