Overhaul update
Serious work by SVR staff has restarted on our engine, and in the boiler shop two major items have been moved into place. Work has restarted on the front end, with the new tubeplate fitted into its correct place, holes drilled or started and some temporary bolts securing it. The main steam pipe attachment is to the bottom of the photo as the boiler is still inverted.
A view from the side. The patch to the front of the barrel is yet to be finish welded; the specialist welder has been booked to do this work. The line if circumferential holes in front of the tubeplate bolts will hold the angle iron ring to which the smokebox is fixed.
Detail of the fitting for the main steam pipe inside the boiler and superheater header flange in the smokebox. Also seen are the threaded ends of the longitudinal stays running from the top rear of the firebox backplate. The flange fixing with three mounting holes, lower left, is the connection for the blower pipe.
Simultaneously, and at the other end, the foundation ring has been positioned between the inner and outer fireboxes.
Work has started on drilling through and attaching it by temporary bolts prior to permanent riveting.
Inside the firebox, fitting the patch screws securing the inner backplate to the side sheets continues.
Some have had their square heads removed and have been peened over, as detailed here.
The engine is to receive a new regulator valve, and old and new are seen together in the machine shop where work is underway. The valve is in two parts, pilot and main, seen in the old one, right, but only the unfinished main valve is seen left.
The end plate of the superheater header has also turned up in the machine shop. It has a boss to take the front end of the regulator rod, complete with a bush inside. Due to the Covid work arrangements, we could not check, but assume that a new bush is in the offing.
Work has continued on the frames too, and the right hand injector and associated plumbing are now fitted to the cab running steps; the left hand one has been there for some time.
At the other end of the engine, both crossheads are now machined and fitted between the slidebars; the drop arm and union link fitted, and the oil box for the lower slide bar temporarily fitted to allow the lubrication pipe down to it to be formed to shape.
Further lubrication matters see the second, cylinder, mechanical lubricator mounted next to its brother on the running plate, and the myriad oil and steam pipes fitted.
With the oil feed pipes made, the oil boxes were again removed and the first coats of primer given to the crossheads.
A job given to the working party by the SVR was to reassemble the cylinder taps linkage, which had been removed to allow access to pipework below the running plate. This is the joint half way along the front-to-rear rodding. The words say, “Tidy up ends.” This was all reassembled by the end of the day.
Below the running plate with the rod’s supporting bracket in place so it no longer droops. From left to right are the aforementioned rod, vacuum pipe and water delivery pipe to the top feed.
Other parts received coats of grey primer. The pipe is the overflow from the right hand injector, while several brackets also received attention. These were marked to be returned to specific locations, and the labelling had to be returned to areas not newly pained.
Also receiving a second coat of primer was the inside face of the cab roof, now inside the workshop. This coat is being applied by the Fund’s new Engineering Manager, Dan Jones