Week Three Over Tuesday and Friday, 5668’s water tank was prepared for some more riveting with the back panels trimmed to accommodate the joining strip after it’s been bent to shape. The front back panel was then taken down so the front top panel could be removed and mastic applied to the joining surfaces after which it was bolted back … Read More
Week Four On Tuesday, the rear panels for 5668’s second water tank were delivered and painted, 4253’s crank pin nut spanner was finished and we also painted most of the cladding sheets for loco 65 to help the overhaul on its way. Friday saw completion of the machining of the new intermediate rod which was delivered to Rolvenden on Saturday whereupon, … Read More
Week Four Main activity this week has been mocking up the damper door operating rods for 4253’s ashpan. The original levers had the ends cut off and new ones welded on so that we had round holes to attach to the bell cranks rather than the worn, oval ones. The rod brackets made last week were riveted to the damper doors, jigs … Read More
Final Week This week, the repairs on the rear ducket for 5668’s bunker were completed and it received its first undercoat. The support brackets were too corroded to reuse so new ones were shaped and drilled. The new casting for the water gauge arrived but, sadly, it had a couple of cracks and wasn’t actually the right one anyway! 4253’s new blast … Read More
Final Week This week, on 4253, the cylinder covers fitted last week have been cleaned up and painted, the regulator rod was welded back together following the building up and machining back of the section that passes through the packing gland and work continued on checking out and finishing off work already done under the loco. Work on 5668’s second … Read More
Week Three Due to the number of clocks we sold last weekend, most of the team were pressed into producing new ones on Tuesday. The flue tube sections were cleaned of scale, the legs cut from round bar, welded on, cleaned up again and then given their first coat of paint. On Friday, the clock bodies were given a final coat … Read More
Week Four Tuesday saw most of the team spending the day drilling holes in the tank top panels plus drilling and tapping the stud holes for the side inspection plate. All the baffle angle pieces were bolted into place for the final time and all the holes reamed ready for riveting. The Railway’s apprentice, George, started machining some bolts for 4253’s … Read More
Final Week During the week work continued on making the various parts for the water level gauge. We are missing a section of top trim for the tank so a start was made on making that and the regulator boss was cleaned up and, after a lot of effort, the studs for the packing gland were removed as being too … Read More
The date for the unveiling of the Dave Dee Memorial Bench has now been set for Sunday 10th October at Rolvenden, 1.30pm for 2pm and all are welcome. Week Four On Tuesday, all the weld preps were done on the rear panels of 5668’s tank and then it was off to Wittersham Road to remove the couplings from 5668 which involved … Read More
