November

There was no working party on Sunday 3rd December. Instead of the usual working party, Joan, Doug, Alan and Chris ran a fundraising stall at the Ashford toy fair. We were ably assisted by Adrian who just happened to be running the next door stall to us! We had a large amount of model railway items to sell as well as a few bits of signalling railwayana. The signalling items sold very quickly once they were put on display (we’ll take more next time!). Around one quarter of the model railway items were sold during the event with well over £400 being raised – the money goes into the account set up to fund the restoration and continued preservation of the loco. A huge amount of interest in our quest was shown by many of the visitors attending the toy fair. We had taken our display boards along for the show and many people stopped to discuss our achievements so far and even a couple of people showed interest in becoming volunteers. This is the last event that we will be attending this year and so the normal working parties will resume next weekend.

As planned, normal working parties resumed on Sunday 10th with Joan, Doug, Alan, Adrian and Chris being in attendance. The main focus of the day was to complete the refurbishment of the handbrake mechanism at Number 2 end which entailed greasing the chain that drives the handbrake mechanism together with lubricating the spindle on which the handbrake wheel fits. Alan achieved this very early on in the day and then moved onto Number 1 end to start the process all over again! Joan and Doug took charge in Number 2 cab and re-fitted the cab floor that had to be removed for access to the handbrake mechanism. Alan and Adrian commenced dismantling the handbrake mechanism at Number 1 end after first removing the cab floor. Alan and Adrian dealt with the mechanism in the cab area whilst Chris concentrated on the exterior components. Both swing arms on the exterior of the loco were reluctant to move freely and so they were “persuaded” to do their job using liberal quantities of oil and brute force. After around an hours attention, both swing arms were moving extremely freely. Chris took apart the shackles that attach the swing arms to the brake cylinders on the bogie. All of the pins and related equipment were thoroughly cleaned and then reassembled. Whilst the mechanism was apart, Chris took the opportunity to clean part of the brake cylinders and then lubricate the brake cylinders. Alan and Adrian managed to remove most of the components apart from one ninety degree crank on which the pin refused to come out- this crank has been cleaned up as best as possible in situ and well lubricated (it is now moving just as freely as the mechanism in Number 2 cab. The two universal type joints in Number 1 cab were removed and dismantled. One joint came apart surprisingly easy, but the other was just like those encountered at Number 2 end (seized solid). One the universal joints had been dismantled, they were thoroughly cleaned, lubricated and then reassembled. New split pins have been used during the refurbishment – a local source we found was a John Deere dealer – wrong type of “Tractor” but the pins were just the job! Joan and Doug continued stripping the cab at Number 2 end of as many fittings as possible to prepare for the rubbing down and painting of Number 2 cab, but leaving the loco movable (all the bulkhead equipment have been left in place). Our thanks to Joan for the usual lunch!

Sunday 17th saw Adrian, Alan and Chris on site. Work continued with the handbrake mechanism at Number 1 end with most of the components being reassembled during the day inside the cab. The dismantled equipment outside was greased up (including the chain) and then reconnected – one of the universal joints remains to be reinstated. Chris replaced one of the cylinder head drain plugs with a brand new one. The old plug had suffered damage to its thread sometime in the past and was becoming difficult to screw back in to the head. The new plug is slightly smaller in size than the original but is a much easier fit. The new plug is made of brass with a silver protective coating.
Sunday 24th saw the usual crowd of Alan, Adrian, Doug, Joan and Chris on site completing the reassembling of the handbrake mechanism at Number 1 end. Alan and Adrian completed the mechanism and then Doug, Alan and Adrian commenced refitting the cab floor. Doug, Joan and Chris continued stripping components out of Number 2 cab – one of the light fittings was very reluctant to come out due to one of the cover securing bolts being seized. Once the light fittings were removed, the disconnected wiring was made safe. The cab was cleared out of all the tools that had gathered during the handbrake mechanism overhaul. Chris changed the two vacuum gauges on the loco for proper class 37 gauges that had been purchased recently after a long search (the ones previously installed were Class 47 gauges where the pipe connections were mounted at the rear of the gauges), just the pipework to complete now and the loco will be fully dual-braked.

We wish to send Christmas wishes to all of our supporters and thank them for their help and support over the past year, the end is getting closer (hopefully)!

Carlisle Pete came down to give a hand on the loco on the last weekend of the month which was a welcome surprise! On Saturday 30th, Pete, Moff and Chris were on site with the intention of getting some welding done on the loco. Whilst Pete was working in the container making tea and sorting out some of the newly-purchased tools, Chris and Moff were welding two new plates onto the area below the cab doors and above the steps at Number 2 end. The areas were prepared by Chris and then Moff welded the plates on. This makes Number 2 Cab weatherproof after being exposed to the elements for a while. There are still two plates to be welded on next to the door and this will be done shortly once the plates have been specially shaped to fit in the area. Work was curtailed due to the high winds and torrential rain that decided to arrive in the late afternoon.
Sunday 31st was obviously the last working party of the year with Alan, Adrian, Pete and Chris on site. Alan replaced a spring on the handbrake mechanism at Number 1 end after the original spring had lost its tension and wouldn’t move the handbrake indicator correctly. Adrian and Alan then relaid the floor in Number 1 Cab after the handbrake mechanism had been fully refitted. During the period of time that the floor had been removed, a couple of the boards have warped very slightly and some of the bolt holes needed opening out a bit before they could be refitted. Pete and Chris set about adjusting the chequerplate to make it fit next to the doors at Number 2 end. Once Chris had completed his piece of chequerplate, he sheeted over the electrical cubicle in Number 2 Cab to protect the electrical equipment when removing the paintwork recommences in the new year. A temporary fluorescent light was fitted into Number 2 Cab to assist when working after dark. As it was too late to commence any sanding in Number 2 Cab, Chris dismantled a vacuum chamber release valve and commenced stripping it of paint and cleaning it – the overhauled valve will be placed into one of the cabs as soon as some of the vacuum pipework has been manufactured and put in place.