Wickham Works No. 9865

If all went to plan this would be a post on my other blog Lines near the Lachlan, as after the VW I said I would get back into my HO models.

That hasn't happened, instead NSWGR Trikes has acquired more trikes. 2 more Type 4S Wickham Railcars. One of which is going through the workshop; Works Number 9865. One of the last to enter service on the NSWGR. The other is unidentified, someone has removed it's plates. The latter never being converted to Wisconsin power but the JAP engine is missing.

No. 9865 is fitted with a Wisconsin S14D engine, only missing it carburetor and fuel tank. As always with Wisconsin's that have sat for a while, the exhaust valve was stuck. The rest of the engine is in good shape. The Clutch however was badly damaged. Who ever played with it last did tighten certain bolts, they came undone, and smashed other bits and pieces off the clutch pack itself. Not happy about that as it will use up my spares I have for 526 if it needed them. 

The front axle is out and taken apart for new gearbox bearings and seals, the wheel bearing themselves are in fine condition. Was interesting to find out that self aligning ball bearings RHP NLJ 1 3/8 were used instead of factory fitted cylindrical roller bearing RHP LRJ 1 3/8. The ball bearing is cheaper but a PITA to set up correctly. The roller bearings allowed for a +/-2mm in alignment.

The plan for 9865 is that it will be the work horse of the fleet, replacing the favored 526. 526 will join the VW as a 'special occasions and shows' trike. As such 9865 will probably roll out a goer sometime in the next 3 months. Not having to do much about the looks of it will greatly speed up its turn around time and not to mention, save a a lot of money. 

As delivered with the other Wickham behind it. The TICs belong to a mate and were picked up at the same time.

9865 up ended and front axle on the floor.

Work continues on the engine and clutch

Bare axle 

Left hand side fittings.

What the VW has been up to

While waiting for a green light to run trikes again the VW has been to a couple of displays to promote the Goulburn Crookwell Heritage Railway. It's first outing was the Wagga model railway show in November last year.

More recently it was taken to Crookwell for display along with Wickham 526. The first time these two met despite having the VW for over a year. 526 is still out of service with a rear axle problem.

The newly built tandem trailer had to be chopped up to safely accommodate both trikes. Not that they didn't fit, it was about weight distribution. The Wisconsin engine in the Wickham is a heavy animal and made the trailer back heavy. The front of the trailer was cut out and moved to bring the front loaded VW forward, the rear loaded Wickham was then moved to a position that balanced the trikes on the trailer with still enough weight on the car (around 10%).

The tie-down chains were ditched for using the towing points on the trikes. All that is required now is to roll the trikes on and drop pins in the coupling to secure them. A removable bar was fitted between the loaded trikes to prevent collision and share the stresses of the trikes moving around. The trailer has no tailgate so just as a precaution a safety chain was attached to the Wickham.

The mods must have worked because I use less fuel and maintained a higher average speed that just taking the VW alone.

Both trike loaded. The sheet is to help protect the VW while towing

You can see the front of the trailer moved forward 250mm and how the trikes are secured.

The removable bar between the trikes. 

Crookwell held it's annual Potato Festival on March 1st and the GCHR had a display of trikes in the station car park. Unfortunately we all got rained out and chased the crowds away.

Crookwell Railway Station car park