2014 Blog

December 2014

  • Rear panels completed for water tank
  • Complete trial build of water tank finished
  • Old white metal removed from slipper blocks
  • Fabrication of horn grinding machine started

November 2014

  • New coupled keeps and guide liners obtained for axle boxes
  • All axle box rubbing plates removed
  • Crack on frame by left leading horn repaired
  • Top panels and baffles for left hand water tank completed

October 2014

  • Front and rear buffers re-attached
  • Crack in frame by left leading horn repaired
  • Axle box brasses all re-white metalled
  • Pony truck stretcher riveted in place

September 2014

  • New chimney and blower injector ring received
  • Both pony truck axle boxes fully machined
  • Left hand water tank measured up for manufacture of rear panels
  • £1,000 raised for the project from the sale of all the scrap metal

August 2014

  • ll axle journals measured up for machining of axle boxes
  • Machining of pony truck axle boxes started
  • Construction of left hand water tank progressing well
  • Successfull fund raising weekend at The Weald of Kent Steam Rally

July 2014

  • All four buffers reassembled and finished
  • Pony truck axle boxes get new white metal poured
  • Construction of left hand water tank started
  • New smokebox and door arrive

June 2014

  • Pony truck stretcher rebuilt and bolted into frames
  • Brake vacuum cylinder rebuilt
  • Rear buffer beam riveted on
  • Horns cleaned and examined
  • Old white metal melted out of axle boxes

May 2014

  • Rear buffer beam reassembled and bolted in place
  • Weighshaft replaced in frames
  • New cab floor frames bolted in place
  • All suspension springs cleaned and examined
  • Frame refurbishment continues

April 2014

  • Weighshaft refurbished with new bushes
  • Right hand frame repair section fully welded in and dressed
  • New pony truck stretcher completed and trial fitted
  • Brake vacuum tank stripped and being refurbished
  • Smokebox stripped of re-usable parts

March 2014

  • Refurbishment of another sand box completed
  • Welding in of right hand frame repair section started
  • Final panel of right hand water tank bolted into place prior to riveting. Over 1,800 rivets have been inserted so far
  • Railway’s apprentice trained up in the art of riveting

February 2014

  • Final build of the right hand water tank has commenced with 1,068 rivets put in place during the month
  • Rebuilding of the sand boxes continues
  • Brake cylinder removed from 5668 as a donor for 4253. Stripped, cleaned and painted

January 2014

  • Right hand water tank trial build successfully completed
  • Refurbishment/repair of tank furniture started
  • 5668 moved to Rolvenden yard to prepare for storage
  • New pony truck stretcher fabricated
  • Right hand frame repair section now in place ready for welding