Focus on things underneath!!!

The team have been connecting the leavers to the ash pan doors. Its difficult to get detailed pictures but here are a few including a view looking at the front of the ash pan as well as the new extension to the back. We have also added a modification to help with ashing out when the loco is in operation

Is that the Chairman actually onsite getting his hands dirty!! YES this is yours truly.

Work is also underway to reconnect the rear sanders. The bar that connects the LHS and RHS was put in place and found to be the wrong way around! This has been corrected and will need further fettling so it clears the blow down valve and damper door mechanism.

The focus is on getting the boiler ready for the in frame steam test but as is the way with locomotives lots have things need to be in the correct place! So its key we have all the correct things connected to the boiler for this upcoming pressure test, i.e Blow down valve!

Fettling to the pipping in the smoke box. Here you can see work on the blower pipping

More test fitting of the J valve covers for the hydrostatic lubrication pipes. With new front barrel section and smoke box these need some re work to enable them to fit.

We are getting close to the in frame steam test and then the initial locomotives moves!! Keeping watching here for further news!!

More happening everyday

I am struggling to keep up with progress at Toddington!

The work in the cab keeps on!

Items continued to be added to the back head and the reverser cladding and drivers seat are now in place

The clack vales have been lapped and fitted!

Work continues at the front of the loco.

Superheater header in place, steam feed pipes being test fitted, various valves fitted to the outside of the smoke box.

Also some the the super heater elements have been fitted 

We are getting closer to the in frame steam test and loco moves!!! Keep watching!!!

Further Pressure Testing and Cladding Prep

More great progress on the HGO!

The team have been creating kit to pressure test the steam deliver pipes in the smoke box. These connect from the Superheater Head and then to the outside steam feed pipes. These all need to be hydraulically tested before the final fitting.

Fitting of the new smoke box to the boiler is progress well

More cladding is being prepped in readiness for a major step forward when the boiler has insulation fitted and the cladding put of the top!! We are about two thirds through this prep.

Next few pictures are of the loco on shed at the GWSR with 3850 of the Dinmore Group in front of our 2800 waiting for its Boiler return. 

The Back Head is taking shape!! Yes someone is in the firebox!!! They are drilling holes for the ash pan sprinkler systems, they got missed before the ash pan was attached to the bottom of the firebox. 

While this person is in the firebox another from the team remains on the footplate to keep watch and check on them.......

Early July Progress

The CSPL HGO team is working almost every day to progress work on the Loco and Tender.

Test fitting the hydrostatic lubricator to the back head. Various pipes need to be adjusted and fitted within the cab and the pipes that run the length of the boiler to steam feed pipes in the smoke box

Once the test fitting was competed the hydrostatic lubricator was removed, this will now be dismantled and thoroughly checked and tested.

All the back head cladding was then removed, insulation placed between it and the boiler, and all then put back in place.

The Smoke box door has been needle gunned to remove any old paint and rust, this was then primed to be painted at a later date

The various connecting pipes have been put in place between the tender and the main loco frames

June milestones!!

Work continues at Toddington on various areas of the of the loco

Following are some recent pictures of progress

Prep work on the loco tender in readiness for a new top coat of paint.

This is a loan tender from GWR Collet 3205. I will detail the need for a loan tender in another post soon

All the crinolines have been fitted but still need some adjustments

Loco getting some sunshine on the 1st July. The team are cleaning the outside of the new smoke box in readiness for heat resistant paint

 

The new super Heater Header being fitted to the New Smoke Box. you can also see that the regulator box has been fitted, the front has been removed to allow for adjustments and fine turning.

  

Now we have access back to the BLOG I can update you all on the latest new from CSPL.

Earlier this year our boiler was hydraulic and steam tested at Ian Riley's following the refurb completed by them over the last couple of years.

From the following pictures and words you will see that the main boiler and new ash pan have been put back in the frames.

Boiler being lifted and spun 180 degrees. The new ash pan is then placed under the fire box to be attached

The boiler is then lifted again and the loco frames placed under the boiler 

The boiler is then gently lowered into the frames

 

Note that the front of the boiler barrel is resting on timbers so that the smokebox can be fitted in the next few weeks.

So there you have it at last: boiler in the frames and the whole ensemble being shunted back onto shed.

The following pictures are the regulator box being fitted by the team from Riley's after being recently machined to fit to the new Smoke box tube plate. Opportunity was taken the machine the face plate and front as well as the cone faces for the steam feed pipes.

I will write some further reports of the work that is taking place on the frames and tender........

Regards

Brian Gamlin - Director and Chairman

Sorry I have been away for a long time, there has been access issues to create new updates. This is now resolved and I will post some news very very soon

Brian Gamlin

Chairman and Director

Cotswold Steam Preservation Ltd