May 2024 update

By Pete Maddicks and Tony Howard

I have not been at Bridgnorth much this month due to family commitments, but as usual Tony H will let you know what has been going on. I feel I must tell you about the two milestones that have been reached this month. 1, the fireman’s side tank has successfully been filled with water and is now in the paint shop. The driver’s side is in the boiler shop. 2. The first two copper steam pipes in the cab have been installed.

We have plenty to do over the next few months, so please if you would like to find out more about how a steam engine works come and join us, you would be made most welcome. Only requirement is that you drink tea and you like biscuits! If you would like to make a contribution towards the project then please go to the contacts page, thank you all for your continued interest.

Saturday 4th May.
Bob L, Dave Mc, Jacob L, Peter M, Simon B, Si B, Tony H.
We tested the vacuum cylinder. Dave had obtained the box of parts to do this earlier in the week. We attached the various gauges to the relevant inlets and outlets. We then built a long pipeline to connect to the 08 Diesel shunter, and using the vacuum off the 08 we tested our vacuum brake cylinder. This test went well, just need to be passed off by full time staff.
Meanwhile in the boilershop the lifting eyes were taken off the water tank to be sandblasted and the area where they sit given a good clean up ready for painting. The front facing panels will need stripping off back to bare metal to get a good finish on the final painting. A start was made on this task also. The 6mm rivets that Tony took home last week to see if they could be de rusted with the chemical he had got at home were returned all clear of rust and looked as good as new.

Monday 6th May.
Bob L, Charles L, Dave Mc, Peter D, Si B, Tony H.
Regarding the test on the vacuum brake cylinder on Saturday, once the loco is on the pit which could be next week, the brake rigging is to be adjusted to the correct position and a re-test done. We are pretty certain that it will pass, so we bolted the trunions up tight after giving each bolt a coat of copperslip
Work carried on in the boilershop prepping the tank for final painting. We also checked that we had all the flanges for the pipework for the water and steam supply to the injectors.

Saturday 11th May.
No work today as the loco will not be shunted onto the pit until later today.

Monday 13th May.
Charles L, Dave Mc, Gary M, Peter D, Peter M, Phil H, Steve T, Tony H.
With the loco on the pit we could now adjust the brake mechanism. When doing this it was noticed that the left-hand brake rod was going to foul the front of the ashpan. Part of the ashpan had been removed many months earlier, but obviously not enough. Phil and Gary took on the task to cut the offending piece out. The brakes were adjusted, and another test can now be carried out next week.
Meanwhile in the boilershop the beading on the top of the tank was temporarily bolted on every other hole ready for riveting.

Saturday 18th May.
Dave Mc, Jacob L, Kevin S, Simon B, Steve M, Tony H.
Dave, Jacob and Simon made a start on preparing the items for bolting onto the water tanks ie, painting with a rust prevention solution, then chassis black. Tony and Kevin made a template to make a blanking off plate for the front balance pipe, we had already got a template for the rear one. A scrap piece of steel was cut and drilled. These blanking off plates were bolted in place ready to fill the tank with water next week. Steve was also touching up the paint work on the loco where it had got scratched over the last few weeks.
The beading or trim that fits on the top of the outside panels was riveted on in the week by Phil D.

Monday 20th May.
Bob L, Charles L, Steve T Tony H.
Over the weekend we had an email asking us to remove the two injectors, so the bracket they sit on could be straightened, to make the pipework runs easier to do.
These two brackets were already bent when the loco was at Barry. An attempt was made when we were at Bewdley to straighten these and we got them nearly correct but not exactly right. We were also asked to remove the vertical vacuum pipe so it could be altered, again to make pipe runs easier. This work was done and we then made a start fitting the brackets that bolt to the water tank. By the end of the day all these had been fitted except the mushroom air vent.

Tuesday 21st May.
Dave Mc, Jack K.
Late Tuesday afternoon the water filler was welded to the top of the tank. This is the final welding on the tank. It is hoped to fill the tank with water on Thursday.

Thursday 23 May.
Dave Mc, Jacob L.
The tank was filled with water, a few leaks but nothing serious.

Friday 24 May.
The tank was emptied and moved to the paintshop ready for preparation for final painting.

Saturday 25th May.
Dave Mc, Jacob L, Kevin S, Steve M, Tony H.
The wagon with the right hand tank was shunted onto the crossing by the Boilershop, and lifted with the JCB onto two p-way trolleys and taken into the boiler shop. It was then lifted into position ready to be dismantled for riveting.
Meanwhile a start was made scraping the front of the left hand tank back to bare metal.

Monday 27th May.
Bob L, Dave Mc, Peter M, Phil H, Si B, Steve M, Steve T.
The pipework was assembled to do another test on the vacuum cylinder/brake.
Just needs to be passed by full time staff.
The right hand tank that was brought into the boilershop on Saturday was dismantled ready for riveting. More paint scraping on the newly finished tank in the paintshop.

Tuesday 28th May.
Jacob L, Tony H.
The two of us were asked to go to Bridgnorth to put away the lengths of pipe that were used to test the vacuum cylinder/brake, Unfortunately this test did not take place so Jacob spent a hour scraping the tank in the paintshop. Tony found the oil splitter and attached it to its bracket to keep them together. He then found the parts that make up boxing in at the bottom of the right hand tank.