Weekly report 3rd February 2019.

Cylinders and Motion

No change.

Driving Wheels

The centre drivers received a second primer coat, mainly to address some residual grease but also to strengthen some thin areas.

When dry (Sunday) this second coat has been rubbed down and is now ready to receive the undercoat.

The other wheels have been needle-gunned practically clear of paint and attention is being given to the grease-laden balance weight pockets – many of which are devoid of lead fillings; have some been lost? If so, a means of determining required weights will need to be established.

Pipes and fittings

No change.

Tender

No change. Brake blocks expected this week.

Bogie

No change.

Small Parts & Painting

Work continues in the paint shop. Loco brake and spring rigging parts are the current focus.

Castings

Chimney. No change. Second casting attempt has been delayed because original foundry has ceased trading.

Blastpipe. New casting to be sourced.

Ejector ring. A budget price has been obtained for a new one of these. Hopefully we can share costs with other BR Standard groups.

Bogie Bolster Pads. BRSLOG member 80097 have a casting pattern for these. Contact to establish terms for use is in progress.

Boiler

We now understand that we can select a boiler overhaul company without precondition and that the insurers simply require that any welding on the firebox be inspected (by a certified inspector) while the work is being done.

To progress further we now need further quotes for the work (these having been hesitated while the requirement clarified).

Springs

No change - Awaiting dispatch.

Nuts and Bolts

A collection of refurbished nuts and bolts is being built up in the 40’ container.

Frames

All side-frame rivets for middle stretcher are now drilled. Access to rivets onto transverse member looks very difficult.

Spring and Brake components are being cleaned and stripped and fed into the paint shop.

Weekly report 10th February 2019.

Cylinders and Motion

Some very reluctant studs on top of the LHS cylinder block have been removed. This required the application of heat and the use of stilsons and an extension tube.  However, with care, the studs came out cleanly and complete.

Two quotes have been received for new main piston and piston valve heads.  A third quote is expected this week, and after consultation with the CME, a decision made as to chosen supplier.

Pipes and fittings

The Exhaust Steam Injector continues external cleanup and is awaiting internal parts to complete its overhaul.

Tender

Brake blocks arrived and found to have holes too large for the old (worn) pins. Accordingly new pins have been made and are to be fitted in the coming week.

Material for Brake adjuster locking nuts is expected this week.

The hiring client has now indicated that they will definitely go ahead and contracts are being “engrossed” this week.

Small Parts & Painting

As well as painting the wheels, the paint shop keeps busy with the stream of parts from bogie and frames teams.

Castings

Chimney. No change. Second casting attempt has been delayed because original foundry has ceased trading.

Blastpipe.  New casting to be sourced.

Ejector ring.  A budget price has been obtained for a new one of these.  Hopefully we can share costs with other BR Standard groups.

Bogie Bolster Pads.  New castings on order.

Boiler

CME discussions have started with a third potential contractor and a vendor inspection visit will take place later in the month.  Hopefully that will lead to a third quotation for the work and the CME will then be in a position to make an engineering recommendation to the board.

Frames

Staff fitters have removed the middle stretcher and have repaired the distorted and cracked section. It’s been cleaned up, as have the connection sites on the inner frame sides.  Now ready for reassembly, riveting tools need to be procured in support of that.

Work has started drilling the jig for the replacement rear lower transverse stretcher.  This is a precision job, the stretcher is connected to the frames via pins and the accuracy is specified as +/- 8 thou.  In support of this, a new tool for the Bridgeport milling machine has been purchased.

Driving Wheels

Practically the same report as last week, except that the colour has changed from green to grey.

The other wheels are now being wire-brushed to remove the surface bloom of rust.

Weekly report 18th February 2019.

Cylinders and Motion

Two studs on top RHS came out OK but the third has fractured and will need to be core-drilled out.

Broken stud, cut off flat and lead-hole started for core-drill.

Pipes and fittings

The Exhaust Steam Injector continues external cleaning and is awaiting internal parts to complete its overhaul.

Tender

Brake blocks all fitted and the material for the adjuster locking nuts has arrived.

Small Parts & Painting

The paint shop was busy with other overhaul components.

Driving Wheels

First top coat applied to centre drivers.

  Next set are nearly completely prepped.

Weekly report 24th February 2019.

Cylinders and Motion

Broken steam pipe stud at RHS outer has been drilled through and is ready for oxy-acetylene burn-out.

First attempt at a replacement rear cylinder cover stud has been made and a second version is being prepared to be submitted for CME review.

RHS Cylinder stub holes – 30 out of 40 – cleaned out.

Tender

Brake blocks all fitted and the material for the adjuster locking nuts has arrived and awaits machining.

Contract for hire-out is being signed this week.

Bogie

First top coat of black (outside) and red (inside) applied.

Picture next week!

Castings

Chimney. No change. Second casting attempt has been delayed because original foundry has ceased trading.

Blastpipe.  New casting to be sourced.

Ejector ring.  A budget price has been obtained for a new one of these.  Hopefully we can share costs with other BR Standard groups.

Bogie Bolster Pads.  New castings on order.

Piston and Piston Valve heads. 2 Quotes received, awaiting 3rd before ordering.

Frames

Top Stretcher is repaired and replaced, fixed in place roughly by bolt-and-nuts.  Accurate locating pins to be made prior to riveting.

First steps have been made towards construction of a trammel that will fit between frames in order to accurately measure the length required by the replacement rear bottom stretcher.

5 out 12 spring hangers are now cleaned and are moving through the paint shop.

Driving Wheels

Centre drivers removed from Gazebo and replaced by trailing pair, which are ready for priming.