Week One A lot achieved this week starting on Monday when we lifted the boilers out of the frames on both 4253 and 4270. Once the 36-ton crane was in steam, we shunted both locos out into the yard and then moved 4270 to the adjacent road so we could tackle 4253’s boiler first. Once the strops were in place, the … Read More
Final Week This week started with shunting both 4253 and 4270 out of the shed to make room for the road-railer to get in there to pick up and remove the P class driving axle. Once they were both back inside again, the sections of crinoline round 4253’s boiler that occupy the position where the lifting strops will need to … Read More
Final Week (30th) This week it was the turn of 4253 to have all the boiler cladding removed starting at the firebox end and moving forward until it was all off, marked up and stacked in the boiler house. This enabled the holes to be drilled for the injector pipe holding brackets plus the final bits of trimming back that … Read More
Week Four The stripping down of 4270 continued this week with the superheater header getting the one remaining sealing ring removed after a bit of a fight followed by cleaning it up and then giving it a coat of heat-resistant paint. After that it was a case of checking the studs and running a die nut down them all to clean … Read More
With great sadness we have to report the passing of our friend and colleague Colin Edwards today. He passed away peacefully with his family in attendance. A very long-standing member of the Kent & East Sussex Railway and, before ill health overtook him, a valued and experienced volunteer on the 4253 restoration project. R I P Colin.
Final Week The last bit of welding up of 4253’s steam pipe covers that could be done with them bolted in place was finished after which they were taken down, the final bits that couldn’t be reached were welded and then it was all dressed back and, later in the week, refitted once again. The Lobo platforms round the loco … Read More
Week Four On 4253’s front end, the brackets that hold the plate sitting above the superheater header were modified as we need to lower the plate to avoid it arguing with the steam pipes from the regulator box and the external steam pipe covers had various lugs welded on to support the gland rings, holes drilled and then assembled on … 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