Chairman’s Chat – May 2026
By Neil Taylor
I realised, as I wrote this, that 12 months ago we were in a spin preparing for our attendance at “The Greatest Gathering” in Derby. With impeccable timing, we have just received a donation from the event of £400, so the gift keeps on giving. This is one of a number of donations given to contributors to the event, and it is very much appreciated. This month alone we have committed significant sums of money to the manufacture of the locomotive’s copper pipework (the best part of £10,000 just for the materials). So you can see that we do still need significant funds to meet our ambitions.
We have had a very busy time since the start of the year, and I am very proud of the way that we have got down to business. From a contracts point of view we should soon be taking delivery of the remaining significant motion items. I heard from South Devon Engineering that they are in the process of assembling the “Expansion Links” and these should be ready in the next week or so. While the forgings for the “Return Crank Rods” are planned to be with us in a couple of weeks. That just leaves machining of those rods and the creation of the Reversing rod (in two parts). However, that is not the end of the motion activity. At Bridgnorth we have all been beavering away for the last 5 months, where we have had 4 machinists for that period manufacturing some of the more minor, but essential motion components.
As if the motion and copper pipework were not enough we have also ordered and taken delivery of the locomotive’s Super Heater elements since Christmas. This is well ahead of time, but with a war in the middle-east and material prices volatile, we decided to purchase these before there were any further significant cost increases. They are now stored away safely and securely.
Motion Pins being marked out.
Shims being produced for the setting of the slide bars.
I have been very focused on this year’s AGM arrangements. As some of you will know we are running a special train following the AGM, to trip people to Bridgnorth to view the locomotive. This trip is free to 82045 members, but it is possible to join the trip by making a donation to the locomotive build. The train will depart Kidderminster at 1.30pm on Saturday the 6th June. Returning at around 4.30pm from Bridgnorth and arriving back at Kidderminster around 6.00pm.
For the second half of the year I suspect that it will be more of the same with pipework being fitted and the locomotive's motion starting to be assembled. As all this is new it will involve lots of patient hours of assembly, fettling and lapping in to ensure that the motion is like the proverbial Swiss watch. Nothing too tight or too loose!
I will also be embarking on the second phase of my cycling odyssey around the shed locations of the 82xxx class. I will call this phase “The South”, mainly because it is not just the Southern Region. It will be a combination of the Southern Sheds, The S&D sheds and the West Country sheds. The journey will be done in at least three bites. The first (which is now booked) will be a trip from Taunton, over the Mendips to Bristol. Followed by a pedal from Bristol to Bath, along the old Midland Railway route, and then tracking the Somerset and Dorset Railway route to Templecombe. This first cycle will be about 120 miles with some significant climbs over the Mendip Hills and some delightful countryside. Later journeys will be designed to cycle a route from from Newton Abbot to London via Exmouth Junction, Bournemouth, Eastleigh and possibly Guildford. Details have yet to be worked out for these stretches. Once again however these sections will be mostly achieved by the use of National Cycle Routes.