March 2026 Update

By Pete Maddicks & Tony Howard

Everything was going well, but as you know we finally took delivery of the main steam pipes. Unfortunately, an error in the machining means they need to be modified. This means that it is really unlikely that we will make the spring steam gala. The cab is all but complete, the steam heat and vacuum system all are complete. The cab is now looking fantastic with all the copper pipes polished up. 

Monday 2nd March.
On site: Bob L, Charles L, Dave L, Dave Mc, Phil H, Steve T, Tony H.
Dave Mc and Tony managed to fit the tapered plates that have been made for the left-hand rear balance pipes.  As we thought, we will need longer bolts to complete the job. Dave L and Steve were working on the checker plates that the damper control levers lock onto in the cab. Charles and Dave Mc carried on working on the drop grate operating mechanism. Phil had repaired a spare water gauge sight glass. Bob painted the vent pipe that fits in the bunker.

Saturday 7th March. 
On site: Dave Mc, Joshua,  Kevin S, Simon B, Tony H,  Chris P (Coded welder)
Joshua painted the coal space in the Bunker. Dave assisted Chris to fit the Driver's side stuffing box. Kevin and Simon fitted the Driver's side window to check it would not interfere with the pipework when it was fully open,  it did not.
Kevin, Simon, and Tony looked at the damper doors on the Ashpan. This Ashpan is a new design, so we were not sure the original levers would fit, also the fitting for the rear door had not been made. We removed the fitting from the front door and we will make a copy. We then refitted it and offered the original operating lever to the front damper door. Luckily, not a lot of work was needed to get the operating system working.

Monday 9th March. 
On site: Charles L, Dave L, Dave Mc, Peter D, Phil H, Steve T, Tony H. 
Work was done on the checker plates in the cab where the damper door operating levers lock onto, and also the levers themselves. More work was done on the drop grate operating system. Lubricating pipework was made for the vacuum pump. 
The left-hand overflow pipe was extended so any water would miss the crosshead.
The three stalks that contain the Jumper Ring were cleaned up as they were badly pitted.

Saturday 14th March. 
On site: Charles L, Dave Mc, Joshua,  Kevin S, Simon B, Steve M, Tony H.
A new bracket had been made for the rear damper door by Kevin. The door was removed from the Ashpan by Kevin and Simon for the bracket to be fitted. The Coned apertures for the main steam pipes were prepared ready for the steam. Pipes to be fitted once they are returned from the coded welder. Further work has been done on the drop grate operating mechanism.

Monday 16th March. 
On site: Charles L, Dave L, Dave Mc, Si B, Steve T, Tony H.  
Most of the work today was on the drop grate operating system, damper doors checker plate, and grinding in the surfaces for the brasses that fit on the ends of the steam pipes. 

Saturday 21st March. 
On site: Dave Mc, Joshua, Kevin S, Peter M, Simon B, Tony H. 
Kevin and Tony drilled the holes in the rear damper door and fitted the bracket that was made last week. Joshua and Steve polished the copper pipework in the cab. Simon carried on lapping the inlet ports.
Some time ago, we had trouble with the left-hand rear balance pipe not sitting correctly. The team came up with the idea to make two tapered plates, with gaskets either side. These plates arrived on site a few weeks ago. We fitted the plates and this cured the problem, but we now would need longer bolts. These bolts arrived today and Dave, Joshua and Tony fitted the new bolts.

Monday 23rd March 
On Site: Bryn T, Charles L, Dave L, Dave Mc, Peter D, Peter M, Phil H, Steve T, Tony H.
Phil  and Tony finished the drilling job that was started on Saturday. Later on Tony did another drilling job for Charles on the Drop grate operating mechanism. Bryn sand blasted the Snifter Valves, then they were stripped down for inspection. Dave L and Steve made a start on the Shovel Plate. A search was made for the coal door for the bunker which Pete M. eventually found in the container. More work was carried out by various members of the team on lapping in the inlet ports.

Saturday 28th March. 
On site: Charles L, Dave Mc, Joshua, Kevin S, Peter M, Simon B, Tony H.
The bracket for the rear damper door was drilled for the split pin, then bolted to the door. The door was fitted back to the ashpan. The operating arm was offered up to the position it is needed to go and it needs another hole drilled to fit correctly. 
The drop grate operating system is almost finished, just the operating lever to make. The Lapping of the ports is almost finished. The Snifter Valves have passed inspection. 

Monday 30th March.
On site: Bob L, Charles L, Dave L, Dave Mc, Peter D, Peter M, Steve T, Tony H.
The steel steam pipes were temporarily fitted. Snifter Valves were also fitted. The Driver's, and Fireman's seats were also fitted. The new Shovel Plate was fitted. The rear damper door operating arm had the hole drilled. A start was made on making the operating lever for the drop grate, also the lubricating pipework for the vacuum pump was fitted.