I spent a couple of hours in the Container applying primer coat to rail chairs: 3 red; 3 black and 5 green. Hunting for a 1946 chair at Winchcombe (for an order), I discovered two from December 1946, plus a January 1947; and two GNR chairs from 1913!
Wednesday 7th
John G arrived earlier than usual because he had to leave early. He was in the thick of applying enamel paint to my Monday’s work. By the time he had to leave, he had enamelled all 11 chairs plus a couple of black bottoms. I continued with cleaning up rail chairs, but only managed five today.
A couple of weeks ago, Bruce had discovered tell-tale signs of (red) grease having been applied to the piston valve front lubrication points. The lubrication feeds the front end of the valve rods, which we had previously found are subject to wear. So, the lubrication idea was ours. However, there is hot steam inside the valves, and ordinary oil or grease may break down under the temperature and pressure; so steam oil should be used. Someone (presumably a driver when oiling up one morning) had spotted the nipples and assume grease should be applied. So, I made some little stickers to remind drivers that steam oil should be used!
Bruce began the day by fixing up our new washing facility. The hosepipe and tap (formerly used inside the TPO) has been rigged up outside of the van that we are camping in, to save a walk down the track to the nearest standpipe. Anyway, the water out of said standpipe comes out a worrying shade of brown!
Most of the day, Bruce (aided by Gilbert) was preparing 2807 for her journey North. They disconnected the hoses between loco and tender, and then took the pins out of two of the three linkages between loco and tender. To do this necessitates lifting the cab floor; reaching into the dark abyss beneath it; and grasping for something long, round, thin and heavy.
We were asked to drain most of the water out of the tender, but to leave water in the boiler. When 2807 is off-loaded at NYMR, she needs to have a fire lit and steam raised, to be able to move under her own steam up to Grosmont. The facilities at the loading point do not include the ability to load coal, and I’m not sure what the watering facilities are like, either.
As we had expected to demonstrate a steaming test here last week, coal had been loaded and water topped up. Bruce rigged up a pallet across the tender to prevent coal from escaping during the climb onto/off the lorry.
Ray popped in to say “Hello”. He and Bill had spent the day working on the last set of louvers on the siphon. Over time, they have had nails driven in (who knows what for!) which were extracted. The wood was then sanded and prepared for painting. The siphon has been returned to its usual place in the siding at Winchcombe, but as soon as a slot is available, it will go back into the “barn” (Carriage & Wagon) for the second bogey to be inspected, cleaned up and painted. Ray said that the first bogey looks really smart!
Thursday 8th
I spent a couple of hours at Todders painting the lettering on boot scrapers. The lighting in the container is not good; difficult to pick out the embossed lettering & dates. Also, dust had made a mess of the paint job on one rail chair. Not overly happy about the situation.
Saturday 10th
Report from John T:
“Gil, Brian & John T were making the final preparations for 2807 to be loaded for transport to NYMR, including providing lamps, and removing fixing nuts from the pony truck pivot cover (policeman's helmet). Aide S. [Loco Dept] wrapped up and placed in the cab the refractory bricks of the final 3 rows of the brick arch (being sent just in case). Alex & Ian (Steam Dept) were doing a good job on the final cleaning of the loco.
Later, Brian & John cut 10 pieces of spare lighting-up timber to repair the large Panther. The Panther was in fairly constant use, so that they were unable to replace the damaged plywood with these new planks.
John primed 3 railchairs and painted 2 bottoms.
The engine was shunted onto the loading line, awaiting final uncoupling and moving to the car park for Monday morning loading on to transport, hopefully avoiding the new rail delivery scheduled for Monday afternoon.”
Monday 12th
I arrived at Todders at 9 am, expecting to see a hive of activity … no, I was the first one there! I had planned to finish the current boot scrapers off ready to restock the shops, so I was able to get on with that. Carpo arrived, equally surprised at the lack of activity. He fired up the diesel shunter and rolled loco and tender into the car park.
Bruce came, too. Three surprised people! Bruce (and also Danny [Loco Dept]) assisted in shunting the loco out and splitting loco and tender.
Rather than do nothing, Bruce cleaned coal dust off the tender, where it falls down between loco and tender and collects amid a certain amount of grime, largely out of sight … except when the loco and tender are split.
We had a cup of tea. Neil Carr contacted Allely’s. They were just setting off … at half past eleven! As it was my two-year old grandson’s birthday, I had not planned on staying for long anyway, so at 12.00 Bruce and I signed off!
Bruce cleaned off a barrow full of slack and bucket full of lumps!
There are three links that connect loco to tender. The centre one is the main one, and there are one either side of this.
The last time 2807 went to NYMR, someone up there didn’t get the link lined up in the hole. It is possible to get the link to sit to the side of the hole through which the pin drops. Then the link is not effective, but worse: when the loco takes a curve, the link jams between frame and pin, and bends!
We have a potential solution, but have had no time to implement it.
Outstanding Issues. 2807 went North with the following unresolved reported issues:
15: Tender rear RH brake grease nipple loose. {The thread has “gone” - winter maintenance job}
31: J cocks stuck {Don’t know which J cocks this refers to, so have ignored it for now}
34: Balance weights rivets loose on LH driver, LH trailing driver, RH driving wheel. {Deferred to winter maintenance; not in danger of flying off!}
37: Tender brakes dragging rear two axles. {New brake blocks wearing in; No adjustment on individual axles}
41: Top valve on gauge frame blowing. {We are not allowed to fix this - only the Boiler Responsible Person can [authorise someone to] do it.}
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| Lonesome tender! Awaiting arrival of Allely’s |
Roger
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