Latest News

April 2022

Neil trying to get to grips with the lubrication pipe runs from the mechanical lubricator
to the cylinders. All the pipework and clips is new

 

A set of new drain plugs for the underkeeps has just been manufactured.

 

Machining the end of the underkeeps that go against the back of the wheels on the shaper.

 

Putting the grooves in the end of the underkeeps to key the white metal to the face.

 

Tapping the holes in the underkeeps for the drainplugs after having faced off the boss and drilled it.

 

March 2022

New standoffs made for the front and rear cylinder covers to support the cylinder cover cladding.

 

Using the forming plates we made for flanging new sections of cylinder cover cladding.

 

This is a short section needed to weld into one of the sections of rear cylinder cover cladding
where it has wasted away.

 

The new section of cylinder cladding on the left with the wasted section on the right prior
to being cut off.

 

The new bit of cylinder cladding now welded to the original piece and ready for painting.

 

The leading set of driving wheels now being prepared for final painting in readiness for re-wheeling.

 

February 2022

All the axlebox underkeeps now hand dressed and individually fitted to each axlebox.

 

Having made the cladding we had to make and fit the pipe from the steam chest to the
steam chest drain before the cladding can be finally fitted.

 

After a respite from cylinder cladding on the Fireman's side we have now made
and fitted the Driver's side cylinder cladding. It still needs to come off for fitting
the lagging and painting and there is still parts to make for the front and rear
ends of the cylinders.

 

Marking out some of the cutouts on the bottom edge of the main cylinder cladding panel.

 

A new bolt being manufactured for securing the Driver's side slidebars.

 

The Fireman's new cabside being marked out and drilled for the various
brackets, angles and window fittings that have to be attached to the sides.

 

Cleaning up the axleboxes ready for hand fitting each of the freshly
machined underkeeps to their respective axlebox.

 

January 2022

New castings delivered today for the steam pipes that fit in the smokebox on the top of the
tubeplate to lift the pipework for the blower, atomiser and steam lance over the superheater
header. You can see from the part on the top left that the originals had been cut off at Barry
to extract the copper pipes. The only reason this part of the bronze fitting was not recovered
was because it would have been inaccessible behind the superheater header.