Overhaul update
There is a slight problem in showing progress in this report: although the progress is there, it doesn’t show up in photos and is rather the behind-the-scenes kind of work. However…
Visible progress on the boiler is the tapping of stay holes in the left side sheet, ready for the insertion of the new stays.
The badly worn handrail mounting sockets had been welded in and the welds dressed.
One conundrum is how to install the rocking grate assembly, since the current workforce did not remove it and apparently no photos of it in place were taken. Phil of the SVR staff spent some time today trying to assemble it on the ground to figure it all out.
A coat of primer paint has been applied to the smokebox door and ring in preparation for final painting of the engine, the details for which are under discussion.
The lagging for the valve chest ends is now done and their cladding sheets fitted; that for the cylinders cannot be attached yet but work to ensure that the main cladding fits properly continues.
This image looks down at the top of the cylinder casting, with the frames to the top and the cylinder mounting bolts is a horizontal line, the main steam pipe connection bottom. The area above the steam chest is also lagged, although this and the covering plates were not fitted last time, so new plates are having to be made. One is seen here bridging the gap between the frames and main steam pipe connection.
ach side of the engine requires two plates, one either side of each steam pipe connection. The other three plates are waiting to be trial fitted.