September Update

Monday, 5th September, 2022

After being withdrawn from running in the very hot weather, due to lineside fire risk, our loco 80097 is now back out on regular roster with the ELR. Whilst she was back in the loco shed, Alan and Matt gave the boiler a washout to clear any residue from the new steel boiler tubes. John, Peter and Jimmy have given her a good clean up. Last weekend a gasket was replaced on the fireman’s side injector and 80097 was back on roster on Saturday.

We are still running our ‘Sponsor A Tube Appeal’ following the replacement of the small tubes in 80097’s boiler and to date we have had 91 out of the 157 tubes sponsored. If you would like to contribute please see the ‘Donate and Sponsor’ section in the ‘Shop’ page of this website. A sincere thank you to all our Supporters who have contributed to this appeal.

Meanwhile work has continued on our Ivatt loco in and around the BS4G workshop.

The gantry crane has been overhauled, had a weather cover fitted and been passed by the crane inspector. It has been used to lift the new smokebox in preparation for the door frame to be drilled and fitted. Nigel and Dave have been making rivets for this as it’s cheaper than buying them.

The old smokebox has had its rivets ground down so that they can be drilled out and the smokebox removed. Jude, Alan, Ian and Derek have been working on this.

It is planned to start the new cab assembly and a space has been cleared outside the workshop by Callum and the team and scaffolding tubes for a welding frame prepared.

Inside – the buffer beam riveting has been completed and the beam primed with the buffers replaced by Dave and Nigel.

New cab steps are being made with Stuart fabricating the step hangers and he and David cutting the step plates and grinding them ready for bending. Bob has been priming the cab steelwork ready for welding and assembly.

Mark has painted the refurbished sander boxes. Derek has cleaned up the reverser mechanism, which has now been primed and oiled. Gary has continued to turn down the new draw bar pins.

Away from the workshop – recently a Class 33 diesel loco suffered a breakdown as it came into Bury Bolton Street station and Nigel and the Standard 4 team were able to repair a broken break pipe union and the loco continued on its roster.

There is an old L & Y signal in the Museum yard that was donated to the railway by the late Mr George Barnes. This needed some repairs and Nigel and Bob went and fixed it.

Always something to do – fancy joining in ??

Photos are:

New Ivatt buffer beam

Grinding off the old smokebox revets

Forging new smokebox rivets