Engineering notes

By Tony Massau

All the tubes are now in the boiler with nearly all the small tubes expanded. This leaves just the few remaining ones and the large tubes to expand after the Christmas break. A small area on the top of the smokebox between the chimney base and the rear edge is being modified to have a removeable section in order that a crane can be used to lift the superheater header into place. Plans are being formulated to hydraulic test the superheater header.

The slidebars are back in place on the right-hand side of the loco in preparation for aligning them and properly fitting them once our team return after Christmas. Then it will be over to the left-hand side.

Compliments of the season to all our readers.