bogie overhaul begins

With the frames back on the driving wheels the bogie has benn removed and is being stripped.

Tyres will be turned an the axle boxes overhauled.

Lots of parts to clean inspect and repaint ready for reassembly.

Yet more cladding!

The top fire box corners cleaned and ready for repainting.

The cylinder cladding finally completed and ready for transport to Tyseley for refitting.

Another view of the refurbished cylinder cladding.

Having finished the cylinder cladding work moves onto the firbox cladding.

Careful attention with the angle grinder removes the crud and flakey paint before sanding and painting

The next project is the doorplate or backhead cladding.

At least this time around we have all the parts rather than with the restoration when they had to be made.

3850 update

New tender main draw bar cup being manufactured.

This contains the rubber discs on the back of the main draw bar clevis which connects the loco draw bar to the tender. The rubber discs help to take out any shock loadings.

Here all of the finished bits are laid out. Next job is to transport them to Minehead and fit to the tender when it is stopped for a washout and can be separated from the loco.

You may have heard rumours about 3850 going to another heritage railway this summer and that we turned down a very good offer.  The reality is that we received a telephone enquiry, which, with the co-operation of the West Somerset Railway, we followed up. In the event the other railway hired a different locomotive, so we remain on the WSR.

All main driving wheels refitted

7820 with all her driving wheels refitted. The bogie should come out in the next week or so to be overhauled.

Between the frames all the efforts of the volunteers can be seen in the paintwork and the overhauled spring gear.

Rewheeling begins

Rewheeling has begun with the fitting of the overhauled axleboxes to the wheel sets.

Next job is to hang the springs and then slot each axle into place in the frames using the wheel drop.

This will enable the bogie to be removed for overhaul.

Work moves on to refurbishing the valve & brake gear.

The expansion links have been cleaned and the die blocks removed. The links will need reprofiling and then the blocks replacing or white metaling to take up the wear. Some of the bushes have worn and worked loose, they are scheduled for replacement.

The accumulation of crud is removed from the brake gear to allow measurements to be taken. Initial thoughts are that the pins will be skimmed to take out wear then new bushes will be made to suit and pushed into place.

The axle box underkeeps have had the new fillers fitted, this will make oiling up and removal of any water a lot easier. Re-wheeling is now imminent

Reassembly of the boiler begins

The new throat plate is being fitted to the boiler, initial trials indicate a good fit and enough excess around the edges to allow for final trimming.

The edges of the new throat plate will require fettling to ensure correct sizing of the water space and overlap with the new side plates.

The new throat plate fits the boiler well. The holes can be seen where the palm stays are attached.

Meanwhile the new door plate has been fitted and is being welded in place.