2019 Blog

December 2019

  • Firebox palm stays fettled and fitted ready for riveting
  • New throatplate riveted to boiler section
  • New steam heat shut-off valves made and fitted
  • Crank pins and rods measured for machining bushes

November 2019

  • New brasses for side rods rough machined
  • Final welding in of throatplate finished
  • New backhead cladding started
  • Firebox lap seams caulked in

October 2019

  • New cab tool boxes finished
  • Boiler expansion brackets cleaned, checked and painted
  • Majority of remaining firebox lap seam rivets replaced

September 2019

  • More cladding sections and insulation pads fabricated
  • Rivet holes under the boiler palm stays countersunk
  • Various oil pots and pipework brackets made
  • New racking and tool storage bins installed

August 2019

  • Refurbishing of the rods commenced
  • Piston swab boxes and covers finished
  • Flexible brake cylinder pipe fitted
  • Mesh sieves for water spaces made

July 2019

  • Safety valve bonnet and new coupling shackles obtained
  • New rocker shaft covers made
  • Start made on fabricating new cylinder/valve cover cladding pieces
  • Insulation pads for the above made

June 2019

  • Motion return spring assembly fitted
  • Trailling axle splashers made and fitted
  • New condensing coil fitted to cab
  • Main steam pipe removed from boiler for reburb

May 2019

  • Boiler palm stays trial fitted
  • All rivet/stay holes in throat plate pilot drilled
  • Slipper blocks modified
  • One set of slipper blocks white metalled

April 2019

  • Tapping of the many firebox stay holes started
  • Throat plate corners dressed to fit foundation ring
  • Cab windows finished and fitted
  • Final slide bar aligned and pinned

March 2019

  • Throat plate dressing and drilling started
  • New lamp brackets made
  • Water valve operating mechanism fabricated
  • Ashpan heat shield fabricated and fitted

February 2019

  • New motion spring bracket components machined
  • Ashpan riveting and welding completed
  • Throat plate edges ground to fit foundation ring
  • Driver’s side bottom slide bar fitted, aligned and pinned

January 2019

  • Construction of new ashpan continues
  • Boiler repair patch and superheater header NDT tested
  • Front tank splashers repaired/refurbished and fitted
  • Work started on installing new boiler throat plate