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
Final Week On Tuesday, the slide bars were cleaned and re-oiled to ensure the crossheads move freely in preparation for fitting the piston rods to them. The remainder of the cylinder cover pressure relief valves were tested, set and fitted to the covers which then had their mating surfaces cleaned up ready for re-fitting. Finally, the superheater header and regulator box … Read More
