December 2013

• Wasted section of right hand frame cut away
• Right hand water tank rear panels drilled and trial fitted
• Front tube plate removed
• Cleaning of interior of boiler barrel commenced

November 2013

• Wheels returned from South Devon Railway fully refurbished
• Smokebox removed from boiler barrel
• Rivets holding front tube plate in place all removed
• Last of the steel panels for the right hand water tank purchased
• New draw hooks obtained

October 2013

• Left hand frame repair section welded in
• Temporary construction area extended to take second water tank
• Repair of third sandbox started
• Left hand water tank dismantled and angle pieces cleaned and inspected
• Removal of rivets holding smoke box to boiler barrel has begun

September 2013

• Two sand boxes repaired and painted
• All tubes now removed from boiler together with accumulated scale and debris
• Left hand frame repair section tacked in place and slowly being welded up
• Removal of the smoke box from the boiler barrel has commenced
• Fundraising stall manned during weekend events at Bodiam and Robertsbridge

August 2013

• Two sand boxes repaired and painted
• All tubes now removed from boiler together with accumulated scale and debris
• Left hand frame repair section tacked in place and slowly being welded up
• Removal of the smoke box from the boiler barrel has commenced
• Fundraising stall manned during weekend events at Bodiam and Robertsbridge

July 2013

• Frames – damaged section at rear of left hand side cut out and repair sections for both left and right hand sides prepared and drilled. Remaining suspect rivets removed
• Cylinders and valve chest area needle gunned and coated in red oxide
• Good progess made on fabrication of right hand water tank
• GWR 5668 prepared for its move from Blaenavon to Rolvenden

June 2013

• Fabrication of right hand water tank commenced with plate being drilled
• Lower intermediate stretcher riveted to frames
• Brake cylinder strip down started
• Rear drag boxes cleaned, rivets replaced as necessary and painted
• One connecting rod acquired

May 2013

• Pony truck frame cleaned and painted
• Bunker fitting out commenced – handbrake column and oil boxes installed
• Boiler support band reinstated
• Crew steps completed
• Boiler detube commenced
• Steel for right hand tank ordered and delivered

April 2013

• Bunker riveting completed with ducket (where rear lamp is mounted) now installed
• Lower intermediate stretcher trial fitted, removed and riveted up
• Crew steps riveted up
• Right hand side tank totally dismantled and all angle pieces cleaned up for reuse

March 2013

• Bunker almost completed with 1,147 rivets installed so far
• Right hand water tank being dismantled after measurements taken. There are hundreds of rivets to be ground off here
• Front and rear cab sheets prepared for riveting
• Many more parts acquired including side rods and vacuum pump

February 2013

• Bunker riveting continues with water space and coal floor now completed
• Some 920 rivets are now in place
• Wheels sent to South Devon Railway for tyre turning
• Many new parts acquired and stored
• Dismantling of side tanks has commenced
• Grinding off of boiler tube ends in firebox prior to removal continues

January 2013

• Lower intermediate stretcher manufactured
• Rear frame tie manufactured
• Parts acquired including axle underkeep and cab window frames
• Cab steps manufactured – now awaiting riveting
• Bunker riveting commenced – Floor and sides completed
• Some 497 rivets now in place