During
January the valve cylinder liners were re-bored. This work was
carried out by Tyseley, and they did a similar job on Dinmore Manor
at the same time. This is work that was to be part of the heavy
general in a year or so, meaning it won't now need to be done as part
of that overhaul. Of course one implication is that some of the
valve parts need to be replaced to suit the new cylinder dimensions.
 |
| C=cutter, S=screw thread |
The
reason for the slight delay to the start of our season was not so
much the amount of work, but the availability of parts. Or rather,
the non-availability of parts. Mainly the new piston rings and parts
for the valve assemblies. The problem seems to have been that
Tyseley couldn't get hold of the correct grade of material and so
they couldn't manufacture the parts. The main cylinder piston rings
were collected from Tyseley mid-February, and the valve parts on 8th
March.
 |
| Main piston re-fitted with new rings |
 |
| Valve piston rings |
While
waiting for these to come through, the team worked on the injectors,
cab fittings, clack valves, whistles, drain cocks, and more. And
between times, painting loco, tender, and of course boot scrapers.
It
was very pleasing though that after working on so much around the
pistons and valve gear, plus the other parts, 2807 went on a test run
to Cheltenham and back on Friday the 22nd
and was declared fit to run service trains the next day. So that bit
did go very much according to plan, just a few weeks adrift of the
intended timescale.
I
also want to mention that Stuart will be running our “2807 Grand
Draw” again this year. Tickets
are £1 each and
will
be available from him either at railway events or
direct (email
stu_farrimond@ hotmail.com). First prize is cash equivalent to 28.7%
of the value of tickets sold, second is a bespoke conversion of a
Hornby GWR 28xx into No. 2807, plus a number of other prizes. The
draw will take place on Tuesday 12th
November.
Steve
