The New Pool at Abbey Pumping Station

fcrammond · The New Pool at Abbey Pumping Station

I am now confident enough about our new, Mark II, pool at APS to announce its first "baptism". As part of the April Steam Day on Sunday 6th April the Fredfleet will be mobilised. We will be pleased to welcome anyone else who has suitable floating steam toys they would like to try out on the water, just pm me first or email me at fcrammond@hotmail.com .
The event is technically for model engineering but we shall be steaming one of the beam engines, the loco and some of the smaller engines as well as having a vintage tinplate Gauge 1 layout in the Big Shed. Should be a good day.

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Fred

PS I'm hoping for better weather than Tilford

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Rob

sounds good fred, ill try and make it, and try to make the sails for my dads bowman yacht.

duncandumpertruck

Drat! Still out of the country then.

I'd love to get down for this. All the best for the day mate.

fcrammond

Rob, It depends on the flatness of the site but I'm aiming for a minimum depth of about 2 inches. Fine for steamers but you might have a problem with your keel/centreboard. Better email me the night before. I should have a reasonable idea by then.
Fred

Rob

no worries fred. it does have a rather large keel, about 5 inches deep

ill email you the night before anyway.

fcrammond

We have some really good metal shears in the workshop

fcrammond

Well things are looking good for the weekend. I spent most of Monday attaching the liner to the framework and it's beginning to look quite effective. As you will remember the original pool was based on a railway sleeper framework with the liner held in place by a selection of 35 lb flat bottom rail segments.
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The new version uses a framework of scrounged scaffold planks
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I've bolted the planks together with angle brackets at the corners
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The liner is bolted to the frame through the eyelets

And the whole thing looks quite shipshape

However that is on a nice flat tarmac surface. We could have it there for most of our Steam Days but for STIA we need this space for the Marquee so we are going to have to find a reasonably flat surface somewhere on the grass. This could be interesting. We only have 9 inches of freeboard and we need at least two inches to float boats (or six if we want to have sailboats). I can see a summer of moving around the site looking for somewhere flat.

Anyway, come Sunday, I shall be steaming at least some of the fleet. Stay tuned and see how we get on. Better still, turn up with a boat or two.

Fred

H2o vapour

FRED,

THIS LOOKS BRILLIANT !!

like the simple but effective construction methods. Well done!!

See you Sunday, Let us know how deep, may be able to bring other stuff.

H20

Minor1PJG

Looks great. Good work there. I look forward to some videos

Steve_S

Ah, it's where the marquee goes... I couldn't work it out! It certainly a good size.... positively oceanic... should make for a great display.

bessytractor

thats looking good! I always enjoy these portable ponds. Makes a nice showcase for the boats.

Atticman

Thats a really good size Fred, a great improvement on what was good already.

Dont suppose the marquee can move or even change shape for next years STIA rather than try to find flatness on grass?

MooseMan

Looks great! Wish I could make it this Sunday....

Sandman

Take plenty of pics Fred.

I wish I could make it, but it's just too far at this time.

fcrammond

I think it is pretty important to keep the dealers happy at STIA. The pool is pleasant but, given the possible weather conditions in February, could be considered something of a luxury. I'm hoping that by next February we will have sorted out a suitable spot and a reasonable modus operandi for the pool.
Does anyone have access to a traditional, coke burning brazier as used by practically every Hole in the Road in my youth?
The weather promised for Sunday is not good but has to be better than Tilford.

Fred

Mamodman123

Atticman

Rob

fcrammond

Mamodman123 wrote

H2o vapour

Any one mentioned H & S ?

H20

MooseMan

Les Marsh

mogogear

I can't wait to see how this turns out...I haven't a clue of who is H&S or what..but I am curious

Les Marsh

mogogear

Darn, I thought it was some name of good ale or some such...that needed to be on hand!!

H2o vapour

Hi fred,

Will there be a entry fee into the museum site?

H20

fcrammond

Spent all day pooling. Now have 2-3 inches of water by 36footX16foot.
H&S..... No Swimming or inhaling underwater. Toy boats only.

Open to Public from 1.00 pm. @ £3.50 adults £8.00 Family

Exhibitors from about 10.00 am. Free.

Railway will be diesel operated as Leonard undergoing boiler inspection but small engines, roller and beam engine in steam. No 1 beam engine rotating under hydraulic power for the first time in 40 years

Model engineerng exhibits and 1900s gauge 1 tinplate live steam

Snow???

See you folks..

Fred

Les Marsh

I cannot make it but have a good day.

fcrammond

I'll try but is there a cure for frostbite?
F

Les Marsh

fcrammond

We're a bit low on Scotch. Would Brandy work?
F

Les Marsh

fcrammond

Schtay tuned, itsh working alreddy

F

mogogear

H2o vapour

Hi Folks !!

Some pictures of the event, Many thanks go to Fred and the, Brilliant Fed fleet!!!

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Well There we have it, a brilliant day out, Just need to say , the pool was very good and must say, Thanks Fred -

H20

Les Marsh

Very good, thankyou for those.

Sandman

Great pics mate.

Takes me back to the STIA. What an atmosphere.

Was it well attended???

H2o vapour

Hi Sandy,

Sadly not well attended, just me and Fred. There was a reasonable amount of public and we were well watched. I have some more pictures that I will load

H20

H2o vapour

More Pics!!

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That 's all Folks

H20[/img]

Les Marsh

Is this one a Sutcliffe??

Sandman

More magic pics mate.

I'm sorry to hear that the day was not better represented, but I think in all honesty the weather forecasters had painted a pretty gloomy picture.

That's the major drawback to most outside events in this country.

I'm glad the public turned out though.

mogogear

Marvelous!! It would have been a long trek for the states.. but Maybe one day it would be good to meet all you slackers

The long thin steam launch ..? Is is RC ?

Mamodman123

D2!!!

You suck my battle ship

Great pics and looks like the weather held out ok too!

H2o vapour

Hi Les,

Yes, that's a 1982 Valiant remake by Sutcliffe, nice boats, made with the original 1920's press tools.

H20[img][/img]

Les Marsh

fcrammond

The long thin job (dark blue) is a heavily restored twenties Hobbies-Bowman. No RC just light up and go. Quite fast, hits the side with quite a thump. Mark has pre-empted me on most of the photos but I'll post a few presently. Spent all day draining the pool and putting it away until June 28/29.

Fred

fcrammond

Well, the day started on a bit of a low note
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But by the time I got to APS things had improved a bit. The pool had filled....

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And I soon launched the Fleet. Sadly the mooring arrangements were not a success

But once Mark turned up we were able to get things running

Seahawk proved a reliable performer

And Mark's Swallow went well all afternoon

Meteor was her usual reliable self

And Peter Pan (?) proved unexpectedly useful after an early conflagration

All in all we had a good day and proved the pool in its new form

Mark's RC Duck was very popular with the younger element

The pool depth on its present site varied from three inches to nine inches with the greater part being about six inches deep. Next time I shall dig out a few small Star Yachts to compete with the little one Mark brought . With the water level raised above ground level the sailing boats seemed to go well.
Roll on June.

fred

Les Marsh

Great pictures, thank you.