Overhaul update
A new set of pictures illustrating the work that has been going on over the last three or four weeks.
About a month ago the new valve liners were cryogenically installed (frozen in liquid nitrogen to shrink them) in the two valve chests and a couple of the following pictures show the welcome consequence of that work. There has also been quite a lot of work going continuing in the boiler shop to bring the copper inner firebox up to the required standard for re-use and this is shown in the first two images.
New copper sheet has been welded into the top left corner of the rear of the inner firebox and will be trimmed to size later. Some of the holes to the right of the patch have been reduced in size by copper welding ready for new stays in due course. In addition you can see centre puch marks in the new copper strip that has been welded to the rear top of the copper inner firebox (on the left since the boiler is lying on its Left hand side) ready for drilling for new rivets/stays.
At the front of the inner firebox are visible the new stays, seen to the right of the white vertical line, securing the new lower outer steel part of the firebox to the existing inner copper box.
New firedoor slide bars are required and here is one of the two being milled in the loco shed.
The original slide bars for the firedoors (very rusty) in front of one of the new ones which still needs further machining.
One of several mountings for the various components associated with the bolier’s water injectors having a 1 15/16” (50mm) hole drilled in it.
The same bracket alongside its pre-existing mirror image.
The same bracket as in the previous two images mounted in place on the back of the Left hand cab step with the water injector casting temporarily bolted on top.
The same place viewed from the opposite side showing newly fabricated (but unfinished) copper pipe in place.
On the same side again can be seen the Left hand injector water valve (in black) with its forked operating lever on top which in turn is linked to the control lever mounted inside the cab.
The consequence of fitting the valve liners can be seen here wich shows the rear of the Right hand cylinder with the rear valve cover in place and the new valve spindle and associated valves hidden inside the valve chest.
The front of the same valve chest. NB The Left hand cylinder has had the same treatment.
The reverser has had its forward and reverse “cut off” scale highlighted in white paint and re-fitted.
Our Engineering Manager John Bowater uses the angle grinder and wire brush to clean up part of the vacuum brake pipework that runs under the Left hand running plate.
A selection of steam heat and vacuum brake pipework awaitng cleaning up keeps part of the newly painted Left hand running plate company.