November 2024 update

By Pete Maddicks and Tony Howard

Welcome to the November update, we have been having an extremely busy month, working on numerous fronts. We will do our best to get as much as we can into this month update. 

We have been working hard to get the driver’s side tank ready for it to be filled with water, the good news is that all the riveting and welding is completed. We then filled it with water for the first time, and apart from a couple of minor leaks all went well. It then received two coats of primer, two undercoats then one coat of half and half. (50% undercoat and 50% gloss). The tank is all ready to be fitted onto the loco early next month. 
We also removed the fireman’s side tank for adjustment to make it sit a little better, it would have taken days of planning, but thanks to the overhead crane it was off, done and back on in less than a day. 

As I said, so much has been happening this month that there is a bumper number of photographers. 

We would like thank you all for your continued support, wishing you all a  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. See you all in 2025. 

Saturday 2nd November.
No work today.

Monday 4th November.
Bob L, Charles L, Dave L, Peter D, Peter M, Steve T, Tony H.
Dave and Steve worked on the 'Elephant's ears cladding. Bob was painting various parts. Peter M and Dave M, finishing jobs. Completed the tank, Tony sorted out nuts and bolts including plain and lead washers in readiness for the installation of water feed pipes from the bunker to the water valves. This job is due to be done on Friday. Tony later joined Peter D to assist in sealing off all the bolt holes in the tank ready for testing for leaks, hopefully this will happen next week.

Friday 8th November.
Charles L, Dave Mc, Steve T, Brian H of full-time staff.

Water-feed copper pipework and filters were fitted from the water space in the bunker to the water valves. The water valves are fixed via a 90 degree bend in a short section of copper pipe with flanges on both ends. The bolts go through the flange, a gasket, the stretcher plate, another gasket and finally the water valves. This took some meticulous measuring, by all concerned.

Saturday 9th November.
Dave Mc, Peter M, Simon B, Steve M, Tony H.
The left-hand tank was removed from the loco and placed on trestles. This allowed us to do the fettling on the bottom of the tank. We also removed the hand brake shaft and pedestal as the tank will be removed again when the boiler comes out for steam testing. The tank was replaced onto the loco and temporarily bolted down.

Monday 11th November.
Charles L, Dave L, Dave Mc, Peter D, Peter M, Steve T and Tony H..
We discovered that the chimney to the solid fuel stove, in the fruit D, had rotted away at the top. Charles took on the task to replace it. A piece of pipe of the same diameter was found and fitted. Now ready for the colder days ahead.
Meanwhile, in the works, the tank was lifted off again so some of the crinolines that sit behind the tank could have some attention.
It took most of the day to sort this job out but eventually we were satisfied with the outcome. The tank was lifted back onto the loco and bolted down. The other tank in the boiler shop is ready to be filled with water to test for leaks.

Saturday 16th November.
Dave Mc, Dave M, Jacob L, Peter M, Simon B, Steve M, and Tony H.
Water filters were fitted in the water space in the bunker. Dave M gave the right-hand tank a coat of primer. Steve painted the hand brake rod. The front operating arm that operates the front sand boxes was taken off, also the handrail that is fixed to the smokebox was removed in readiness for the right-hand tank to be put on soon.
The right-hand tank was filled with water earlier in the week, to check for leaks. A few minor ones appeared but nothing serious.

Monday 18th November.
Bob L, Charles L, Dave L, Peter D, Peter M, Steve T, and Tony H.
Dave, Steve, and Tony worked on the crinolines and 'elephant's ears ' Charles went into the water space in the bunker and swept up the loose particles that have gathered in there over a number of years.  It is ready for water testing whenever we decide to do that. Peter D gave another coat of paint to the right-hand tank. Bob has also painted more items in the fruit D.

Saturday 23rd November.
Dave M, Jacob L, Kevin S, Peter M, Simon B, and Tony H.
Dave was painting the water tank in the Boilershop. We are now taking items off the loco. This is in readiness for the boiler to come out of the frames for hydraulic and steam testing. Today's job was removing the backhead cladding, along with the backhead fittings.  

Monday 25th, Peter D, Dave Mc, Dave L, Charles L, Steve T, Si B, Dave L, Bob L, and Pete M on site today. Tony was on holiday so I have done the report. The first job of the day was to lift the tank in the boiler shop up onto trestles so small adjustments could be made underneath, ready for installation. This job was carried out by Dave Mc, Peter D, Si B, and Pete M. A small amount of steel was removed and Bob L gave the bare metal a coat of Red oxide. Peter D was making up a lubrication pipe to the vacuum pump. Bob L spent most of the day painting various bits in the van. Charles removed all the loose bits and pieces off the loco as next week the loco is going to be shunted. I spent most of the afternoon looking for a short piece of angel iron that goes along the front of the cab, and I found it, as Bob always says “always in the last place you look”, which it was! Si B oiled up the loco ready for next week’s shunt. 

Saturday 30th. No work today, spoilers, big day on Monday!