Workshop Update 1st September

Tuesday, 1st September, 2015

Another really progressive period on the loco.

Allan has stripped down and overhauled the blowdown valve, which Nigel then painted. Sharon made a pattern of the valve flange, to be sent to Dalgleish and then made the gasket for it .

Nigel, Phil and Dave made a new linkage for the blowdown mechanism after Allan had redesigned and made a new plunger.

Our painters, Hughie, Colin, Mark and Jim, have worked on the cab roof, the smoke box door, the cylinder covers, tank areas, front buffer beam, the cab doors area and the cab lockers. The loco is really starting to look smart now.

Allan has made and fitted new studs for the main steam pipes, while Harry tapped out and prepared the bolts for fixing the steam pipe shrouds from the smokebox into the cylinder blocks.

Bob and Sharon have been checking the nuts and split pins fixing all the assemblies to the frame.

Harry has cut off the lifting bracket on the smokebox and ground it smooth. He then made copper protective sleeves and bolted down the injector feed pipes. Has also modified and fitted the super heater header support brackets inside the smokebox and aligned and bolted down one splash guard. He made protective covers for the walkway steps at the front of the loco and refitted the bunker air vent inspection plates in the cab locker.

Stuart has continued fabricating and fitting new cylinder end covers.

Sharon has drilled and fitted the pattresses that hold the gauges.

Nigel has made the bright cotters for the cross head fixing and fitted the clamping plates to the drivers back rest.

Alan, as well as keeping things tidy in the workshop and clearing up the outside with Dan, has been cleaning the motion.

Allan, Phil and Nigel have done more work on the water feed pipe to the injector. Allan and Phil have been aligning the inside injector water feed pipe after silver soldering the flanges on.

Geoff made some large brake pins for our friends in the diesel department. He also milled out the holes on the steam heat bracket.

Dave finished off the bracket that holds the blow down cock instruction plate, which is now being painted by Hughie. Dave then found the front number plate and fitted the engine shed code.

The Ivatt loco team of Dave, Jimmy and Dan have continued freeing the spring and axle support brackets, in preparation of dropping the Ivatt wheels. The front end is now jacked up.

Our shop coach staff of Irene, Dennis and John have worked steadily to raise funds and have started a cleanup and reorganisation, with many smaller items being bagged and labelled. We still need more volunteers to help out in the shop coach.

Pictures are:

Working on the blowdown valve mechanism.

View from the smokebox towards the cab.

Smokebox door - newly painted with shed code plate.