Engineering notes

The manganese liner work on the axleboxes for the coupled wheels continues.

The cab door on the fireman’s side of the loco has been fitted with the one for the driver’s side close to being fitted.

The pattern equipment for the crossheads has been borrowed from the Bury Standard Four Group at the East Lancashire Railway for which we are very grateful and a quotation for casting is expected shortly. An order has been placed with Stephenson Engineering at Atherton for forging the slide bars.

Reaming of the bolt holes in the left hand cylinder by the method described last month has taken place. The pictures accompanying these notes show the procedure once the right hand cylinder was removed out of the way. The right hand cylinder will now be refitted and the left hand one removed to allow reaming of the bolt holes in the right hand cylinder. Once all the reaming is completed and all holes and joint faces thoroughly cleaned fitted bolts will be made and installed.

Publicity

We've been quiet on the publicity front recently, but no worries: everything is sizzling along nicely, and 82045 should be starting to make the headlines again in the near future. Watch this space!

Waterloo Sunset

Tickets for Paul Anderson's memorial train are going steadily. We need to sell 80 in order to run it, and our shut-off date for taking the final decision is 1st August. Please let Barbara know if you'd like to come along on 6th October for a relaxed day out, we hope in mellow early autumn weather (if that's not tempting providence!). One of the two full-length footplate rides has been sold, the other is still available at £250. Again, please get in touch with Barbara.

All proceeds from the special will go to the 82045 Future Fund: we believe in self-help and in being as independent as possible for as long as possible, so if you'd like to help kick-start the Fund, please come along. You don't have to be a member of the Trust, and there will be no attempts at hard selling on the day. Tickets are £30, sae please with your cheque made out to The 82045 Steam Locomotive Trust.

Annual draw winner

The winner of our annual draw to win a footplate ride was David Allen who joined Tony Massau and Oliver Huxley on board Erlestoke Manor earlier this month. David had a brilliant day – even the weather was kind! The photo shows David on board.