Starting with the boiler, TSLL recently received the estimate for all the additional boiler repairs from our contractor Leaky Finders (LF). As expected, the figure for the repairs is high, but we are still not able to go public with the costs yet, as the TSLL team are still in discussions with LF trying to ensure that the estimate is competitive and covers absolutely everything. The amount of time being put into this by our team cannot be underestimated, rest assured we are working hard to ensure our fantastic shareholders investments are maximised and wisely spent. As soon as we have agreement about the discussions and a definitive cost we will let you know.
The copper sheet purchased for the new firebox sides and door plate have been independently analysed to ensure the material contains the correct amount of Phosphorus and Arsenic before any labour costs are spent fitting it into the boiler. I’m pleased to say everything is within specification so work can now progress. Thanks must go to supporter Paul Harvey for arranging this. Whilst the additional works were in the process of being costed, Leaky Finders have been ticking away with works in several areas. The new front tubeplate has had the smoke tube holes drilled and reamed and the flue tube holes are about to be machined to size.
New stays are being fitted into the side sheets above the line of the replacement platework, this will support the remaining platework ready for the welding of the replacement sections. The new throatplate section has been cut to size and has been test fitted on the boiler.
At LMS the new injector water feed elbows which connect the flexible water hoses from the tender to the locomotive under the cab floor have been completed.
Other significant progress has been with the tender wheelsets which TSLL purchased from the Bluebell Railway. The new taper roller bearings have been pressed onto the axles and the refurbished axle boxes refitted. The completed wheelsets have now been delivered to Toddington for storage until we have a set of frames to fit them to.
At Loughborough our team of volunteers continue with the cylinder cladding, attention has now turned to the LHS rear valve chest cover, which fits around the valve spindle guide. Once this is completed then the RHS cylinder can be started using the LHS as a pattern. The sand boxes kindly welded together by Rob Garwood and painted by Rob Southwell have been fitted to the frames. The sand traps can now be fitted to the bottom of the sandboxes and then the pipework shaped to feed the sand down to the sand ejectors by the wheels.
At Toddington Rob Garwood has turned his attention to welding the sand box filler pipes and lids, which can then be painted and fitted onto the loco. Our other volunteers have fabricated a bracket to support the SSJ vacuum ejector on the smokebox, along with another supporting the ejector duplex steam valve which sits just in front of the cab on the driver’s side of the boiler. The ladder for the rear of the tender has also been completed. Several smaller parts such as pipe clips have been produced, just some of the hundreds of unseen but essential parts we need to make for the locomotive.
Words and Pictures: Andrew Meredith – TSLL Engineering director