7820 Dinmore Manor - The Blog

This blog will follow the heavy overhaul of 7820 through to its return to steam. The chassis is being overhauled at Tyseley Locomotive Works whilst the boiler is being overhauled at Ian Riley's workshops.
We are working hard every weekend to bring together the hundreds of small pieces that require refurbishing to get the loco back into working order. Follow us to keep up todate with the weekly progress and who knows if you like the look of what you see you may even be tempted to join us and help put 7820 back in action.

Monday, 11 November 2013

Saturday 9th November 2013 - Tyseley

 
The Final Frontier
 
 
The impressive sight of 7820's boiler standing on packing with Tyseley's steam crane in the background. This will now be used to lift the smoke box into place

 
Checking the packing under the firebox

 
The chimney arrives at Tyseley in readiness to be fitted to the smoke box. 7820 will carry the later elegant style of chimney fitted in the 1950's by B.R. after redrafting of the Manors

 
The cab roof receives some TLC. This cannot now be refitted until the boiler is in the frames

 
Some of the compensating links and a brake hanger pin have been machined by volunteers in readiness to complete the re-assembly of the brake gear.

Friday 8th November 2013 - Tyseley

 
The Re-Union
 
 
With the steam test successfully completed, the boiler arrives at Tyseley aboard Allelys transport to be re-united with the rolling chassis
 

 
A quarter of a million pound plus of boiler is eased of the transport trailer by Tyseley's steam crane


The trailer eases away from under the boiler in readiness for it to be lowered onto packing.

 
In very wet conditions the boiler is eased into a position where it can be placed on packing to permit fitting of the smoke box and ash pan

Thursday 7th November 2013 - Riley and Son

 
The Boiler
 

Our Insurance Company boiler inspector keeps a watchful eye on the boiler as steam pressure
                                                                     is raised

 
A little gentle firing is undertaken as the pressure gauge creeps up the dial
 
 
The safety valve is adjusted as the boiler pressure reaches the 225lbf/sq.in.
 
 
With the pressure gauge showing 225 lbf/sq.in., the safety valve feathers steam for the first time in nine and a half years.'Some of the finest boiler work he had seen in a while' was the boiler inspectors remark.
 
 
With a job well done and the steam test successfully completed, the team at Riley's pose for a picture
with 7820's boiler in the background.

Monday, 4 November 2013

Riley & Son 01.11.13 - A major milestone is reached




                                                                  The Boiler

 
The front tube plate with all the tubes fitted has the live steam flanges blanked off ready for hydraulic test

 
An overall view of the boiler with the live steam flanges similarly blanked off on the firebox backhead
 
 
For the first time in nine and a half years the boiler registers pressure of 45 lbf per sq.in as it is filled with mains water. The hydraulic test will be followed by a steam test and inspection by our insurance boiler inspector prior to being despatched to Tyseley.

Sunday, 3 November 2013

Saturday, 2nd November 2013 - Tyseley

 
 
 
Brake Gear
 
 
 
In the pit beneath 7820, the linkage from the vacuum cylinder to the adjusting barrels has been connected to the leading brake beam compensating gear and the pull rods between leading and intermediate brake beams fitted. The picture is taken from beneath the trailing axle.
 
The Cab
 
 
Some filling of pitting inside the cab will ensure a good finish.
 
The Frames
 
 
With the return of the boiler now imminent, the opportunity was taken to test fit the bolts securing the boiler expansion plates. The nine tapped holes in the frame can be seen from beneath the running plating and the outline of the expansion plates visible around the tapped holes. 
 
 
The nine bolts were fitted to both sides of the locomotive, a task not helped by the fact that although the bolt threads were all identical, the hexagon heads were of different sizes, 7/8"W and 11/16"W.
 
 
 
A view looking forward on the fireman's side of the locomotive as a multitude of tasks are completed to move the locomotives completion forward
 
 
Attention is given to the paintwork on the smoke box ring as the smoke box will shortly be removed to re-unite it with the boiler.

Saturday, 26th October 2013 - Tyseley



                                           Brake Gear


The brake pull rods, buckle links and compensating gear are made ready for installing beneath the locomotive. This proved to be a frustrating task and remains to be completed

                                        Other Tasks

 
Dinmore Manor's 4 wheel buffet car!!

 
Inside the tent, attention is given to the cab sides as David returns to his duties

 
With a Tyseley Open Day on the Sunday, some improvisation was made to secure the smoke box door as the fittings were not yet in place.
 

                  Success as the smoke box door is closed and secured and the lance cock fitted

Tuesday, 22 October 2013

 
Small but essential items
 
 
The oil trimmings for the numerous oil reservoirs which lubricate the moving parts of the                    locomotive have be made in readiness for fitting

 
As the return of the boiler is imminent, attention has turned to cleaning the boiler expansion frame plates

 
A missing section of vacuum pipe has been located, inspected, cleaned and painted

 
The cab roof has been removed to facilitate fitting of the boiler and firebox and an opportunity taken to clean and paint it

 
Plating at the front end of the locomotive and over the steam chest has been finally secured in position

 
Cladding has been refitted to the rear of the cylinder casting


 
and to the front end
 
The Chassis
 
 
New wear pads have been welded to the brake beams in readiness for undertaking the last major job on the chassis - fitting the brake gear

 
The intermediate driving wheel brake beam has been fitted to the brake hanger and the safety chains fitted


 
and the rear brake beam has been similarly fitted. Pull rods, compensating links and barrel adjusters now need to be fitted before the brake blocks are attached.