The Tender.

For the County class a new design of tender was produced. It's style was reminiscent of the L.M.S., especially below the running plate. The tank was of welded construction with slab sides, whose lines reflected those of the standard G.W.R., Collett 4000 gallon pattern. The design did not meet with the whole-hearted approval of G.W.R. enginemen, notably the locker doors!

Although there is a restored Hawksworth tender at Didcot (originally attached to 6998 'Burton Agnes Hall', when she arrived, but presently attached to 5051 'Earl Bathurst') it is not compatible with a County class locomotive, being built to the narrower (8' 0") width congruent with the Collett cab, whereas that attached to a County was built to the full width of the loading gauge, i.e. 8' 6".

Hawksworth tender for County as built in 1945. (Terry McCarthy Collection).

As a result the Project has always been aware that it is probable that a new tender would have to be manufactured. To this end, research and design work has produced drawings for a new-build tender with a capacity of 4,400 gallons of water, which are being worked on, with potential manufacturers to develop a work schedule for production. New frames will probably be constructed by an outside contractor, while the tank is likely to be constructed at Didcot.

The tender is not a high priority at present, but where opportunities and funding permit work at a lower level continues.

Given the number of common, standard G.W.R. parts incorporated into the Hawksworth tender, the Project were grateful to be allocated a Collett tender, rusted beyond reasonable repair, which could be used as the source for a number of standard parts. Dismantling this tender has been a separate work stream.

28 October - Commenced strip of Collett donor tender – could not burn out old rivets.

18 November - Tender makes good progress with one crossbeam and two hangers released to store.

25 November - Tender continues to make progress with rear crossbeam and two hangers/brackets and vacuum brake cylinder released to store and some superstructure/underframe rivets removed. Found bottom cover for tender vacuum cylinder.

09 December - Stripped tender brake vacuum cylinder. Cleaned four trunion brackets, four brake cylinder ties, one brake cylinder head and six wheel bearing covers.

Between January and June, when the tender body was separated from the frames and lifted off, those components that were easily removed were duly 'harvested':

February 2008 - Some of the parts 'harvested' from the Collett tender allocated to the Project. Bits shown include - water scoop equipment, tender air vents, brake rods, steps, springs. etc.

Comparison - Collett tender steps and those on a Hawksworth tender - compatible, thus useful for new-build.

07/06/08 - Collett tender frames revealed following lift of tender body. Items to be reused - wheel sets, horn guides, vacuum-brake cylinder. Likely the longerons to rear usable, as well as two cross members.

14/06/08 - rear buffer beam - not compatible with County tender, but buffers usable.

October 2008 - One tender brake hanger and two crossbeams derusted and primed.

Martin Beard plans for tender underframe virtually complete - pricing of steel for tender - 71 separate pieces of steel required - all committed to CAD program.

December 2008 - Two (of six) corroded brake cross beam bearings removed. Screw heads in stubs need weld-deposit and rethreading. Other four show wear, but threads serviceable.

Completed derusting of two brake pull rods - two more to do.

13/12/2008 - weld in vacuum--brake cylinder - note cracks developing in and from weld.

Last two brake hanger brackets cleaned and primed.

Donor tender underframe awaiting removal prior to final cutting-up and retrieval of remaining useful parts:

20/12/08 - remains of Collett tender - axle boxes, wheels and steps yet to be removed from carcass.(Terry McCarthy)

20/12/2008 - Buffers, wheels and draw hook for future use on 1014. (Terry McCarthy)

Strategic aim for 2009:

We can proceed with costing and procuring the tender superstructure steel. Provisional costings suggest the tender underframe to be about £40k for construction and 24k for outstanding parts. A method statement for the final strip of the Collett donor has been completed.

January - weld repairs to threaded stubs on one brake cross beam completed.

Now needs to be rethreaded. Thereafter, all three cross beams to be rebushed.

17/01/2009 - Weld built-up on corroded cross beam stub. This will be rethreaded for further use.

February - The final strip of the Collett donor tender has started in Centre Sidings. Both buffers, the coupling hook and accessories, the two side draw bars, the water scoop gear and numerous small parts have been removed. The tender must now be demounted from the wheels for work to continue safely. The crane-lift scheduled did not happen, consequently progress has been slower than hoped.

14/03/2009 - buffers dismantled in readiness for cleaning etc.

14/03/2009 - tender draw hook - derusted and cleaning ready for painting.

28/03/2009 - Buffers almost finished - only one collar to be primed. Newly manufactured steps prepared for mounting on collar.

A set of springs, believed to be for the tender, have been 'dumped' in West Yard by a carrier - no paperwork seems to be present!

April - Derusting of items reclaimed from Collett tender continues. Buffers reassembled.

AutoCAD of a new 8' 6" Hawksworth tender superstructure complete. Next stage - costing of steel to fabricate the tender body.

May - tender springs delivered, one set broken so returned to manufacturer.

Project offered and accepted a slot at the end of number 4 road to construct tender. Contacts being made with steel supplier for costings.

July - significant progress reported!

Costings obtained for tender steel - supplied as a kit of parts, fitted and shaped. Construction to be broken down into three phases:

• Construction of the base
• Internal structure
• External sheeting.

Progress will be determined by finance.

04/07/2009 - Tender wheels released from donor Collett underframe for future use on new Hawksworth tender, standing in the Centre Sidings.

04/07/2009 - axles boxes and top pads removed from tender underframe and transported to shop for cleaning etc.

04/07/2009 - Vacuum reservoir removed from frames.

04/07/2009 - Tender frames at Centre Sidings, following lift and removal of most items required for Hawksworth tender reconstruction. Implications of removal of horn glides led to discussions as to the potential use of the frames in another project - removal of horn glides (carefully!) authorised later in the month.

18/07/2009 - axlebox tops after cleaning. Little damage or substantial wear was evident, although the white metal pads will need replacement.

18/07/2009 - Two repaired spring pad retainers. Now have seven out of the twelve required - five to be sought from store or manufactured.

August - Progress on-going.

Planning for the tender superstructure continues. With the dismantling of the donor tender being completed, assessments being made as to the suitability of the central frame as the basis for the new-build tender underframes.

08/08/2009 - stripped tender underframe, focusing upon the central frame.

08/08/2009 - Horns laid out after removal from frames, in readiness fro examination and cleaning.

08/08/2009 - Examination of horn wearing faces suggests they are in good order.

08/08/2009 - some of the 72 horn bolts recovered. All to be cleaned and rethreaded, but are suitable for further use - a large saving! Two will require further attention on the lathe.

Six tender axlebox bearings are now available and cleaning continues. To date all top sections have been cleaned and three of the boxes have been attended to.

So far as the tender was concerned, nearly all 'Work Week' targets were achieved. Subsequently, work continues on reconditioning all relevant tender parts.

The water scoop gear, are in process of cleaning, de-rusting and painting. The scoop will not be operative, but being a distinctive feature of a G.W.R. tender it will be fixed in place within the chassis. Various repairs were required, but the task is almost complete.

Once this is finished all components will have been cleaned etc. in readiness for assembling a complete Hawksworth tender.

19/09/2009 - Water scoop components laid out in readiness for cleaning etc.

Planning for the superstructure has continued apace, to the point that ordering steel is contemplated before the end of 2009, with a likely delivery in 2010. The order will reflect plans for the tender body being constructed in three phases, the steel being cut to meet the needs of each phase. Commencement of construction will be determined by the challenge presented by the production of a rolling locomotive chassis, for the latter will have to be moved forward into the space formerly occupied by 'Lady of Legend'. The tender superstructure will be assembled, thereafter, in the space cleared behind the locomotive, in the works.

Design work and planning for manufacture of the tender chassis is well in-hand.

10/10/2009 - Fixed part of water scoop apparatus derusted, cleaned and primed and ready for storage.

24/10/2009 - Repair to water scoop. Subsequently, completely derusted, cleaned and primed. Support struts and brackets similarly processed.

In addition, work continues on tender brake cross beam sleeve bearings. Brake hangers being drilled to size before creating a sliding fit on cross beam sleeves.

Fettling of axleboxes continues. Need to manufacture six BSW studs and 5 of the 6 cover plates.

19/12/2009 - water scoop lifting arm, following derusting and priming. (Terry McCarthy)

19/12/2009 - tender parts associated with water scoop hanging up to dry - another use for the Pooley Van! (Terry McCarthy)

2010

Tranche 1 of steel for new tender body produced. Short-term storage problems at Didcot means that steel is being stored at Tadley's until it can be unloaded.

Discussions as to the location of tender construction at Didcot continue - suggestions being considered with and by new acting Locomotive & Preservation Manager.

30/01/2010 - water scoop rod, derusted and primed.

30/01/2010 - newly delivered and primed water scoop plate.

Progress on the tender seems muted at present but the planning continues. Draft drawings for the tender front and rear drag boxes and subsequent calculations suggest fabrication will be difficult. The most likely solution is to cast them, but this is both complex and likely to be expensive.

Discussions continue as to the best, agreed location for constructing the new tender - a flat site is required.

Meanwhile, some of the components for the new tender are beginning to arrive at Didcot. Many more are in the 'pipeline', presenting slight storage issues!

27/02/2010 - newly delivered laser cut steel components for the new-build Hawksworth tender for 1014.

Work started on clean the recovered axlebox underkeeps.

13/02/2010 - completed brake cross-shaft bearings.

Meanwhile, by 13/03/2010, three out of six axlebox underkeeps have been cleaned properly, with work continuing up to the end of the month.

All brake cross shaft bearings have been completed and await fitting.

Deliveries of parts for the new tender's superstructure continue.

06/05/2010 - Ladder frame from Collett tender being modified to Hawksworth specification. (Terry McCarthy)

Brake cross shaft bearing have been completed. Fitted to the cross shafts and placed in store.

03/04/2010 - Gary with bearing cup fitted to brake cross shaft.

Planning for the new build tender continues - location of tasks agreed. A new complication has emerged, i.e. the need to fit and air pump and receivers either in or on the tender. The Clan Line Group have been contacted for advice about the air pump issues.

Stripping of the donor tender frame has been completed. The welders are now making a replacement 'U' shaped angle.

29/05/2010 - old, rusted 'U' shaped angle as removed from underframe.

29/05/2010 - replacement 'U' shaped angle being manufactured.

Stripping and repairing ladder frame continues. Frames being needle gunned to remove loose scale.

Welders completed the replacement 'U' shaped angle and angle plates joining lead stringer to cross stays. New cross stay plate ordered - will be drilled ready for riveting during Work Week.

Once we have a viable ladder frame, it will be sandblasted clean and painted.

19/06/2010 - A posed illustration of the needle gunning operation - ear defenders would be used in reality.

19/06/2010 - tender wheel set - new steel tyres fitted.

This month saw the return of the tender wheel set. New steel tyres have been fitted sand profiled. Subsequently, the tyres were greased, the axle hubs greased and protected and the assemblage covered over to await final cleaning and painting of spokes.

Repairs to the tender ladder continue. Needle gunning completed and front brackets fettled. Steel for front stringer sandwich delivered, sandwich made and set-up ready for drilling and riveting, hopefully during Work Week.
A pattern maker has been located to produced the patterns for casting the drag boxes - KWG is working on the drawings.

31/07/2010 - steel plate for Hawksworth tender base. Latter needs eight such sheets which will be assembled on a flat steel base prior to being moved indoors for the rest of the tender to be built on it.

31/07/2010 - Ring for the tender box filter sand blasted clean

31/07/2010 - Previously shaped rear steps back plate being drilled to take the steps harvested from the Collett tender.

06/08/2010 - Rear tender steps - steps riveted to the backplate.

06/08/2010 - sandwich plates riveted to the tender ladder.

06/08/2010 - riveting on tender ladder frame.

Planning in relation to three essential needs for the new-build tender saw positive progress:

21/08/2010 - Completed water scoop support tube.

Preliminary drawings for tender front drag box passed to pattern maker for pricing - box pattern and multi-cores £1,600. Casting in steel - about £3,000. Machining to be carried out in-house.

Front stretchers and spacer for frames ordered from Tadley - cost £570.

Vacuum reservoir/cylinder examined and deemed repairable. Reconditioning commenced - derusted, studs cleaned and painted in primer. Drain nipple needs to be removed and a replacement fitted.

25/09/2010 - Vacuum reservoir or cylinder following reconditioning.

25/09/2010 - Internal view of an installed tender filter (from 4079) showing one of the two filters we are considering updating to a more effective system.

25/09/2010 - Reconditioned axle boxes prior to storage.

25/09/2010 - Working on the new tender filter box casing.