Echo Video News
| NEWS |  | | | | PROM SEASON | | | | BUSINESS | | | | SPORT | | |
|
|
|
Raising loco from steam grave captured on DVD
 |
| ERPS member David Smith is centre drilling rivets prior to removal on the firebox of ERPS loco 828 at Ropley. |
THEY were fire-eating locomotive legends which proudly roared out of the running sheds of Eastleigh's giant railway works.
Those heady days of steam have long gone and the railway works have sadly been shunted into the sidings.
But that golden era of rail has been captured in a DVD which has been produced for the Eastleigh Railway Preservation Society (ERPS).
As well as vividly documenting the role that Eastleigh played the film is also a fundraiser to foot the massive bill for an overhaul of a home produced steam giant rescued from a Welsh scrapyard.
Rusting
The ex-Southern Railway Maunsell Class S 15 local, Number 828, had been rusting away in the Barry railway graveyard when a group of Eastleigh railway enthusiasts stepped in to save it.
Then it looked a pitiful sight. All that was left was a rusting hulk - a far cry from those halcyon days of steam.
The rescue operation was led by the late Harry Frith, a retired railway engineer, who masterminded the massive restoration operation when the locomotive was brought back home in the eighties.
A dedicated taskforce brought together by the Eastleigh Railway Preservation Society sacrificed every spare minute to restore one of the giants of the golden age of steam to full working order.
Rebirth
The rebirth of locomotive 828 represented nearly 40,000 hours of painstaking work rebuilding the engine right down to the last rusty bolt.
And it was a proud moment in 1993 when the locomotive returned to main line duty. It marked its comeback on the Eastleigh to Salisbury run where it spent most of its working life clocking up 1,287,124 miles.
Since coming out of retirement the locomotive has become a trusty little workhorse on the Swanage railway in Dorset.
But now it has had to go back into the garage for a major overhaul needed to pass its fitness certificate.
It's work which will cost several thousands of pounds and that it is why the Eastleigh Railway Preservation Society is hoping that the DVD will boost funds.
A must for rail fans, it shows rare and spectacular footage of the Battle of Britain class, Tangmere around the South of England and the world famous Eastleigh-built Lord Nelson running on the West Somerset Railway.
It was film captured by the railway preservation society's official photographer Brian Southon who said: "The overhaul of 828 at Ropley by Eastleigh Railway Preservation Society volunteers is expected to cost upwards of £80,000 and should be completed in three years depending on material costs rising and funds raised to meet these costs."
The DVD, costing £10, is available from the Eastleigh High Street museum, The Footplate Model Railway Shop in St James Road and by ringing Brian on 07798 631790.
8:56am Thursday 24th April 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: hmm on 9:40am Thu 24 Apr 08
Fire eating or fire breathing?
Fire eating or fire breathing?
Posted by: Andy, Locks Heath on 11:47am Thu 24 Apr 08
Hope it's running again soon. There are also two Urie S15s being restored at Ropley on the Mid Hants Railway. Worth a visit to both locations.
Hope it's running again soon. There are also two Urie S15s being restored at Ropley on the Mid Hants Railway. Worth a visit to both locations.
Posted by: sailor sam, portsmouth on 1:49pm Thu 24 Apr 08
Yet more pollution!
Posted by: scouse mouse on 3:29pm Thu 24 Apr 08
what a boring non-story, mind you's it's typical of the southerners.
what a boring non-story, mind you's it's typical of the southerners.
Posted by: lunchbreak on 4:00pm Thu 24 Apr 08
[quote][bold]scouse mouse[/bold] wrote:
what a boring non-story, mind you's it's typical of the southerners.[/quote] SORRY! Would you like to hear about shooting's,drugs,gan
gs,rape, incest the usual scouse stuff
scouse mouse wrote:
what a boring non-story, mind you's it's typical of the southerners.
SORRY! Would you like to hear about shooting's,drugs,gan
gs,rape, incest the usual scouse stuff
Posted by: Where's Wally on 4:15pm Thu 24 Apr 08
[quote][bold]lunchbreak[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]scouse mouse[/bold] wrote: what a boring non-story, mind you's it's typical of the southerners.[/quote] SORRY! Would you like to hear about shooting's,drugs,gan gs,rape, incest the usual scouse stuff[/quote] Yeah scouse mouse no one here likes you so go away.
And you have a really stupid name you spaz.
lunchbreak wrote:
scouse mouse wrote: what a boring non-story, mind you's it's typical of the southerners.
SORRY! Would you like to hear about shooting's,drugs,gan gs,rape, incest the usual scouse stuff
Yeah scouse mouse no one here likes you so go away.
And you have a really stupid name you spaz.
Posted by: Train spotter, On Platform 2 on 5:18pm Thu 24 Apr 08
I've got a really nice anorak. It's got an oil stain from a Class 286 (b) on it, which is unusual, it was usually the 286(a) that leaked oil. Anyone want to see it?
I've got a really nice anorak. It's got an oil stain from a Class 286 (b) on it, which is unusual, it was usually the 286(a) that leaked oil. Anyone want to see it?
Posted by: Conrad Ritblat, Cybertent on 5:41pm Thu 24 Apr 08
[quote][bold]Train spotter[/bold] wrote:
I've got a really nice anorak. It's got an oil stain from a Class 286 (b) on it, which is unusual, it was usually the 286(a) that leaked oil. Anyone want to see it?[/quote] What a divot. WHo said anything about train spotting? This is about mechanical engineering, dummy. it's also about doing something constructive - I bet the most constructive thing you do is watch TV, do you get all excited over Top Gear? Of course you may have no interests at all in which case hanging round precincts in a hoodie and spending all night on MSN is about all you aspire to..
Train spotter wrote:
I've got a really nice anorak. It's got an oil stain from a Class 286 (b) on it, which is unusual, it was usually the 286(a) that leaked oil. Anyone want to see it?
What a divot. WHo said anything about train spotting? This is about mechanical engineering, dummy. it's also about doing something constructive - I bet the most constructive thing you do is watch TV, do you get all excited over Top Gear? Of course you may have no interests at all in which case hanging round precincts in a hoodie and spending all night on MSN is about all you aspire to..
Posted by: Retired Coppersmith on 9:43pm Thu 24 Apr 08
As a retired craftsman from Eastleigh Railway Works I can say I contributed to the reconstruction of this locomotive no.828.Harry Frith Was Very often asking for our help, and I was quite keen and willing to use my skills manufacturing copper steam and oil pipes for Him. And as for some of these other comments posted here ,Iwould never stoop so low.
As a retired craftsman from Eastleigh Railway Works I can say I contributed to the reconstruction of this locomotive no.828.Harry Frith Was Very often asking for our help, and I was quite keen and willing to use my skills manufacturing copper steam and oil pipes for Him. And as for some of these other comments posted here ,Iwould never stoop so low.
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
Play video
