Week Two Tuesday started with drilling out to full size the holes in the smokebox to mount the superheater header support brackets after which the brackets were bolted in and the header bolted to the brackets. The crinoline team built another Lobo platform on the driver’s side of the loco to give safe access to that side of the firebox … Read More
Final Week of the Year! Tuesday, Christmas Eve, was all hands on the Tombola and Sales Stand for the last day of the Santa Specials which was well worth while as we raised just under £1,000 to replenish the coffers. One lucky lad won a Hornby Santa’s Express train set. On Friday, the team were putting the finishing touches to the … Read More
Week Four This week has involved yet more of the same for the 4253 boiler crinoline team with sections of flat bar getting shaped, welded together, drilled and, where necessary, the holes countersunk which, on long curved lengths is not that easy. However, more and more of the sections have now been successfully fabricated and trial fitted. Also, a batch … Read More
Week Four Tuesday started off with dressing back the previous Sundays’ welds on the side panels of the 541 tender tank and then getting the rear top panel turned over and carried inside for cleaning. The crinoline team were hard at work trial fitting the firebox bands while others were fitting the flanges for the blower and brake ejector exhaust … Read More
Final Week On Tuesday, there were many people working on the 541 tender tank with grinders to grind back the countersunk rivets retaining the door closing plates and the lamp brackets and steps on the back panel and to dress the welds between the front and rear side panels. Meanwhile, work continued on the ‘toilet seat’ part of the crinoline … Read More
Week Four During this week, a fair amount of progress has been made on constructing the crinolines for 4253’s boiler which is a hugely time-consuming task with numerous parts having to be cut, shaped, bent, welded and drilled. Band numbers 1 and 2 (starting at the smokebox end) are pretty well finished and trial fitted along with the top longitudinal … Read More