The team have been hard at it again this week working on 4253 and 451 plus getting the sales stall ready for the Santa trains .Monday an extra day moving the insulation off the loco and into storage until it’s required .The fire iron rack for 541 tender was lifted up onto the tender for drilling to rivet in place .Tuesday the team continued with work on the tender dressing the rivets on the beading that was fitted at the weekend .The coal space was cleared out of all the debris that had accumulated this happens when you are riveting at speed you don’t get time as the next rivet is on its way, so the bolts get dropped The coal hole door slides had the fixing bolts trimmed to the correct length .The crinoline team were hard at work cutting,bending, welding and fitting crinolines .Thursday another extra day putting up the gazebo at Tenterden for the sales stand and starting to get it ready doing the lights and heater installation .Friday back to Tenterden sorting out the tables and product and numbering the prizes for the Tombola .Then back to Rolvenden working on the tender countersinking the rivet holes for the fire iron rack .Lots more crinoline work going on cutting stools ,welding bits together ,adjusting bits on the hydraulic press and fitting them together .The top joining bar is now in place to keep it altogether along the length of the boiler barrel .The last section of the tender top water space was cleaned then lifted up ready to be welded in place .Saturday the sales team were in action at Tenterden station for the first day of the Santa’s (only 8 more days to go and it will all be over for another year )Sunday sales team in action at Tenterden and a full working party at Rolvenden on 4253 and 541 keeping things moving forward .The tender team put the last of the water space top sheets in place and started the welding process then grinding back the seams .The fire iron rack was riveted in place then the countersunk rivets dressed .Work started on the cab back head cladding sheet was started to be marked and cut out to fit around the pads on the boiler .A lot more welding was completed inside the water space of the tender of 541 .While all the work was going on the tender of 541 the sales team were raising more funds for 4253 completion .Thanks to everyone who helped either on sales or engineering this week it all helps . ... See MoreSee Less
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The team continued with work on both projects as normal 3 days this week .Tuesday the first job was to remove the Titanium rivet from the top lamp bracket as it was cut off inside the tender, a gentle tap and it fell off, just as Grandad was passing by it caused his cap to move and rest at a jaunty angle .All the rivets put in on the coal space divider and support brackets were primed .All the beading rivets were dressed and painted.The crinoline team were hard at work trying the bits that were rolled at the weekend on the firebox for the correct fit.Our sales trailer was pressure washed, and all the tyres’ pressures checked and pumped up as required .The 4253-formation lifting team sprung into action to help with the moving of cladding sheets for the yank so they could be fitted .The forge was completely emptied and cleaned out for the first time since we acquired it .With lots of other cleaning jobs done as well.Friday all morning half the team set about moving the sales trailer to be loaded for the Santa sales extravaganza coming very soon .The crinoline team kept working on their project welding and trial fitting ,drilling , countersinking and tapping threads for the fixing screws .(If we had known how much work it’s been to fit the crinolines ).The general consensus was we should have used Evo stick to fit them.Most of the tender has now been rubbed down ready for a second coat of paint when the welders have completed their work getting towards the completion of the works .Sunday a very busy day indeed on the tender we are now on the finishing straight .A major riveting day with the lamp bracket that we could not do last week due to the Titanium rivets now on just needs dressing now .All the top beadings are fully riveted on as well as the front curved beadings all need dressing .The toolbox doors were finished and then put up, all the holes were drilled the reamed out and finally they were riveted on and all open and close very well.The filler lid was riveted on to the filler tube just to rivet on the tender this wont happen till we have finished getting in and out of the water space . More clocks were put together ready for the Santa sales season starting next week .Thanks for the super efforts this week by everyone who came along to help. ... See MoreSee Less
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