4253 Locomotive Company Limited

3 days ago

This week yet again we worked 3 days keeping things moving forward on both projects .Tuesday we turned our attention to cleaning the superheater header of the surface rust that built up while it was outside .Work continued on the tender of 541 getting ever closer to completion .We started to put back the beadings on the tender sides after we had fitted the back top sheet and coal space divider at the weekend .The back beading strip was put in the hydraulic press and straightened before we can drill the back sheet .Team crinoline were getting all their bits to fit with lots of work going on everywhere .The tender back grab handles were fitted before the water space access gets restricted with lots of internal gubbins being fitted .Friday the crinoline team were working flat out getting ready to fit the support angles to the boiler .The toilet seat was taken down for the crinoline attachment strips to be drilled and countersunk .We dug out a set of pallets for the floor under our sales stand for the Santa’s, it’s a lot cheaper than buying everyone a set of waders each to keep dry .The tender beading on one of the back corners was giving us trouble to get it right lots of bending taking place .The coal shovelling plate was dressed after it was welded on last weekend .Sunday there was work going on 5 sites simultaneously the tender with the dividing plate bracket holes drilled in the side plate .The curved beading for the tender was being heated and bent to shape .The brackets for holding the crinolines in place were welded onto the boiler side then the strip bolted on .The last top plate was cut to size and support gussets cut to size and cleaned ready for welding all done in the outside workshop .Rolling of crinoline strips and corner sections in the main workshop .The toolbox hinges were marked out and drilled getting ready for riveting on .Lots more welding was done on the tender getting closer to the finish line .The lifting eyes had all the holes drilled for fixing them in the tender .With lots of other just jobs done as well, we had a workforce of 14 bods today so we completed lots of tasks .Thanks to everyone for their efforts this week in moving things forward . ... See MoreSee Less

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4253 Locomotive Company

1 week ago

We continued with both projects for the customary 3 days again this week .Tuesday we continued with getting the tender sides ready for the first coat of primer .This included lots of dressing of the weekends welding the middle seams of side sheets and along both sides bottom seam weld .The crinoline team were out in force beavering away with the task of getting it all to fit correctly .The angle for attaching the firebox crinoline to was cut to length and put up temporarily for a trial fit .The newly made brackets for holding the cover plate on the superheater header inside the smoke box had all the holes drilled now ready for fitting in the smoke box .The work carried on fitting the flanges for the blower and brake ejector exhaust .The big job was turning the top sheet for 541 tender and getting it inside for cleaning the last big sheet on the tender to move .Thursday a trip to the Bluebell Railway to collect the recently machined chimney and blower ring. We also picked up the new radiator header for the G W R Railcar No 20 which the team from 4253 made that being restored at C&W Tenterden .Friday the cleaning of the top sheet commenced on the outside surfaces then it was moved to allow inside surfaces that will be welded to be cleaned as well.The top beadings were moved out of the way to allow all the inside surfaces that will have welds on to be cleaned .When this was all done we embarked with the task of getting to top sheet up on the tender which the only hiccup was we did not get our tea till 1o clock until it was up . The welders have their own Wendy house now to play in .After our late lunch we cleaned up all the support plates ready for the welders and brought them inside to save them rusting before they are needed .The crinoline team got the first 2 bracing strips in place on the firebox top, its all coming together well.Lots of other little jobs done as well including sourcing all the bolts for the smokebox brackets, second coat of primer on parts of the tender .Sunday the team concentrated on the back of the tender with moving the back top sheet out of the way to allow the back sheet to be put in place .The back sheet was lifted into place and aligned to be welded in place this was done .We also put in some strengthening brackets on the back sheet corners .The top sheet was moved back in place then the dividing sheet for the coal space was lifted into place and bolted to the floor plate and welded in place .The other end of the tender was being worked on with the coal shovelling plate being installed it was trimmed and then welded in place .Various other jobs were done as well including moving the superheater header into the shed and moving the chimney out of the way along with electrical maintenance works .Thanks to everyone who helped this week . ... See MoreSee Less

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LOCOMOTIVE COMPANY LIMITED

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