2003/04 Overhaul Archive - November 2003

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November 30 2003

It was really more of the same with various bits of cladding and platework, at various stages of preparation for repainting, being worked on.

Keith Hudson paints some pieces of cladding. November 30 2003

Good progress has been made on the tender. A large proportion of the tank has been given a coat of green undercoat. During the day this was flattened down with wet 'wet and dry' paper ready for the next coat.

A lot of the tender has turned a funny green colour. November 20 2003

Alex Hayes, Leon Salter & Stuart Nelhams working away in the sun. November 30 2003

In parallel to the preparation of platework refurbishment of various cab controls and fittings from other parts of the loco, such as the steam heat Mason's valve and lubrication system atomisers, continued in the shed. A few more missing bits were also refitted to the tender. A lot of time was spent on the tender water valves. The fireman's side had become very stiff in the 2002. It is to be hoped as refurbished and refitted it will behave itself this time.

Steve Underhill anneals a piece of copper pipe. November 30 2003

Leon Salter (left) and Stuart Nelhams in between the tender (left) and the chassis of GWR 2-8-0 3850. Leon and Stuart were working on refitting the tender water valves and controls. November 30 2003

A new fall plate, the plate linking the cab footplating and the tender footplating, has been delivered. Work was carried out to prepare for this to be fitted.

Colin Springthorpe working in the cab. November 30 2003

Bob Robson gives one of the atomisers from the lubrication system a clean up. November 30 2003

At last the missing eleven small tubes have arrived. Mid-week Steve Underhill fitted them and started expanding them. Once this job is complete the re-tube is complete.

A lot of people were elsewhere this weekend. However a number of useful jobs were carried out.

The tender coal space was given another coat of micaceous paint. Elsewhere on the loco chassis, and on cladding pieces rubbing down, painting and filling continued.

The safety valve body casting is currently in the workshop to allow some work to be carried out on the valve seats.

Elsewhere the loco nameplates are having the letters removed and the backing plate is being rubbed down for a repaint.

The rear driving wheels have been machined and the surfaces protected prior to transportation to Doncaster. November 22 2003 © Colin Henderson

The cab side number plates have been removed to allow the cab sides to be rubbed down and repainted. November 22 2003 © Colin Henderson

Safety valve components (left), backhead fittings (centre) and clack valves at different stages of refurbishment. November 22 2003 © Colin Henderson

During the week Steve Underhill finished removing the studs from the safety valve casting which the clacks are bolted to. Work has also continued to get the rear driving wheels ready for dispatch to Doncaster.

Some final (?) needle gunning took place on the boiler at the point the boiler and smokebox join.

Most work centred on preparation and painting of various bits of cladding and kit, as has become normal.

John Salter starts work on this piece of cladding from the rear of the firebox. November 15 2003

The job shown above was finished later by your webmaster, after which the decision was taken to scrap the whole lot. Thanks ! November 15 2003 © Colin Henderson.

Another task completed in the week was work on the tender coal space doors and toolboxes so they work properly.

Leon Salter paints parts of the tender worked on during the week. November 15 2003 © Colin Henderson.

Some mechanical work was undertaken getting fittings ready for re-use.

Colin Henderson work on reassembling the refurbished W valve. November 15 2003

The overhauled mechanical lubricator was put back in to place on the newly painted running plate. Pipework associated with the lubricator was checked and cleaned before being reconnected.

Some of the lubrication pipework was heated burning out any muck remaining from the last time the locomotive was used. November 15 2003

The mechanical lubricator back in place and with some of the pipework reattached. There's quite a shine to the running plate ! November 15 2003

Also refitted during the day were the two front sandboxes.

Alex Hayes cleans up brackets from the rear of the firebox. November 15 2003

Kevin Blake continued to work on the spectacle plate. Later in the day it received a coat of primer. November 15 2003

Amongst other pieces Keith Hudson prepared the the reverser screw cover from the front of the cab on the drivers side. November 15 2003

November 9 2003

During the week Steve Underhill cut the old tyres off with an oxyacetylene torch. This left one job to complete before the wheelset can head to Doncaster, namely machining the surfaces to ensure the wheels are perfectly round.

The rear driving wheels back in the Tyseley wheel lathe for turning by Steve Lester. In the foreground is the well tank from Darjeeling Himalayan 0-4-0 778. November 9 2003

The old tyres have been cut in to chunks. They are not, however, going to be scrapped. We have plans for them ! November 9 2003

As has become normal most people were engaged in rubbing down and painting various items from the locomotive.

The the left Ron Smith, Bob Robson and Keith Hudson prepare various bits and pieces for a coat of paint. November 9 2003

Brian Dodd cleans up a handrail bracket. On the left is the locomotives spectacle plate. November 9 2003

Kevin Blake wire brushes the spectacle plate, making it look almost like a mirror ! On the right is one of the webmaster's jobs - cleaning and priming one of the outside cylinder rear exhaust passage covers. November 9 2003

As well as rubbing down the clack covers Bob Robson also gave the safety valve bonnet a good polish. November 9 2003

Keith Clarke works on one of the injector water valve controls. November 9 2003

Steve Underhill prepares one of the top fillers for bolting in to position. These allow the locomotive to take water safely under the wires. November 9 2003

Kevin Blake got the fantastic job of going inside the tender to do the bolts up on the top fillers. November 9 2003

Towards the end of the day one side of the spectacle plate was primed. In front of it are the two exhaust passage covers. November 9 2003

Another job undertaken was removal of the studs from the safety valve casting which the clacks are bolted to. This was not an easy job, they had to be drilled out and new slightly larger threads tapped in their place.

Steve Underhill midway through removing the clack valve mounting studs from the safety valve casting. November 9 2003

November 2 2003

A day with a big turnout, heavy rain showers and not enough 'inside' jobs so a lot of time was lost dodging the rain.

A lot of preparation for painting continued on many different bits and pieces. On the chassis a few more bits have been re-fitted, such as the outside cylinder cladding. Before this was fitted the cylinders were covered in heavy duty foil and Kaowool insulation.

The missing eleven small tubes for the boiler are still to arrive but progress has continued on the boiler. The firehole doors and flap plate have been refitted and all the stay nuts currently in hand have been fitted on the inside of the firebox.

More grey primer has appeared all over the loco. This it the right hand side running plate. November 2 2003

The outside left cylinder is now relagged and had the covers refitted. The same is true on the other side. November 2 2003

Leon Slater primes the inside cylinder front valve covers. November 2 2003

Bob Robson cleans some of the drain cock pipework. November 2 2003

The spectacle plate was removed from the front of the cab. In between showers this piece was rubbed back to bare metal to assess its' condition, which is excellent. It is almost ready for repainting.

The spectacle plate, an original from BR days, was rubbed back to bare metal. November 2 2003

Colin Springthorpe wire brushes the ejector exhaust casting which bolts to the righthand side of the smokebox. November 2 2003

Refurbishment of cab fittings has continued with attention being paid to the drivers vacuum brake control.

Another Colin, this one being a Henderson, works on the valve seat of the large ejector. November 2 2003

The tender looks more complete every weekend. Work is in hand to refit the hose attachment points and pipework to allow the locomotive to be watered under the wires in safety. Other fittings have been prepared for refitting, all over preparation for repainting has continued and last thing, as it was going dark, the tender footplating was refitting.

Ron Smith paints one of the injector water valve controls. November 2 2003

The rear driving wheelset is almost ready for despatch to Doncaster for re-tyring. The wheelset was positioned in the wheel lathe to remove the Gibson rings for re-use. This was achieved by turning away the rear surface of the tyre until the ring became free.

The rear driving wheels in the wheel lathe during the turning to remove the Gibson retaining rings. November 2 2003

The wheel lathe in action removing the righthand side Gibson ring. The rear face of the tyre was turned down releasing the Gibson ring for re-use with the new set of tyres. November 2 2003

John Salter cleans the lefthand side Gibson ring. November 2 2003

Graham Hopes rubbing down part of the front running plate. November 2 2003

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