Week One

The 5164 bunker is almost finished now with the rear ducket getting welded and riveted on as Tuesday’s first job.  As it was a bit windy, we had to provide a windbreak as the MIG gas was getting blown away from the workpiece.

The fire iron brackets have also been welded onto the front shelf.

On 4253, the majority of the elephants ears cladding has now been finalised with a good fit achieved along the top and three quarters of the way down the sides.  

We’ve also made the joining strips to attach the bottom side sections to the rest.

More boiler blanking plates have been made and fitted with the one covering the main steam manifold on the top of the backhead having a hose connection in the centre to enable filling for the next hydraulic test.  This also, if course, required a hole to be punched in the gasket.

The main steam pipe brackets have been bolted back onto the smokebox so the top pipe covers can be tack welded to them.