Overhaul update
SMF member Fraser Goulding applies gloss paint to one of the more inaccessible parts of the drag box.
SMF member Alan Moody relaxing as he chips old paint from the left hand trailing driving wheel.
A rear 3/4 view of our tender showing off its first coat of gloss black.
The front end of the tender presents a different story however. This shot shows the bent plate on the near side, the off side is similar. Fortunately repair work should be a simple matter of the application of heat and the use of a large hammer!
Not as easy to repair is the front apron of chequer plate which should be around 8mm thick but has wasted in places to less than half that. The picture shows the chalk line for initial cutting and removal of part of the plate.
Gas axing complete.
Scrap plate removed ready for the next bit to be dealt with. The whole of the plate will be similarly removed and the replaced with new metal.
Similar replacement work will be carried out on the shovelling plate which is sporting 3 holes in this shot (two are easy to spot, the third less so). The panel below it is also likely to be replaced due to the heavy pitting also visible in this shot.
Finally a visit to the machine shop found new valve spindles being roughed out by the paid staff on one of the lathes.
Two shots of one valve spindle in the lathe having the initial turning done.
On the floor the first valve spindle awaits final turning to size.