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 … Read More
Week 4 This week’s main job was riveting the floor plate to the outer angle on the 5164 bunker and then turning it upright so the rear ducket could be lifted into position and bolted to its brackets ready for final welding. After that, it was given another spray coat of undercoat. Meanwhile, another team was continuing with the fettling … Read More
Final Week Main task this week was removing the tanks from 4253 so we can get on with making the ‘elephant’s ears’ cladding between the boiler barrel and the front of the firebox. After most of the backhead fittings, pipework and cladding had been removed, the loco was pulled out into the yard, the cab was lifted off, followed by the … Read More
Week Four On Tuesday, 5164’s bunker work included welding a thin strip to the top of the centre baffle as it was sitting slightly lower then the two side baffles. The coal hole door slides were also bolted into place in preparation for riveting and all the rivets put in last week received a clean up to remove any traces … Read More
Week Four This week, yet more clever shaped cladding bits were cut out and bent and more cones for the washout plug areas were made. The driver’s side corner pieces have now all been made to below floor level so the end of this job is now in sight. We also trial fitted a few bits we’d made some years back … Read More
Final Week This week, Tuesday involved manning the sales stand at the Santa Specials, Friday was Boxing Day, so only Sunday was an on-the-tools day and, although we only had four people for that, it was a productive day. We started off by constructing a building bench for 5164’s bunker so we could work on setting out the floor panel, lifted … Read More
Final Week With the Santa Specials trains starting this weekend, the trailer was loaded up with all the Sales Stand gear and moved up to Tenterden where our new gazebo was erected, the raised floor installed and all the tables, wiring etc. set up ready for the weekend. Typically, it rained for most of Saturday which always adversely affects how … Read More
