Paint shop update
Brian of the SVR staff was dissatisfied with the bent and twisted appearance of the original lubrication pipework fitted by the Fund and remade the pipes - a very neat job which considerably improves the engine’s detailed appearance.
There were, or should have been, backing plates to the sandbox fillers to prevent sand spilling on to moving parts between the frames where it can cause high wear rates. The originals disappeared many years ago. John of the SMF has been refabricating and fitting all four of these.
Another of john’s tasks was to relocate the works plate from their position from 1957 position back to that of 1934, which meant drilling and tapping holes in the frames. Here we see the markings to show their rearranged position.
The works plates themselves, white letters and border on a black background. For some reason, the C of Crewe proved uncooperative and had to have several attempts.
It isn’t only Great Western engines that carry brass fittings and the spectacle plates and cinder glasses fit in brass frames, which were all suitably polished to match the new paint.
The gleaming smokebox door, with the bolt holes for the shed plate now drilled.