Overhaul update
Last time we reported that all slide bars were now in place. Well, the left hand lower one has been removed again for reasons unknown: the volunteers and full-time staff are in on different days making communication difficult. We assume that the alignment requires a little adjustment and it was taken off to allow this, but its location in the workshop was never found.
All sand and steam pipes are now fitted. We had left off that to the front of the left hand intermediate wheel to allow easier access to between the frames, but the number of such excursions has reduced, so this set of sanding gear fitted.
The previous Sunday had seen the Fund’s other working party continue with the cab roof. This is being taken back to bare metal and the first primer coats applied.
Inside the roof are various fittings such as pockets for the driver’s documents, etc. These have been taken off. The main line number plate will follow.
Back on the engine, the new fireman’s seat has been prepared by one of the Fund’s members. The Fund has many tales of these engines in BR service and this seat was always the thing firemen complained about. It isn’t particularly comfortable, but the fact that they had time to discover this is an indication of the engines’ abilities!