4253 Locomotive Company Limited

7 days ago

This week we carried on with the projects again for 3 days .Tuesday the team started the task of drilling the top beadings on the top of the tender sides .We worked from front to back pulling down the beading down where it was needed and drilling and bolting it in the correct position.The second side beading was trimmed and fitted and held down with various methods of devices ready for drilling to start . The regulator box had all the bolts trial fitted and cut to length for when it’s fitted in the smoke box .Team crinoline were working on various bits making joining strips, bending bits to the correct profile then checking for a good fit .The toilet seat was dressed and painted prior to fitting .4253 boiler had all the washout plugs and mud hole doors checked and numbered then fitted and the numbers and position entered on the master plan for all future works .The back sheet from the tender of 541 had the last of the rivets dressed then it was rubbed down and painted before it is put up on the tender .The front retaining strip for the water gauge float retaining bracket was cut up and will be drilled and fitted later.Friday the crinoline team were working on both the firebox crinolines and the boiler barrel crinolines .The toilet seat had the stools welded to it then the joining strips attached then drilled and tapped then threaded .The toilet seat was then put up in place on top of the boiler of 4253 and had the first part of the crinoline fitted .We marked out the position of the lubrication shut of valves on the smokebox side ready for drilling . (Lubrication for the front end of the loco ) The copper tube was annealed for the lubrication pipe runs and work started trial fitting it.Work continued on the tender beadings the first of the back curved sections was put together after lots of bending it to the correct shape the fixing strip was welded on, these never had them originally as they were welded on the tender .Sunday the firebox crinolines were continued to be manufactured, and trial fitted on the boiler to check the fit.The lubrication shut off cocks to the smokebox had the holes drilled and then fitted.The new handrail ends were machined, and the fixing stud holes drilled then then tapped out for the studs to be fitted .The second curved beading for the back of the tender was adjusted to fit correctly then the fixing strip welded on .More holes were drilled in the top beading both sides and bolted on before the countersinking starts .The finished parts on the front of the tender had a primer applied to stop it rusting away in the damp weather .The water gauge float arm support unit was completed just needs welding in the water space .Thanks to all who helped this week with all various jobs completed on both projects . ... See MoreSee Less

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4253 Locomotive Company

2 weeks ago

The wet week working on the projects 4253, 541 .Tuesday everyone joined grindr wherever you looked everyone had a grinder in their hands .The rivets that hold on the steps and lamp brackets on the 541 tender back sheet were started to be ground back flat as they are countersunk .The welded centre join of the side sheet on the tender had the welds dressed .The door shut bosses that also had the rivets ground back flat as these are countersunk as well .The strengthening plates for the toilet seat (plate that goes under the cladding ) were also cut out with a grinder these to be welded on the underside .We had a clear out at the front end of the tender and we were surprised what we found .The front end of the tender had a primer applied as its almost finished and to stop all our good work rusting .The toilet seat was dressed, and trial fitted on the boiler and fitted perfectly .Friday it rained then rained some more but the intrepid team erected 2 Lobo platforms each side of 4253 firebox this is to allow better access to the top of the box when fitting the firebox crinolines .We decided to do inside jobs the top beadings were put through the hydraulic press and with some gentle persuasion all the bends were removed they are now nice and straight now ready for fitting on the tender sides .The back end curved beadings were stripped ready for welding .The toilet seat had the back cleaned up to have the doubling plates welded on .The safety valve bonnet was removed from storage to see the light of day for the first time in a very long time . So we could try it on the toilets seat to check the fixing points .Sunday the team set to work continuing the building of the new the tender for 541.The sand boxes were put up in place and had the holding bosses welded in place inside of the water space then the boxes were bolted on .The water gauge operating parts were got out of storage and assessed, and any work needed to make the saved parts usable was done . Some new brackets were cut out and drilled all made from stainless steel for the operating linkages .The ball float was fitted to the operating rod and the support brackets were drilled and bolted to the side sheet of the water space .More welding of the side sheets was done this to allow us to get the top beadings on and positioned for drilling for the rivets .The first of the top beading was put up in place and the necessary modifications were done as the front toolboxes have now been riveted in place on new supports .The toilet seat had the alterations done then cleaned and painted so the crinoline team can get on with finishing the crinolines .Thanks to everyone who came along and got wet helping with keeping the projects moving . ... See MoreSee Less

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LOCOMOTIVE COMPANY LIMITED

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