Overhaul update
This was the SMF working party’s last visit prior to the shed’s being closed off for the roof repairs and erection of the overhead crane. Work concentrated on storing the last of our equipment and preparing the engine for a period of outside storage, with only a small amount of work on the engine itself, most of which involved painting patches missed in the past. Working parties will resume when the works again opens to volunteers.
The engine before it is moved out. The handrails and regulator rod lying on the ground were moved on to the left hand running plate and secured in place.
The numberplate has been refitted to the smokebox, thereby ensuring that the smokebox is not fitted to the wrong engine! Sorry, a bit late for 1st April. It was fitted for the ‘Peak Behind the Scenes’ weekend, but was left in place rather than move it into storage.
This little item just had to get a mention: it’s the long lost piece from the front of the cab outside the reverser cover. It was hiding behind a cupboard and found when that was moved into storage. The painters are waiting to pounce!
On the engine itself, Graham was unhappy with the seating of the left side gudgeon pin. This shows the method of drawing it further into the crosshead with the nut and using packing instead of the tapered split ring which is yet to be refitted at this point.
The boiler shop is not part of the workshop improvements and work continues uninterrupted. This general view shows that the old smokebox has been temporarily reattached to help balance during lifting, although ninety degrees out of true, and the boiler is now identified with two numbers: 13268 with 2968 below.
The view inside the smokebox with all tubes and flues expanded and a blanking plate covering the main steam pipe.
The view from the other end showing the tubes and flues in the firebox tubeplate.
A close up of the firebox. The small tubes have been beaded to protect the ends from the flames.
Many washout plugs have been refitted. In BR days, it was decided to standardise such consumables, hence the boiler has been adapted to accept BR standard plugs.
Likewise the fusible plugs. This is the one in the rear of the crown sheet; there is a second one towards the front.
As the time of the hydraulic test approaches, all places open to atmosphere must be blanked off. These two plates cover the holes for the safety valves . . .
. . . while this one covers the repaired manifold flange. Other mountings on the backplate have also been blanked off, as with that to the right.
Other items are being prepared in the boiler shop. This is the top feed casting.
Attached each side of this are the two clack valves, here waiting their turn.