Overhaul update
Serious wastage around and below the tender shovelling plate has been found, and Brian has interrupted his work on loco trailing end to remedy this.
Corroded steel is being cut out, and the dimensions for the new metal chalked on the front plate.
The tender otherwise now looks very smart in its first coat of gloss paint. The buffer beam is the correct shade of vermillion, the orange appearance is merely the camera’s interpretation of this under the shed lights.
Both engine and tender buffer beams have been painted in vermillion and lined out to check for accuracy.
A wider look at the front buffer beam after final painting.
The dragbox area continues to receive the attention of the painters. Brian’s temporary transfer to the front of the tender has allowed extra time to apply further coats before the area becomes inaccessible below the cab floor.
Mechanically, work to fit the lubrication pipework goes on. This shows new pipework needing only the union nuts and ends to be added prior to attachment to the atomiser to their left, and to its left are the bases for the two mechanical lubricators, the leading one for the valve chest and the further one for the coupled axleboxes.