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