Week Three

More of the same this week with cladding sheets being put up, marked, taken down, trimmed using the plasma cutter 

and then put back on the boiler and ratchet strapped tight to the crinoline to re-check the fit.

We also made some of the cladding retaining straps and cold riveted the clamping brackets to the ends.

More of the copper pipework was made with ends brazed on, 

the pipe filled with sand and then heated and bent to shape followed by trial fitting.

The machined ends were tig welded onto the main steam pipes 

and the condensing coil was refitted to the cab roof so that, when it goes back on, we can run the pipes to that.

Work on Gervase is progressing with more of the pipework getting painted, 

the side panels receiving an undercoat 

and the bunker 

and front panel getting a gloss coat.  

Additionally, we’ve started taking the engine apart to free up any seized components and clean it all up.

Week Two

Now that 4253’s crinoline bands are all finished and in position, the next job is the cladding sheets.  Tuesday started with the firebox end sections being run through the rollers again to tighten up the curve radius 

followed by lifting it into position 

and trial fitting it followed by some necessary fettling.

Meanwhile, others were continuing with the pipework which involved refitting the vacuum pipe from the brake ejector on to the train pipe after its modification and the pipes for the front-end lubrication being bent and cut to fit the shut off valves on the smoke box side.

On Friday, the front sections of the Lobo were taken down in preparation for fitting the front cladding sheets which were also passed through the rollers again to tweak their curvature.  The main steam pipe sections from the cylinders were faced in the lathe and a weld prep turned on their ends ready for welding.

On Sunday, both injectors had the outstanding pipework completed and fitted from the steam valves and were then joined and brazed to the pipes coming up from the injectors.

The backhead is now starting to look a bit more complete.

After taking measurements from the boiler barrel, the fireman’s side front cladding sheet was marked and cut to fit round the front cradle, 

carried into the shed and lifted into position for more marking, taken down for final cutting and then trial fitted.

The driver’s side sheet was then completed and both taken down to give access for the next section behind the cradle.  All the remaining sections are more complex as the barrel behind the cradle is tapered with the top surface sloping upwards towards the firebox while the bottom surface remains level.  This means that the remaining cladding sections needed to be cut as reducing cones.  We started with the fireman’s side again which was lifted into position,

clamped and ratchet strapped down and then measured and marked for cutting.  

It was then removed and an angled section cut away to enable the front to fit flush to the cradle 

before being replaced to be marked for cutting the back edge to size.

Work has also been progressing on Gervase with the roof panel getting its gloss coat,

the coal bunker being removed, cleaned, rubbed down and given a coat of primer, 

the front section removed 

and a start made on repainting the sides.

All told, a good week’s work.

Week One

This week, the mammoth task of fabricating and fitting the crinolines to the boiler and firebox was finally finished and it’s all now in place.  The next job will be trial fitting the cladding sheets.

With all the crinoline bands in place, this enabled us to shape and lay the lubrication pipes that run from the backhead, along the side of the boiler to the shut-off valves on the smokebox.

More of 4253’s pipework was completed with the pipe from the vacuum tank to the duplex gauge fitted and the regulator handle and jockey valve’s linkage temporarily fitted to ensure that no pipes foul them throughout their arc of movement.

The flanges for the injector pipes were machined, 

brazed onto the pipe ends 

and then fitted to the injectors.  Some of the smaller pipework from the lubricator to the condensing coil was also heated and  bent to shape ready to fit.  Work was started on the main steam pipes with measuring and marking the position of the necessary holes in the sides of the smokebox 

followed by cutting the holes 

and then trial positioning the straight sections of pipe that attach to the cylinders.

As usual, Mac was working away on more of the backhead cladding panels involving much measuring, cutting, drilling and bolting together.

Work has also continued on Gervase with more rubbing down of old paintwork within the cab, 

another coat of gloss applied to the inside of the cab roof 

and a refurbishment of the vacuum brake application valve.