Progress March 2024

Final Week

We had intended replacing 4253’s brake cylinder this week but, despite being dispatched Wednesday via 24 hr overnight delivery, we still haven’t seen it. As a result, it was all hands onto our new project – building a replacement tender tank for Q Class loco no: 541. The old one was been delivered

and is currently being stripped of all reusable parts. This commenced with removing the large tool boxes framework

followed by the front sheet from the coal space.

This was swiftly followed by the rear sheet and then the job of removing the beading.

Usually a fairly easy task as the rivets are small and don’t require much effort to grind back and knock out but, sadly, all the back beading and rear curved sections had been welded on so took a lot of time to cut out. The back sheet had the beading rivets knocked out

and will be reuseable after a bit of minor straightening and replacement of the lower corners that have corroded badly. Here they are being cut off after which replacement sections were shaped and are now ready for welding in.

After a lot of effort to clean the crud, rust and paint off

the various parts they were all given a coat of primer.

After that, an access hole was cut in the coal space and the stay bar supports were all removed and look fit for further service. This shot shows the state of the inside of the water space and one of the transverse stay bars.

We also got the remains of the water gauge float out (which hasn’t worked for some tine) and, looking at the remains, it’s easy to see why.

Finally, the handrails and numerous lamp brackets have been removed as well so a good start made.

Week Four

Lots of odds and ends this week with many bits getting drilled,

cleaned

and painted.

The covers for the firebox mud hole doors had their new hinges riveted into place

and more lengths of steel were cut to length in preparation of constructing the crinolines and the cladding retaining sections.

More work was done on the wheelsets from Terrier 2678 with the old paint being removed.

We will shortly get the new brake cylinder back as it has finally left the foundry and is currently being machined at the Seven Valley Railway. That will enable us to do a final assembly and test of the whole system after which the bunker can re-fitted.

The boiler is progressing, with the riveting of the foundation ring having now been completed,

the tubeplate has been drilled and bolted ready for riveting and the boiler inspector visited to inspect the work.

Week Three

This week we continued helping out with the Terrier by needle gunning the frames,

rubbing them down and applying a coat of primer.

The wheelsets were also steam cleaned in preparation for a repaint.

We need a new tallow dish for 4253 so located the one that had been removed from 6619 to act as a pattern and cut and bent various bits of steel offcuts to make the components. 6619’s is on the left with our part-made one on the right.

After the sides were welded up a length of thin round bar was shaped and welded to the top lip after which it was dressed back

and then given a coat of paint.

We have located some decent sized hinges for the mud hole door covers on the firebox cladding as the originals were either missing or wrong. The original fixing holes were all welded up and dressed back before being drilled to take the new hinges.

Other jobs included giving all the cladding sheets another coat of paint and making an offset bracket to hold the vacuum duplex gauge.

Week Two

During the week, some of the team continued helping with Terrier 32678 by cleaning and needle gunning the frames and loaning our rivet buster, bridge reamer, countersink and other bits to speed the job along

while others unloaded all the rolled and folded boiler cladding sheets delivered from Accurate Sections Benders

after which they were cleaned down

followed by a coat of primer before being stored away.

We did offer up one of the mud hole door covers to the firebox cladding to check the radius was right and it fitted perfectly.

Another task was sorting out all the rivets that have been collecting in various corners over the years.

The tallow tray brackets for 4253 that were cut and drilled last week had a slot cut into the back edge,

were heated,

bent to 90⁰,

the slots welded up again and dressed back.

More covers and brackets were made for the crinoline and cladding and, at HBSS, the boiler has been lifted and turned to enable the remainder of the foundation ring to be riveted.

Week One

First job this week was preparing the loco to be moved as Terrier 32678 was to be bought into the shed for repairs. As the valve piston rod packing is not yet in place, the valve crossheads were disconnected to avoid the possibility of scoring the rods after which the front covers were temporarily replaced.

Next we moved the hacksaw and plate rollers from one end of the shed to the other so that the Yank No 65, 4253 and then the Terrier could occupy the same road.

As soon as the shunt was started on Friday the intensity of the rain increased enormously to ensure everyone involved got good and wet.

Once it was back in the dry we finished making an 1/8” shim to move the fireman’s side valve further forward and dropped the eccentric rod to fit it.

Another adjustment was to a pipe from the vacuum pump that had been found to foul the reversing rod. This was removed, heated, bent downwards and then replaced. We then assisted with gathering together all the stands, blocks and jacks for lifting 32678 to remove all the wheelsets and some of the team then helped with the jacking.

On Sunday, half of the team made some of the many brackets, studs etc that will be needed to mount 4253’s crinolines, the tallow tray and the hydrostatic lubricator.