Engineering notes

By Tony Massau

The right hand side water tank has been refitted to the loco and the water strainer attached underneath. We do not consider it necessary to remove the left hand side water tank at the present time. The balance pipe which runs under the cab floor connecting both water tanks is temporarily in place for final adjustments before the flanges are welded to the pipe. The cab roof is still on the floor and the opportunity has been taken for a refresh of the paint work.

Firebox work continues and work is in progress on marking out the doubling plate which sits inside the boiler barrel underneath the dome.

Work continues on the front sand pipes and making and fitting the inevitable brackets for supporting various other pipes.

Machining of the carriage warming reducing valve continues.

The regulator valve assembly has been received from Philip Oldfield Engineering.