Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th August 2013

 

 

 

                                                                     Valve Gear

 

 

With the problems arising when the gear was dismantled from incorrectly marked components, the eccentric straps and rods have been erected to complete the assembly of the valve gear.

Connecting Rods

 

With the rod under the press, a start can be made to get the big end bush out

 

 

Spacers are arranged to push out the bush

 

 

Everything ready for the first press to break the seal on the bush

 

 

Hold tight - here we go!!!

 

 

The bush almost out

 

The bush brass is now ready to have the old white metal removed and then re-metalled, machined and
                                              fitted back into the rod - simples!

 

Rods, bushes and gudgeon pins which will shortly be performing the task they were designed for.

 

 

Smoke Box Components

 

 

Meanwhile in a galaxy far, far way a new petticoat spinning has been fashioned to fit the new blower ring casting

 

 

With the petticoat and blower ring assembled, it is ready for a trial fit to the later style of Manor chimney fitted after the redrafting of the mid 1950's which transformed the steaming capabilities of engines once renowned for being shy on steam.

Saturday 13th July 2013

 

After a trial fitting, eccentric straps R2 is returned for some attention in the machine shop.

                                                         THE SMOKE BOX

 

The new smoke box has been mounted temporarily on the saddle so that some fettling can be done to ensure a good fit.

 

Two pictures of the smoke box as seen from the drivers side of the engine. No prizes for
                                             guessing which major bit is still missing!!!!!!!!!!!!

Progress through June and early July 2013

Having been moved from the 'King Shed' at Tyseley, the chassis basks in the late afternoon sunshine whilst fresh coats of paint on the drag box and cab dry.

 

The sections of top feed pipes that couple to the clacks receive a coat of paint. The olive that forms the seal between the pipe and clack can be seen temporarily secured to the pipe flange.

 

With the boiler approaching completion, attention is turned to the ancillary items required on its return which include handrail fittings and the smokebox door dart and handles.

 

Inside the New Works at Tyseley, two new sections of boiler cladding that have been manufactured by the working parties await rolling.

 

A new smokebox has been manufactured and the apertures for the blast pipe and steam pipes have been cut.  

 

Another view of the new smokebox  with the aperture for the chimney cut and the reinforcing ring for joining to the boiler barrel has been trial fitted. The picture shows an interesting comparison between the smokeboxes for a Manor and in the background, that for a Castle

 

 

 

With the crossheads fitted, the new pistons have been fitted in the cylinders and the piston rods secured in the crossheads.

 

With the pistons back in place, 'boxing up' has started with the replacement of the cylinder covers.

 

The side rods have been cleaned in readiness for the bushes to be pressed out and re-metalled, machined and returned to the rods.

 

SMOKE BOX DOOR

 

The old paint on the door is removed.

 

 

The door is cleaned prior to painting. In the background can be seen the heavily corroded smokebox from a double chimney Castle

 

Finally a coat of heat resistant paint is applied.

 

THE MOTION

 

Looking down from the running plate above the centre driving wheels, eccentric strap L2

has been fitted to the eccentric sheaves. The strap is coupled to the expansion link by the eccentric rod which bolts onto the two studs.

 

With eccentric strap L2 in place, L1 is fitted to the sheave. The eccentric straps convert the rotary motion of the axle to a reciprocating motion to drive the valve gear.

 

DRAW HOOKS

 

 

Delivery has been taken of the batch of draw hooks that the Group has had manufactured for G.W.R. locomotives. The long shank version is seen above. 

 

The short version of draw hooks were manufactured simultaneously together with the retaining nuts. These hooks have been manufactured to mainline standards and a quantity have already been ordered
                                            by other G.W.R. locomotive owning groups.

Friday 24th & Saturday 25th May 2013

 

After completion of the assembly of the vacuum pump, it was lifted by five strong men, good and true, into position on the frame and secured. The oil bottle, vacuum pipe connection and pepper pot on the top of the pump can be clearly seen.

 

 

The vacuum pump in position ready to be coupled to the crosshead after the rods have been fitted.

 

 

The left crosshead has been further eased to achieve a good sliding fit on the slide bars.

 

 

The crank pins have been cleaned in readiness for sizes to be taken so that the coupling rod and connecting rod re-metalled bushes can be machined.

 

 

The cylinder bores have been cleaned in readiness for re-fitting the pistons which are now in final assembly.

 

 

Back outside again, the protective tarpaulin has filled up with water in the beautiful Costa del Tyseley weather so some bailing out is done before some unfortunate soul underneath gets an unexpected shower.

 

 

Meanwhile serious consideration is given to either attempt to play a tune on the pipes or refit them.

 

 

Cannot get a tune out of it so I had better refit it!

 

 

The left hand injector fully fitted, jointed and piped up.

 

 

Underneath the vacuum piping is re-assembled and new joints fitted. The firebox normally occupies this area and previous damage caused by rivet heads on the firebox banging on the frames can be seen in the area above the axle box.

 

 

The spindle that carries the cranks for the ash pan damper doors had worn badly and is normally screwed into the threaded hole in the frame (indicated) with a nut securing it behind the trailing coupled wheel. However, at some stage, the spindle had been welded to the frame and it has been necessary to grind off the weld to release the spindle and dress the frame face for a new spindle that is now in manufacture.

 

 

The Saturday team take a well earned tea break before launching merrily into their respective tasks!

Progress in May

The vacuum pump is stripped on a fine Saturday in May (which have been few and far between) and component parts are cleaned and inspected

The pump had accumulated rainwater during the open storage of the engine whilst on the WSR resulting in an oily slurry filling most of the apertures on the pump. The oil reservoir was particularly contaminated as was the pump piston head and rings  

 

 

 

After cleaning undercoat and top coat are applied ready to start reassembly of the pump

 

 A new neoprene gasket is required for the end cover and the relief valves need to be lapped in to ensure a good seal before the pump is final reassembled. This has now been done and the pump is ready to refit to the engine

 

A sand box pipe and water overflow pipe for the fireman's side injector are prepared for painting

 

Water feed, injector live steam and steam heating pipes are all checked, cleaned and painted

 

Parking can be at a bit of a premium at Tyseley!!!

 

Whilst undercover in the former King shed, the injectors pipework and support brackets are refitted beneath the cab

 

With the insulation and oil pipes in place, the cladding on the cylinders and steam chest is secured in place

 

 

Some 1912 vintage equipment (this is not a reference to the three musketeers from the Erlestoke Manor Group) proves to be a suitable bench for lunch!!