16th March 2014 - Toddington

                                                       ALL STEAMED UP

 

     The tender of 9017 has arrived at Toddington and is receiving

 some attention both internally and externally

 

  7820 is still paired with the Hawksworth tender and is in light steam

      as attention is focussed on the lubrication system in readiness for her first

 move under her own power

                            Having lifted the engine to the correct height above rail level by
                            adjusting the spring hanger bolts, the crucial task of weighing
                                                       each axle load is undertaken

 

       With volunteers crawling all over the engine and underneath,

          jacks under the buffer beam and in light steam, quite correctly

       the lamp bracket carries the warning instruction to all that

she is NOT TO BE MOVED

                               Finally, late on Saturday afternoon in the fading light and with
                               cylinder cocks open, she moves triumphantly along the yard under
                              her own power after nearly 10 years of storage and restoration.
                                                   Some finishing work is required but
                                              DINMORE MANOR is alive and kicking!!!

7th to 9th March 2014 - Toddington

                                                     INSURANCE STEAM TEST

 

 On Friday, paired with a Hawksworth tender kindly loaned by the

 7903 group, 7820 is prepared for her steam test

 

Steam up and blowing off

 

 

Final setting of the safety valves is undertaken during the steam test

 

  Measurements for the spacer tubes on the safety valves

 can now be taken, manufactured and fitted once the

steam test is complete

 

 

With the gauge at 225 p.s.i., 7820 passes her steam test with flying colours

 

 

         On Saturday, 7820 stands in the sunshine in the company of 5542.

        Running plating is being refitted whilst final setting of the

 piston valves is undertaken

 

 

   A new lubrication pipe is manufactured for fitting to the

regulator box inside the smoke box

 

  Steam chest cladding, which should have been fitted prior

   to the boiler being lifted in, has been modified to allow

it to be fitted after installation of the boiler

 

Steam pipe casing is cleaned ready for fitting

 

Steam pipe casing and seat hinges being prepared for fitting

 

 

    Inside the shed, 4270 will join 7820 as part of the GW steam

 fleet whilst work has started on 7903's 10 year overhaul

 

                                 Plenty to do when 7820 is back in service as 2874, one of DML
                               Group's Churchward 2-8-0's, waits its turn in the restoration queue.
                                               So if you are at a loose end for a few years,
                                                           you know where we are!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday, 28th February to Sunday, 2nd March 2014.

 

 

 

                                                             TODDINGTON

 

      7820 is moved into the yard over the inspection pit. in the

             background in red oxide paint is the tender it was hoped to use initially.

                              Backed up to 5542 in readiness to move from the yard to..................

 

the watering facility to have the boiler filled

 

      And finally the tender which it is hoped will run initially

 behind 7820 loaned from 9017

 

 

      Just a pity the engine will not come with the tender as a black Manor

     and black Dukedog double headed would be a sight to behold!! 

22nd February 2014 - Toddington, GW Railway

 

GETTING READY TO STEAM

 

 

   The race is now on to complete 7820 so that it is available to the

  Railway for the Cheltenham Gold Cup Event. Inside the smoke

     box, new ejector and blower pipes are being fashioned and fitted.

 

 

       The safety valve bonnet also requires some repairs and fitting to the

       boiler cladding. The red nameplate is fitted on the fireman's side

whilst the drivers side will have a black background

                                  Sunshine catches the new paintwork of 7820 as she stands
                              amongst the detritus inside Toddingtons covered accommodation.

19th to 22nd February 2014 - On the move

                                                      THE EAGLE HAS LANDED

 

Sunshine blessed the day when 7820 was scheduled to depart from Tyseley and

 pauses for a photo on the turntable

 

The track ramp is in place as 7820 eases gently onto the transporter

 

A winches eye view

                                                          On board the transporter

                                 During the final stages of loading, a problem was discovered
                                   with the transporter requiring the assisting of a mechanic

                                             Darkness fell before the problem was rectified

 

 

The driver ran out of hours on his tacho and 7820 was shunted to spent

another night at Tyseley

 

 

On Thursday 20th February 2014, 7820 arrived at Toddington and was unloaded

 in a brief spell of sunshine

 

 

Out in the yard on Saturday, 22nd February, the fitting of a host of

finishing parts is underway.

 

Tuesday 18th February 2014 - Tyseley

 

READY TO LEAVE

 

 

      7820 stands in the yard at Tyseley ready to make the journey to

 the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway at Toddington

Friday & Saturday, 14th & 15th February 2014 - Tyseley Locomotive Works

 

                                                             IN THE WORKS

 

On the final weekend at Tyseley, members of the working party continue fitting the multitude of pipes, fittings and plating to the cab

                               In her new unlined black livery, 7820 is prepared to leave Tyseley
                                                                  for her new home

 

Final fitting out and steam testing will take place on the G-W

railway after which final lagging of steam pipes and covers

will be undertaken 

 

 

Smoke box door fitted, cab windows being installed - nearly ready to depart

 

                    Some of the working party members, without whose tireless efforts
                     weekend after weekend 7820 would not have reached this point in her
                    overhaul, gather in front of the engine with smiles all round.
                   Thanks also go to the staff of Tyseley Locomotive Works whose
                   friendship over the past months will be sorely missed.