[DS239]

Yes, and so DS240 was the last Southern Region steam locomotive in BR service, albeit in a stationary role..

[Nemo]

http://www.serifwebresources.com/control.php?uid=81ed695263e7127fd17af0cf6f67bf6257d2f450&post=1518274

"Another point worth noting is that ‘C’ Class DS240 (31271) was at Ashford Works in departmental service as a stationary boiler. This was reported to still be in use providing steam for cleaning bogies on July 23, 1967 nearly two weeks after southern steam had finished."

See also https://maxstaffordskennel.com/2016/08/14/southern-boogie/

[Sentinel S4]

Correct Conan, an expansion device. DTT it looks like a rush job. To be honest I've only ever seen lagged feed pipes on former USSR and other locos that work for extended periods in extreme cold conditions, in this case it looks like a fitter got over worried and just wrapped 3' of rope around it.

S4.

[conan]

I wonder what machine she was providing steam for inside the shed?. Does anyone have any idea why the supply pipe from the steam dome has an upward U-bend in it, could it have acted as an expansion device of some sort?

[DaveTheTrain]

Yes,  but they seem to have used it with no lap.  Pehaps times were hard.

[Sentinel S4]

Looks like asbestos rope being used as lagging. It was used by the mile at St Augustine's Hospital. Wrapped around the pipe neatly then plastered over, DTT speak to Mr K on Saturday about it.

S4.

[smiffy]

I would imagine that with the end of BR steam just a couple of years away they were just doing the bare minimum to keep things running.

[DaveTheTrain]

That looks like piston rod or valve packing they have put around the clack and clack feed pipe.  Very rough work.

[DS239]

Wainwright Class C 0-6-0 as Departmental DS 240 [ex No. 31271] at Ashford Works on 29th May 1966.

[kentnavigator]

There has been a setback for the Ashford Model Rail Centre, the proposed site was on old Klondyke works land and after testing this was found to be contaminated. The combined cost of buying the land and subsequent clean up was too expensive so a new location is being sought.

[howard]

Roger Daltry is still a backer, along with others. I think you will find that he was only the figurehead as it made good publicity.

[conan]

The rock star is Roger Daltrey, this news item is dated 2016 so things have probably changed.

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/ashford/news/approval-for-model-railways-museum-93183/

The plans

http://www.aimrec.co.uk/

[howard]

I think you will find that it is a scheme proposed by a number of people and backed by others, some of whom are rock stars, rsther than being proposed by a rock star. I believe that they have problems with the proposed building area being classed as contaminated land and are looking for somewhere else in the area.

[JohnWalker]

The last I read was a rock star was planning a national model railway museum built there. I've not heard anything since.
JW

[CommanderChuff]

I have been keeping a watching brief on the this site and I can report that the area north of the long carriage sheds in the centre of the image (with the red crane in the clearing) are being cleared for re-development.  We understand that the proposal is to build mixed residential housing and to reuse the old sheds as they are grade 2 listed as retail units.  The exterior walls will be retained and also the internal cranes, but there are no other features still in-situ.