Engineering notes

By Tony Massau

82045 is now back at Bridgnorth following a visit to the NEC at Birmingham where it was the star exhibit at the Warley Model Railway Exhibition attracting a lot of interest. Quite a lot of work went into preparing the loco beforehand with various parts added and much touching up of paintwork. Following the fitment of the water tanks the footplating around the smokebox was re-fitted followed by both mechanical lubricators, the atomisers and pipework. The chimney has been temporarily secured on top of the smokebox.

Machining work has continued on the piston valve heads and the support mechanism for the fireman's tip up wooden seat. Off site machining work is in progress on the cab window frames.

The sand traps have been fitted to the underside of the sand boxes and a start made on the delivery pipes.

The majority of the transverse stays have been screwed into the outer firebox and the area prepared for fitting the mountings for the water level gauge frames.