2003/04 Overhaul Archive - May 2003

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May 31 2003

Work at the weekend concentrated on cleaning and priming boiler cladding panels.

Dave Fuzzard cleans up a cladding sheet. May 31 2003 © Colin Henderson

The chassis has now moved to the shed from the works. We still have to drop the rear axle but this will not be done until we have the new tyres available.

Chassis and tender in the shed at Tyseley. May 31 2003 © Colin Henderson

With the tender and chassis in the shed 28xx 2885 now has to sit in the open. May 31 2003 © Colin Henderson

At the opposite end of the engine parts removed to allow access to the valves and pistons are being refitted.

Kevin Blake cleans up the wishbone before it was refitted. This item sits behind the front buffer beam between the frames and in front on the centre cylinders. May 31 2003 © Colin Henderson

The photographer informs me that this photo shows Keith Lines cleaning his bits. May 31 2003 © Colin Henderson

Good progress has been made with the replating of the coal space.

May 24 2003

A smaller than normal turn out today, probably due to the bank holiday.

The first job of the day finished most of us off (those that actually did something that is...) All the flue tubes were moved ready for them to be picked up by a scrap dealer. They are not light !!

Leon Salter and Steve Underhill moving one of the final flue tubes. May 24 2003 © Martyn Bane Editorial Note: There is a reason Leon does not look knackered !

John Salter gets to grips with one of the flue tubes. May 24 2003 © Martyn Bane

Some, but not all, of the flue tubes after we had moved them. May 24 2003 © Martyn Bane

During the week the crank axle was refitted allowing the works to be shunted a little. The chassis is now at the back of the shop on the same road it previously was.

The chassis, now further back in the workshop, showing the refitted crank axle. May 24 2003 © Martyn Bane

Inside the workshop the fountain (manifold) was given a good clean up.

Roger Fox takes a break from cleaning the fountain to get further orders from Steve Underhill. May 24 2003 © Martyn Bane

More of the boiler was given a second coat of micasious paint and work continued on removing copper stay heads to allow the stays to be replaced. Inside the firebox work on replacing the patch screws has been completed.

This view shows the copper stay heads on the throat plate that have been ground away with further ones marked for the same treatment. May 24 2003 © Martyn Bane

John Salter paints the boiler barrel. May 24 2003 © Martyn Bane

Inside the shed further wiring took place. During the week the tender took up residence and work started on welding in a new coal space. With the chassis still in the works another engine has taken up temporary residence in the shed. It must be the first time since the 1960's this particular loco has had any cover at all.

Keith Lines does some more wiring in our new shed. May 24 2003 © Martyn Bane

New plates as welded in to the tender to form the coal space. May 24 2003 © Martyn Bane

GWR 28xx 2-8-0 2885 tries out the new shed. The locomotive is receiving a cosmetic overhaul prior to going on display at Birmingham Moor Street station. May 24 2003 © Martyn Bane

May 17 2003

During the past week a major advance was made. At long last our 'new' shed appeared and has been erected over turntable road 19. Whilst not finished yet it is largely up and will be a great asset to us over the next few months and years. It is large enough to hold the locomotive.

Still minus a few pieces of cladding and the main door the 'new' 6024 shed stands on road 19 and is inspected by Leon (left) and John Salter. May 17 2003 © Martyn Bane

From the inside the size of the shed can be better appreciated. There is plenty of room beside the line to store equipment and for us to work on the loco. We also have the benefit of a lit pit. May 17 2003 © Martyn Bane

A considerable amount of effort went in to preparing the shed for use. With the road undercover for the first time in a very long time a thorough clean up started. A good start was also made on bringing an electrical supply in to the shed with lighting up and running by the end of the day.

Tim Watson pressure cleans the pit. May 17 2003 © Martyn Bane

Keith Lines wires one of 16 fluorescent lights fitted to the shed walls. May 17 2003 © Martyn Bane

Leon 'Cogload Junction' Salter sweeps the shed floor. May 17 2003 © Martyn Bane

The opportunity was also taken to start moving items stored outside in to the new shed.

A bit of an altercation in the canteen. "You can just sit down. You'll get your tea when I say so....." May 17 2003 © Martyn Bane

On the locomotive work continued on the re-plumbing of the air brake system under the cab floor. Outside, in between the downpours, a start was made on giving the boiler a second coat of paint. In the smokebox the last of the studs superheater header were removed.

John Salter looks in pain as he give the firebox a second coat of paint. May 17 2003 © Martyn Bane

A right pair of posers in the smokebox. Richard Jones (left) and Colin Jeffery take a break from removing superheater element studs. May 17 2003 © Martyn Bane

With his handy work on show Graham Hopes continues to work on re-plumbing the air brake system under the cab floor. May 17 2003 © Martyn Bane

Steve Underhill works away on part of the cab floor. May 17 2003 © Martyn Bane

A general view of the chassis inside the workshop at Tyseley. The crank axle is in front of the loco. On the left is the replica LNWR 'Bloomer'. May 17 2003 © Martyn Bane

A lot of boiler work has recently been undertaken. Outside the first coat of micasious paint has been applied. Meanwhile inside a lot of stay work has been in hand.

Coat number one is now complete. The boiler is now protected from the elements and will shortly receive a second coat of paint. May 11 2003 © Colin Henderson

A view of the copper throatplate showing some stays removed and others (on the seam) replaced. If only we could keep it this clean in service ! May 11 2003 © Colin Henderson

Work has now started on sizing all the stay threads to receive new nuts. Work also progressed on removing the copper stays in the lower section of the throatplate.

Your webmaster on the other side of the boiler grinds away stay heads ready for the removal of these copper stays. May 11 2003 © Colin Henderson

Needle gunning on the front portion of the tender has progressed well with the first coat of paint being applied to certain sections.

Ron Smith (left) needle guns more of the tender whilst Leon Salter gives previously needle gunned sections a coast of paint. May 11 2003 © Colin Henderson

Final painting of the crank axle eccentric sheaves and balance weights was completed. Very shortly the axle will be ready to go back in to the frames. The axleboxes and springs are in place ready whilst the frames have also been painted ready to accept the wheels.

Almost ready now. The crank axle, with axleboxes and springs in place, awaits final painting by John Salter, who must have been taking a break again when this was taken. May 11 2003 © Colin Henderson

Parts of the air brake system are being re-plumbed to tidy it up under the cab floor and elsewhere.

This shot is taken from where the crank axle normally is looking towards the cab. The frames are painted and parts of the air system have been re-plumbed - both jobs done by Graham Hopes. May 11 2003 © Colin Henderson

With a very good turnout of members other smaller jobs could also be tackled such as the painting of items of plate work including the centre cylinder cover.

One time 6000 King George V volunteer Brian Dodd rubs down a frame stretcher cover. May 11 2003 © Colin Henderson

Meanwhile on the mechanical side of things the refitted outside right piston was reunited with the crosshead whilst on the other side preparations were made for this to be done. The inside pistons have been decarbonised and look like new.

The outside right crosshead and piston rod back in position, but obviously not their relative final positions ! May 11 2003 © Colin Henderson

A weekend off for us all so not much to report !

However a certain member of the team was seen moonlighting with another mainline loco....

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