Workshop Update 8th January

Friday, 8th January, 2016

Work has continued over the Christmas and New Year period with some work now being done on the refurbishing of a High Fit wagon.

Magic Andy visited for more main steel steam pipe bending, which is now finished and the pipes stored away. He also guided us in bending copper pipework around the injectors plus the two overflow pipes.

The workshop is being updated with new tool shadow boards being fitted by Nigel and painted by Sharon. These have now been completed with the addition of tools and are in use. Another shadow board has now been installed by Alan, Dan and Nigel.

Allan has started the final assembly of the steam heat valve.

In preparation for the return of the boiler, we have removed all the saddle bolts with the aim of moving the smoke box forward. Phil has removed the front running boards and Harry has removed the smoke box copper pipes.

Allan has continued to extend the threads on the superheater studs.

Phil has completed the water valves and polished them. They are now ready for fitting to the injectors.

Our shop staff have added new sweatshirts, embroidered with the BS4G loco emblem, to their stock. This has now been joined by a new, loco embroidered, baseball cap.

Work is currently under way to replace the drag boxes and buffer beams on a Hyfit wagon. This has involved cutting away the upper sides and torch cutting off the old drag box ends. Replacement  drag boxes and buffer beams are being made out of new steel stock, which have been drilled and profiled. The main beams have now been welded together.

Pictures are:

                             Working on the water valves

                             Cutting off the old wagon drag box - with the new shadow board in the background                             

                             One of the new High Fit wagon drag boxes / buffer beam welded assemblies