Bunker & white metalling.

 Another "NEW Big" move forward for No 9. The bunker arrived from Northern Fabricators Ltd in Elgin and was moved into position. To facilitate lifting John Bratchell-Hunt welded a length of square bar on (which was part of the delivery) and a trial fitting took place. A success. The bunker was primed and undercoated to protect it before any drilling of holes for the rivets. On Thursday 2nd October they were drilled using the Rotabroach attached to the mag drill. This was supported by the gantry as well as the magnet to help in positioning and safety. A video showing the drilling is on the video section. Counter sinking is next. The riveting can then be done. On the cab side the locker and coal door, original parts, need shot blasting, primed and painted and strenghtening brackets attached to complete the bunker. The last 2 eccentric straps have been white metalled and are now at RPSI for milling. The left hand con rod is now in place.  Thanks to all who are helping in her restoration!

Bunker arrives fron Northern Fabricators Ltd, Elgin

Square bar welded in to facilitate lift.

Nick T hoisting the bunker.

In place and good fit!

View from cab side.

Rotabroach ready.

Holes drilled and bolted.

Left hand con rod and crosshead in place,

Connections!

Lots of parts of No 9 have been put back onto her frame in the last number of days but the big news is that, having taken the con rods off in July 2021, this month we are beginning to put them back in. The right hand one along with the big end and crosshead was connected to the eccentric on 15th September. The left hand one will follow shortly. All 6 springs and hangers are finished. The reverser rod and the cylinder cocks rod are back on. Other items that have found there position on 7097 are the sand pipes, injector bracket and that cottar pin in the rear draw hook! Next is a variety of work involving brakes, bunker, cab roof etc and riveting! Con rods in - a big move forward! Let's start with that cottar pin. 

Rear draw hook with cottar pin fitted.

Right hand trailing axle with spring, hangers & pins.

Right hand cab front undercoated, reverser & cylinder cocks rods attached.

Left had trailing sand pipe.

 

Left hand injector bracket in place. Sand pipe went on after!

Right hand slideblocks, worked on by Nathan.

Right hand con rod & eccentric.

Crosshead & slideblocks in place.

Right hand con rod, slideblocks & crosshead in frame.

A busy 3 weeks for No 9.

 Lots of work on various parts of Austerity No 9! The big end bearings that we white metalled have been machined and are ready. The spring hangers which had given us some problems have been sorted, new bushes made by Alan French and pressed in by Nick Thompson. After a lot of trial fitting the rear draw hook has been put in which has a valute spring - in the past some inter-change has happened on the engine as the front draw hook has a conventional coil spring. Both were originally valute springs. The mechanical lubricator that Alan refurbished (see June 2024 blog) had been put on the running board. The front cab sides that were trial fitted in the last post have been rivetted to the angle iron, the rivets ground flush and primed by Brian Warrender, and will be put back on for good. Only 20 rivets this time! Brian has also been putting the finishing touches to No 9 that have been "scuffed" or missed. This will happen again as parts are put back on. The reverser frame and handle are back in place but need connecting to the other components. A very rewarding and enjoyable 3 weeks! 7097 is coming together.

Big end bearing on lathe.

 

Machined by Nathan.

Some of the spring hangers and bushes.

Alan positioning the bush in the hanger.

Nick pressing the bush into the spring hanger.

Bushes inserted.

Rear draw hook - still to have cottar pin inserted.

Mechanical lubricator - still to be raised & fixed in place.

Cab side rivetted to angle iron.

Rivets ground flush & primed. Brian grinding of the ones on the other cab side. Sparks flying!

The jigsaw puzzle!

The reverser frame & lever.

Coupling rods, handbrake and cab sides.

 After the high of the wheelsets being reunited with the frame work continued on other important parts of 7097. The handbrake handle was fitted on top of the running boards on the left side of the cab and connected to the brake shaft underneath. On the last day of July the coupling rods were trial fitted and all were good. Excellent! They were removed over the weekend of 2nd/3rd August and checked - put back on for good. The two front cab sides, having been restored, were trial fitted to the angles on the cab floor. Nick drilled the holes in the angles with the smaller of the 2 Mag Drills and they fitted well. Both the cab sides and the angles will be removed and rivetted together, much easier to do away from the engine. They will then be bolted to the frame. Another big step forward in No 9's restoration in her 81st year.

 

Nick & Alan admiring the newly installed handbrake!

The handbrake connected to the brake shaft.

LH coupling rods put on. The "Backworth" step was removed to facilitate both the rods being connected with the pin inserted from the back, near impossible to do with the step in place.

RH coupling rods on!

Mag drill, supported both by magnetism and gantry, drilling holes in the angle iron. Photo Nick Thompson.

Both cab sides trial fitted - will be removed along with the angles for rivetting.

Nick's photo - viewed from the front of the frame. 9F 92219 in the background. 

Wheelsets on!

 On the 9th and 10th July 2025, Austerity No 9 (Works no 7097) was reunited with her wheelsets. On Wednesday her frame was moved from 2 road in the Engine Shed to the C&W shed and raised on the jacks with sufficient clearance to allow the wheels to be rolled under. On Thursday the horn guides and brake hangers were oiled and greased.The wheels were delivered by the Plasser & Theurer crane to the doorway and each set rolled under the frame. Lots of checking by Nathan to make sure everything was in the correct position prior to lowering the chassis. Each axle had a person checking to make sure that it correctly slotted into the horn guide. Keith Holyland was in charge of the jacks and the process was completed smoothly. The rolling chassis was then moved back to the Engine Shed, paying particular attention as she rolled over points. One comment was overheard "she's running very smoothly". More work will continue allowing the coupling rods to be attached.  See video page for movements to and from the work. Huge thanks to all involved both on the day and in the preparation. A timelapse video has been added.

The space No 9 has occupied for sometime - empty!

 

Frame raised - bogies and chain pull still in place.

Ready for her wheelsets.

Wheelsets in place. Photo from Nick Thompson.

Nathan checking everything is ready - Shed Dog Nigel checking on Dad!

Down & free of the jacks.

Wheelsets back in place and ready to roll!

Outside C&W.

The crew! Brian Thomson, Nick Thompson, Nathan Lightowler and Nigel, John Bratchell-Hunt, Roddie McRae, Alan French, Keith Holyland, Brian Warrender and Colin Boyd.

Alan French keeping an eye on the movement over points.

Preparation for re-wheeling

 One of the last things that we want to do once the wheelsets are back on No 9 is to paint the frames behind them! This is awkward to say the least and near impossible to do it properly so all frame surfaces and any that face the frames have been given the top coat of midnignt blue. All the steps are ready to go back on and the sandboxes are already on, again with the facing surfaces finished. We also have white metalled the big ends, brake cylinder attached to shaft, primed the original cab sides and put a top coat of signal red on the coupling rods which will go on at the same time as the wheels. Again thanks to all who helped. The next post will hopefully see a running chassis!

Left hand cab side primed.

 

Alan & Nick examining the old bunker angle - to be replaced!

New bunker angle.

Brake cylinder attached to brake shaft.

Left and right leading coupling rods - of course!

Heating the big end bearing so that the new white metal will bond.

Big end bearings white metalled.

Left hand frame with top coat and sandbox. Ready for wheelsets!

2nd coat of signal red on driving coupling rods on the 3rd of July.