Overhaul update
With welding complete, thoughts move to refitting all those parts which had to be removed to allow the work to go ahead. The lines of nuts and bolts here show where the vertical and horizontal stretchers have been refitted. Also bolted in place is the triangular running plate support bracket (top left) and the axlebox guide (lower centre). Once all are ready, a massive riveting session to permanently fix everything in place is planned.
The stretchers in place, the horizontal one can just be seen through the lower hole in the vertical stretcher.
The final checks were made on the frame alignment. This time it was to get readings for how far in or out the Axlebox guides were.
With the engine standing on straight track, all coupled wheels should be perfectly in line. There is always slight misalignment, and this is allowed for in the thickness of the metal side faces of the individual Axleboxes.
These measurements help determine that thickness. Brian and Graham of the SVR staff carry out the work.
Other work proceeds: here are the two new piston valve rods with four new valve heads fitted, needing just rings prior to fitting to the engine.
Lurking in a cupboard are the four new valve chest liners, machined and ready to go in.
Some new parts to replace the spring hanger brackets judged too worn to reuse have arrived. They require machining and drilling prior to riveting in place.
To allow the riveters access, another bracket - for the return spring of the weigh shaft which raises and lowers the radius rod - had to have its three retaining fitted bolts and nuts removed.
These are undoubtedly 1933 LMS items and have lived undisturbed for 85 years. The nuts succumbed to Robin’s angle grinder and the bolts to John’s hammer.
Other parts being reattached include the brackets for the brake hangers following their overhaul. One of the SVR’s full time staff reams out the four holes of the right leading one. The six brackets will be part of the big riveting day.
Unexpected new items were the backing plates to the cab footsteps, which have been cut and welded together several times over the years. These show the old plates, and the new ones with the steps attached, looking from the side and below.
The steps are held to the paltes by yet more rivets, and Robin took on the job of drilling through the new plate for the rivets to go through.
Elsewhere, the pony truck has been fully dismantled; it was found that the centre slide is stamped GWR so is presumably from a Swindon built 8F.
Apart from the normal overhaul items, some of the 85 years old steel was wasted and is being replaced; this includes the front top stretcher and a stretcher between the two arms of the A frame.
And the wheels are back from the South Devon Railway with all machining complete. Further cleaning and painting is in order before they are replaced under the engine.