2003/04 Overhaul Archive - April 2004

Close Window

April 24

A warm and sunny day at Tyseley ! Whatever next ?!

The good news this week is that the rear driving wheel springs were completed on Friday afternoon. They will be delivered to Tyseley this week so once the chassis can be moved over the wheeldrop we will be able to get the rear drivers back in meaning once again we have a 4-6-0. In preparation for this the stripping of the driver wheels has been finished allowing them to be primed. During the day the wheelset was given a coat of black undercoat.

6024's rear driving wheels in grey primer. April 24 2004

Mick Carr applies the black undercoat to the rear drivers. April 24 2004

Now that the boiler has a boiler ticket efforts are also being concentrated on getting it ready to put back in the frames. This will hopefully occur fairly shortly after the rear driving wheels make it back into the frames.

The firehole doors and flap plate have been removed to be rubbed down removing the heat damaged paint work prior to another painting. Meanwhile on the boiler itself a good proportion has been given a final coat of micasious paint. However before this happened any bits of rust coming through were wire brushed and the very sooty backhead was thoroughly cleaned below the various controls. These controls will be removed shortly to allow the top section of the backhead to be cleaned and painted. In the week the firebox side brackets have been refitted.

The re-fitted firebox side brackets, with stainless steel nuts, can be seen as can progress on painting this side (the fireman's side) of the firebox. By the end of the day this side of the firebox had been finished. April 24 2004

Pete Archer (left) and John Salter painting the firebox and boiler. Between them the crown was finished as was the top section of the barrel along with some of the driver's side of the firebox. However the heat made is difficult to paint with the already thick paint - it was like trying to paint with treacle ! April 24 2004

Huw Button wire brushes one of the firehole door mounting brackets. April 24 2004

Leon "Lawrence" Salter primes another of the firehole door mounting brackets. April 24 2004

Work has also continued on another important bit of the boiler - the cladding. This has been rubbed back again and given another coat of green undercoat.

Dave Fuszard washes one of the cladding sheets having already rubbed it down with wet 'wet and dry' paper. April 24 2004

April 17

A very successful day in nice spring weather at Tyseley. The boiler was inspected in steam by boiler inspector John Glaze. 6024's boiler is now re-certificated. This is obviously a major milestone. It will now be all hands to the pumps to get the loco reassembled and ready for test running.

A coal run to keep the fire going ! From the left - Leon Salter, John Salter, Huw Button, Keith Clarke and Colin Henderson. April 17 2004

Steve Underhill feeds the fire and makes sure the nicely painted backhead now needs a damn good clean ! April 17 2004

With a fresh round of 'best' coal on the fire just a little smoke was produced.... A compressed air feed acted as a blower. To the right of the boiler are 6024 Chairman & Engineering Manager Steve Underhill and, in red, boiler inspector John Glaze. April 17 2004

The firehole doors were cracked a little to cut down the smoke produced allowing a nice shot of the fire. April 17 2004

Mid afternoon the safety valves lifted and were set to the prescribed level - 250psi as indicated by the test pressure gauge. April 17 2004

The boiler looks ready to go - now we have to get it back in the frames etc etc etc..... April 17 2004

Work on fitting the ashpan water supply - to reduce the ash temperature prior to disposal and cut down dust - has continued. Shortly the ashpan will be ready to fix to the firebox prior to dropping the whole lot back into the frames.

The ashpan with the ashpan water pipework mid way through being fitted. Behind it everyone is having a tea break. April 17 2004

The rear driving axle springs have yet to return from their overhaul meaning the rear driving wheels have not be re-fitted. This has, however, allowed more time to prepare the rear driving wheels to be stripped of paint in readiness for painting.

Keith Clarke continues the almost endless task of stripping paint from the rear set of driving wheels. April 17 2004

It has been decided to fit a steam chest pressure gauge to 6024. This copies the work of British Railways who fitted them to two Kings and two Castles. The pressure is measured via a specially made snifting valve. A straight swap has been arranged with one of 6024's standard valves. This modified valve has been fitted to the right hand outside cylinder.

Two snifting valves - the rear being the one previously fitted to 6024 with the front valve is the new one. The yellow arrow points to where the pipework to the steam chest pressure gauge is attached to the valve. April 12 2004

Colin Henderson is either asleep or is fitting the snifting valve to the front of the outside right hand cylinder. April 17 2004

With the boiler rapidly approaching re-fitting attention has returned to the newly made cladding sheets. Several of these have been rubbed down and given another coat of green undercoat.

Mick Carr (left) and Huw Button rub down one of the cladding sheets. April 17 2004

April 10/11

I know something happened this weekend but, like several regulars, I was elsewhere this weekend. Until I find out what did happen I have nothing to report !

April 03/04

A weekend off all round ! Here is a reminder of what we are all working towards:

6024 climbs out of Truro across Newbridge Viaduct beyond Penwithers Junction. September 19 1998

Give us a few more months and the loco will be back to this condition....

Close Window