Overhaul update
Volunteers are back at Bridgnorth and our working parties returned on Easter Sunday, 4th April. Following a four months’ absence, much of the day was taken up in establishing what had been done by the full time staff; what work was available to the working party; cleaning and painting the inside faces of the return crank rods and union links; but also in tidying up on and around the engine as the plan is to move it from its current location and so free the jacks for use by other engines.
The wooden pattern for the new smokebox number plate...
...and the pattern sitting on the new smokebox door and ring assembly. Note the chalked number 2 in the oval at the bottom of the door; this marks where the enamel shed plate will fit; 2 in the first LMS (and LNWR) shed code scheme was Willesden, the engine’s first home.
The inside of the door is lined with a sheet steel plate; the new one is seen here.
In the machine shop, new components of the door locking mechanism could be found. The tightening handle will be fitted into the threaded boss to form a single piece.
At the other end of the engine, things are pretty much complete below the hind buffer beam.
View of the right side injector pipework.
View of the left side injector pipework. All this is now complete other than the live steam supply, to be fitted once the boiler is in place.
Looking rearwards along the right hand and left hand running plates after several years’ clutter had been tidied away.
Left hand front of the engine, with the vacuum pipe complete with water separator.
Pipework below the cab floor, now all secured.
All lubrication pipework, check valves, etc. are now complete to the right hand cylinder and valve chest. The left hand side will follow shortly.
Lubricator connection complete to the right hand piston rod.
Meanwhile, back in the machine shop, many smaller brass fittings have been cast and await drilling and tapping prior to going on the engine.
One such item already fitted: the shut-off cock to the ashpan water sprays mounted in the fireman’s side of the cab.