September 2024 update

By Pete Maddicks and Tony Howard

Another year has passed by and it was time for our AGM., which this year was on the 7th September, we had a good turnout of over 26. A provisional date for your diary for next year’s AGM, Saturday the 6th September 2025. 

The driver’s side tank has the back panels welded on and the top is ready to go on next. Over the weekend of the 19th to the 22nd. was the autumn steam gala, it was a great success, although the weather on the Sunday was awful. 

Monday 2nd September.
Bob L, Charles L, Dave Mc, Jack K, Peter D, Si B, Steve T, Tony H.
Working mainly in the boilershop seam welding, modifications to the reinforcing brackets and prepping for welding. We also made larger clearance holes in the top plates, as welding and riveting had made the holes out of line. This cured the problem. We also looked at the three connecting rods that operates the front sand boxes. These will to be fitted before the right hand tank is fitted. Some painting was also done.

Tuesday 3rd September.
Dave Mc, Jack K, Steve T Tony H.
Jack finished the welding in the base of the tank including the reinforcing brackets. The two back panels, including the new one that we had to have made were fitted and bolted in place ready to be welded. Just two more holes to drill in the new panel for fitting to the joining plate.

Saturday7th September.
No work. AGM.

Monday 9th September.
Charles L, Dave L, Dave Mc, Peter M, Steve T, Tony H.
At last we got a power supply to the Fruit D in its temporary position.
The fixing holes were drilled and tapped in the new panel for the internal splasher on the right hand tank.

Saturday 14th September.
Dave Mc, Jacob L, Peter M, Simon B, Steve M, Tony H.
We were asked earlier in the week if the Steam Fountain could be taken off the loco so the other parts could be fitted, also the four holes in the base could be opened up to give more clearance. Peter operated the Crane and the job is ready to be worked on next week. In the Boilershop more work was done on the water tank.

Monday 16th September.
Bob L, Charles L, Dave L, Peter D, Peter M, Steve T, Tony H.
A few months ago the rear sand boxes were removed from the loco so the steam pipes could be made. The sand boxes were reattached but only with two bolts to secure them in case they needed to be removed again. We now have the go ahead to attach them permanently. Charles and Tony undertook this task and both sand boxes were bolted up along with the sand pipes. Then the operating lever was fitted.
Elsewhere work was carried out on the firebox cladding by Dave and Steve.
Peter D was working on the water tank, then worked on lubricating pipework. Bob was painting Peter M was helping out on most of this work.

Saturday 21st September.
Dave Mc, Jacob L, Simon B, Steve M, Tony H.
Work was mainly in the boiler shop linishing the welds that had filled the bolt holes in the back panels, also any welding spatter was linished off. Once this had been done all the bare metal on the bottom of the tank was given a coat of Rustoleum. The frame on the loco where the tank sits was given another coat of chassis black.

Monday 23rd September.
Bob L, Charles L, Dave L, Dave Mc, Peter D, Peter M, Steve T, Tony H.
Dave Mc had made a list of work that is needed when the loco is back over a pit. This includes installing the water valves. The valves are fixed to the back of the stretcher plate under the cab floor. Another job to be done is the two new forward spring hanger bolts, and a length of small vacuum pipe that was taken off a few months ago. The appropriate nuts and bolts were found, so ready for when these jobs are ready to be done. The regulator valve was retrieved from the Fruit D and taken into the machine shop for Lapping in. Work was done on the firebox cladding and more pieces of cladding were got from safe storage. More chassis black paint was applied to the base of the tank.
Hopefully the tank can be stood upright later this week, then the two top plates can be welded on.

Saturday 28th September.
Dave Mc, Jacob L, Kevin S, Peter M, Simon B, Tony H.
The water tank was lying on its back ,so Dave, Kevin and Simon made a start removing the paint on the outside panels. Just a little more work to finish on Monday.
Dave and Tony drilled and fitted two 10mm bolts to pull the one panel into the correct profile of the baffle. We had to to this same operation on the previous tank.
Peter and Kevin re fitted the toolboxes on the shelf on the bunker after painting.

Monday 30th September.
Bob L, Bryn T, Charles L, Dave L, Dave Mc, Peter M, Steve T, Tony H.
Various jobs were undertaken today including finishing the removal of the paint from the outside panels of the water tank, firebox cladding, and drilling the new front spring hanger bolts for the radial truck, so they are ready for fitting when the loco is over the pit. More items were painted.
Further welding inside the tank is planned this evening.