2003/04 Overhaul Archive - June 2004

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June 26

The support coach has now returned from a C4 mechanical overhaul, body repairs and a repaint.

The support coach is now back at Tyseley. Currently it is not in a very good location for photographs ! June 26 2004

With the exception of laying a new kitchen floor and plumbing in a new stove little internal work was undertaken. This is being left to us. The first tasks being to work out how the redesigned kitchen would look and giving the coach a thorough internal clean. A fair bit of time was also spend checking items were as they should be. The batteries were topped up; it is hoped to get them on charge shortly.

Keith Lines working in the kitchen the layout of which is to be somewhat improved. June 26 2004

Pete Archer gives the interior a good wipe over to remove accumulated dust and muck. June 26 2004

With the boiler fully insulated the cladding is going back up.

Once the ceramic wool was in place last weekend this was covered in a layer of foil. The first couple of cladding pieces can be seen in place next to the cab. June 26 2004

Steve Underhill (in the foreground) and Huw Button refit cladding around the firebox. June 26 2004 © Colin Henderson

By the time this photograph was taken more cladding pieces had been refitted. June 26 2004

Fitting cladding is an awkward and fiddly job. Steve Underhill (left) and Huw Button are at work on the driver's side of the firebox. June 26 2004

Further piping has been refitted such as the air pump lubrication delivery pipes and the gauge frame drain.

Colin Henderson wrestles with the gauge frame drain pipe. June 26 2004

And of course it would not be a day with 6024 if parts weren't been cleaned and painted !

Dave Fuszard paints the air brake main reservoir connection between the engine and the tender. June 26 2004

The driver's side spectacle glass and frame was prepared for refitting. June 26 2004

June 19/20

During the week the backhead controls and pipework has been refitted. It looks a picture !

The cab fittings are virtually complete now and look fantastic. June 19 2004

Further refitting of controls and sundry items continued during the weekend.

6024's General Manager Richard Abbey tries to feed the front sander control rod through the centre splasher. June 19 2004

John Salter refits some of the smokebox saddle cladding pieces. June 19 2004

Lots of bits of pipework are going back on the loco. All the copper pipes are annealed before being refitted. Work has continued fitting out the already very dirty smokebox.

Pete Archer cleans up a freshly annealed copper pipe. Behind him Steve Underhill anneals another. June 19 2004

On the left Pete Archer holds a nut on the ejector exhaust system whilst inside your webmaster tightens things up. Leon Salter (again) stands around watching.... June 19 2004 © John Salter

A few lucky souls got to spend most of the day in the smokebox refitting various bits of pipework. With the exception of the steam feed to the mechanical lubricator heating coil all copper work has now been refitted. The braking system exhaust pipe was also refitted. June 19 2004

The biggest single task undertaken during the weekend was the lagging of the firebox and boiler barrel.

The lagging is a dusty job so those involved were kitted out in special protective clothing. They are, from the right, John Salter, Chris Brown and Richard Abbey. June 19 2004

The lagging goes on. It is a slow and fiddly job shaping it to fit. Many holes have to be cut for items such as washout plugs and handrail brackets. June 19 2004

Steve Underhill works at getting the boiler insulated. June 20 2004 © Huw Button

Kevin Blake was also to be found working at insulating the boiler. June 20 2004 © Huw Button

On Sunday with the ceramic wool applied the second, and final, layer of heavy duty foil was added. It can now be clad !

Brian Dodd polishes some of the refitted backhead pipework. June 20 2004 © Huw Button

Finally it is expected that the overhauled support coach will return to Tyseley during the week allowing us to work on the interior which was largely left untouched during the contract overhaul at Lancastrian Carriage and Wagon works.

During the week the backhead was insulated with a layer of ceramic wool and a top layer of foil. This allowed the backhead cladding to be fitted, a job finished on Saturday morning after one final piece had been reshaped to ensure a flush fit. With this done a start to the final painting of the backhead was able to begin. Very soon the cab fittings will be able to go back into place.

With most of the cladding back in place on the backhead the cab is starting to look almost finished. June 12 2004

Steve Underhill marks the final piece of backhead cladding for modification as it would not sit quite correctly. June 12 2004

With the backhead cladding in place a couple of pieces of footplating had to be reshaped. Once this was done they were repainted. June 12 2004

With all the cladding place Graham Hopes applies the first black top coat. June 12 2004

The final pieces of the locomotive brake rigging was refitted during the day.

Reassembling the brakes involved Paul Sanders sitting around a great deal all day.... June 12 2004

Several items were cleaned, rubbed down, painted or whatever was appropriate. For example the stainless steel reverser cut off indicator was thoroughly cleaned. The cab roof was given another rub down and paint whilst various parts of the vacuum ejector system received the same treatment.

Dave Fuszard flats down the cab roof prior to giving it another coat of paint. June 12 2004

In the smokebox work was undertaken to make all ready for the fitting of the vacuum ejector and air brake pump exhaust systems.

Completed last week but worth a photo this week - all the Type A superheater elements are back in place.

The other important mechanical job undertaken during the day was the reassembly of the ashpan door/damper operating mechanism. To get it right some alterations were required !

Leon Salter works on the rear rear ashpan door. The operating bracket had to be repositioned to match up with the operating lever. June 12 2004

Stuart Nelhams working away of the same ashpan door. June 12 2004

Good progress was made on another hot day.

The spectacle plate was removed in the week as it was not sitting correctly. With it off work was done to ensure a good fit this time around. Part of the cab roof supports was also refitted.

Leon Slater (left) helps Steve Underhill to reassemble part of the cab structure. June 06 2004 © John Salter.

Rubbing down of all continued on the cab sides, running plates, splashers and cladding sheets.

Chris Brown rubs down part of the cab. June 06 2004 © John Salter.

Various people rub down various items... In the foreground is Keith Hudson, then Ron Smith who is "hiding" Brian Dodd whilst in orange is Bob Robson. June 06 2004 © John Salter.

Time for a tea break ! Working clockwise from the far left: Colin Springthorpe, Keith Hudson, Bob Robson, Graham Hopes, Ron Smith, Angie Hailwood, Jane Smith, Steve Underhill, Leon Salter, Chris Brown & Brian Dodd. June 06 2004 © John Salter.

The most physically demanding job of the day was the refitting of all the superheater elements. The elements are not light and have to be moved upwards somewhat to get them into position. Not an easy task, but a very important one !

With Colin Springthorpe in the smokebox, Steve Underhill on the front of the loco and Leon Salter in the ground one of the top row superheater elements goes back in. Not a job for the weak and feeble ! June 06 2004 © John Salter.