2003/04 Overhaul Archive - March 2003

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March 22/23 2003

A good weekends work was had. During the week the centre driving wheels were refitted after a full check of the bearings. Next out was the crank axle - the lead driving wheels. All bearing surfaces - the big end, axlebox and eccentrics - were in good condition. It has, however, been decided to re-metal the axlebox bearings. With the wheelset out the rear faces of the wheels have been thoroughly cleaned, rubbed down and primed prior to a new top coat of black paint.

The crank axle sun's itself at Tyseley. In front of the axle is one of the axleboxes. March 22 2003. © Colin Henderson

Kevin Blake prepares the rear of the wheel for priming. Note the white lines used to detect tyre slippage. March 23 2003 © Martyn Bane

One of the lead driving axle springs. March 23 2003. © Martyn Bane

With the wheelset out the frames were thoroughly cleaned, inside and out, ready to be repainted.

Proof the crank axle is out of the frames ! Just visible are parts of Tyseley's wheel drop. Note also the piston rod and the rags protecting the slide bar surface. March 23 2003. © Martyn Bane

Ron Smith in between the frames. March 23 2003. © Martyn Bane

The centre valves have been inspected and found to be in good condition. After decarbonising the valve rings will be send away for normalising before being refitted.

Not a view you see too often. This is the shared steam chest for the centre cylinders looking through from the front of the loco on the fireman's side. March 23 2003. © Martyn Bane

One the valve heads slackened off. The heads are of the semi-plug type with the events being controlled by the wide ring seen between either ends of the head. Obviously in traffic the head is tightened together and the ring is not loose as here. March 22 2003 © Colin Henderson

Another rare view - these are the component parts of a semi-plug valve. March 22 2003. © Colin Henderson

Colin Springthorpe cleans the frames around the centre cylinder casting. March 23 2003 © Martyn Bane

Good progress has been made on the boiler. Work at the weekend centred on cleaning up the foundation ring and the studs the ashpan mounts on.

Colin Jeffrey, as close to the footplate as it is currently possible to get, works on the studs for mounting the ashpan to the firebox. March 23 2003. © Martyn Bane

The freshly painted backhead showing the cleaned up blowdown valve face, new washout plugs and a couple of new stainless steel bolts. March 23 2003. © Martyn Bane

Another job tackled was finishing the painting of various cab floor items ready for refitting in a few weeks time once some 'plumbing' has been completed.

Various items of the cab floor shortly after repainting. March 23 2003. © Martyn Bane

A final view of the tender as was. Very shortly this is to enter the works at Tyseley to allow the coal space to be renewed. March 23 2003. © Martyn Bane

Also due to be replaced are the main steam pipes seen above. March 23 2003. © Martyn Bane

And finally... After a quick regauging the frames of 6024 are ready for an engagement at the Ffestiniog this summer. March 22 2003. © Colin Henderson

During the week the centre driving wheels were dropped using the wheel drop. The bearings and horns have been inspected and found to be in excellent order. With the wheelset out through cleaning of areas normally very hard to get at has been possible. Repainting of the frames, wheels, cladding and cab items has started under the direction of ace painter Graham Hopes. Also in the week the support coach left, by road, for overhaul.

The centre drivers sit in front of the chassis. March 16 2003. © Colin Henderson

Kevin Blake paints white marks across the back of the tyre and wheel to enable us to detect any future tyre slip once the loco is back in service. March 16 2003. © Colin Henderson

The weather was very kind to all present at Tyseley.

Tea up ! From the right - Steve Underhill, Alex Hayes, Angie Hailwood (sat), Colin Springthorpe, Keith Hudson, Brian Dodd, Jane Smith (sat), somebody who is hiding, Richard Jones and Ron Smith. March 16 2003. © Colin Henderson

Boiler work has continued apace, helped considerably by this being a day job for Steve Underhill as Tyseley's boilersmith. Stay work is progressing well and the rear of the firebox has already started to receive a protective coat of paint.

Steve Underhill working away with an air tool on the stays. March 16 2003. © Colin Henderson

As if all the above wasn't enough for one day the centre valves were removed and a start was made on cleaning them up for thorough inspection. Initial study suggests that they are in good condition.

March 8 2003 An interesting day with a big turnout of working party members. Perhaps word had got round that the Engineering Manager was having the weekend off ?

During the preceding week the chassis was shunted from road 19 of the turntable to the workshops. It is now positioned over the wheel drop in readiness to drop the driving wheels. This was good timing as the weather was not kind to us.

Work on the chassis centred on removing the footplating ahead of the centre valve chests and the associated framework supporting it. As part of the process the front drawhook was removed. The front valve covers were also removed. This work will enable the valves and pistons to be removed in the coming weeks. Meanwhile between the frames the eccentric straps were removed ready for re-metalling.

Your webmaster and Leon Salter manhandle the eccentric straps. On the ground, to the right, is the front drawhook. March 8 2003 © John Salter

Various items already removed from the loco, such as the regulator stuffing box, were cleaned and put in to store until required. A few items were also given a coat of protective paint.

In the shed Keith Lines undoes a nut holding the valve cover in position advised by Colin Henderson. March 8 2003 © John Salter

Chris Brown breaks off from needle gunning the crown stay nuts for a quick photo. Clear here is the copper firebox tubeplate. March 8 2003 © John Salter

On the boiler the needle gunning continued ! We are almost there now. Work centred on the top of the outer firebox and the crown stays inside the firebox. Studs to mount the firebox slides and the ashpan to the firebox had their threads cleaned up with the appropriate dies.

Leon Salter cleans up the threads of the studs used to mount the ashpan to the firebox. March 8 2003 © John Salter

I don't think Dave Fuszard can quite believe how fast Kevin Blake is working. In something of a blur Kev cleans up the threads of the studs used to mount the firebox slides. March 8 2003 © John Salter

Final preparations were made for the imminent departure of the coach for overhaul at Lancastrian Carriage and Wagon.

March 1 2003

Needle gunning the boiler and firebox again continued - not too much more to do now ! Meanwhile on the chassis the slow and difficult job of removing the inside motion continued where it left off the previous week, and the inside crossheads where split from the piston rods. Fingers crossed the shed to cover the chassis will arrive this week.

A shot clearly showing the difference between areas that have and haven't been needle gunned. February 15 2003. © Martyn Bane

Dave Fuszard (left) and Leon Salter continue the needle gunning. March 1 2003 © John Salter

Richard Corser lends a look from the running plate as Colin Henderson and Steve Underhill's hat contemplate the job in hand. March 1 2003 © John Salter

With the right hand inside con rod removed Colin Henderson (left) and Steve Underhill may just be ready to remove the left hand rod. March 1 2003 © John Salter

One of the inside connecting rods laid out after removal. To the right of the rod is the gudgeon pin. March 1 2003 © Colin Henderson

Both of the inside connecting rods laid out after removal with the bearing removed from the right hand little end. March 1 2003 © Colin Henderson

The balance weights with the connecting rods removed showing the bearing surface. Between the balance weights are the eccentrics. March 1 2003 © Colin Henderson

How things looked before the connecting rods were removed. February 15 2003 © Martyn Bane

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