The team worked three days this week on the project.![]()
We started to fit the back top section of the new water tank for 5668 applying mastic and bolting it down ready for riveting it on to the framework. The front end of the tank had the top capping clamped on. Then the holes drilled for riveting it in place. The handrail was refitted as it was removed to allow access to the back panel for riveting, the baffle was fitted in cab section of the tank then the water gauge operating bracket was fitted to this. The hole was drilled for the water gauge rod that operates the indicator in the cab to pass through the top section after some precise measuring. The pins for the hand brake linkage were handed over to us after they had been made on an apprentice training exercise. These were tried and fitted with just the final adjustment to be done. Two more projects arrived on Friday for us to complete the Dogfish hopper wagon that’s been unfinished for a few years, along with a couple of platform sack barrows these were going to be a quick fix until they were stripped down, unfortunately not now. (All done FOC) by the team. The splashers on the tank base were welded and some of the baffle brackets tack welded on ready for the baffles to fitted.![]()
Sunday the team started by cutting up the piece of plate for the centre joining plate for the new water tank for 5668. The riveting started mid-morning on the top back section this was a very slow process as the access for holding up was very difficult. Other jobs included welding and machining the regulator rod to make it round again where it passes through the stuffing box. The copper seals were removed from the inside of the cylinder covers and started to be replaced by new. A very good week indeed thanks to everyone who helped on the project .Don’t forget the AGM on Saturday 22 of January at St Michaels and All Angel’s Church Ashford Rd St Michaels TN30 6PU at 2 pm .
Back to just 3 days again after our mammoth efforts to raise money for 4253 at the Santa specials. Tuesday the team with the outstanding works continued where we left off last Sunday getting the last of the holes drilled on the new tank for 5668. This included the grinding off the excess welds for the new capping strip that was put together on Sunday (had to make, not available anymore) Removing a loose rivet along with cleaning all the surfaces that will be welded. Friday the pattern for the new blast pipe went to the foundry for casting. The team got all the parts out of storage for the splashers to be cleaned and weld prepped ready for final fitting. The angle for the back section had mastic applied and then bolted on ready for riveting. The cab floor bracket was finished so that it now can be fitted after the last rivets on the tank back section are fitted. We resumed for “awkward rivet Sunday “all the difficult rivets were done in the cab section of the tank which we got done at last. The splasher angle was riveted on to the bottom plate, all the odd rivets that got left for different reasons were finished. Then we fitted the back splasher and welded it on, the front splasher was tack welded in place to allow us to stand the tank upright so we can now fit the top sections and get them ready for riveting. Other work that went on was more welding and grinding back on the new capping strip . Thanks to everyone who helped us this week on the project.
Happy New Year to one and all thanks for your support from all the 4253 team over the difficult year we have all had. We hope 2022 is better year for everyone.![]()
We went back to work on Friday with work on testing the repaired float for the new water gauge and bending the operating arm to the correct shape for 5668 new fireman’s tank. The rivets that were put in before Christmas had a coat of primer on the heads. First Sunday of a new year saw the team return from their super efforts selling product, giving the public the chance to try their luck on the Tombola along with helping them to buy excellent Christmas presents from our sales stall. We served all the adults mulled wine as well so apart from that we did not do a lot. First job of the day was to lay down the half-built tank for 5668 onto trestles to allow us to rivet the bottom angle on as its impossible to do when the tank is upright. This then allowed us to ream the holes for the rivets to fit correctly, we then riveted the bottom angle then ground the rivets back flush as they are all countersunk to allow the tank to fit flush on the framework of the loco. That done we then repeated the operation and turned the tank completely over to allow the same operation on the splasher angles. We then riveted the bottom section of the tank this is not an easy job to hold up as the space is very narrow this was successfully completed. While this was going on the weld team were making the new top capping strip for the tank as you cannot buy it off the shelf anymore. So, all in all we had a very good day. Thanks to all the team for super start to the year to keep us moving forward.
Happy Christmas to everyone sorry about the post i was involved in a marathon game of Monopoly. ![]()
Starting with a massive thanks to all members of the sales team who worked the whole week on the Santa Special’s helping to raise much needed money for 4253 to get the boiler finished. We have a few pictures this week of the boiler at HBSS Liverpool already for the stays to be fitted, things are moving forward on 4253 boiler. We completed the mega stint with our tombola and selling our boiler tube products at Tenterden. (Thanks to Phil for getting us more clocks to sell) This year we offered all the adults the chance of Mulled Wine or Port before they boarded the train. (It worked well) We did have some fun along the way as well. After all the hard work on the stall we raised a few more pennies towards the loco’s completion. We are aiming to push on with the loco after the boiler returns next year. The 4253 Locomotive Co would like to wish everyone a happy and safe new year, thanks for your support over the year.![]()
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On a sad note, we lost one of our Directors Mark Younge this week he will be sadly missed by all. Our condolences go to Alison and all the family.
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Set of 3 Stays (Sponsor)£99.00 -
Life & Times of 4253 Book£9.50 -
Pen & Torch Gift Set£6.00 -
FLUE TUBE CLOCKS£27.50 – £30.50 -
BOILER TUBE EGG TIMERS£15.00 – £18.00 -
4253/WISE OWL CIDER TANK IN OO GAUGE£15.00 – £20.00