Smoke box & saddle tank

Nathan wanted to trial fit the smoke box and the saddle tank to Austerity No 9 (Works No 7097) to check that everything was still in order for further work to continue on them. On the 1st of June we moved No 9 down to the bottom yard with the smoke box already in situ to where the tank had already been placed. Nathan manoeuvred the tank into place using the tele-handler and we transported No 9 back into the Shed. Some adjustment was required by Alan, using a small jemmy, to site the front end of the tank onto the studs. The LH bracket is not true and needs straightening but the RH one accepted the 6 bolts. Further investigation and work will now take place.   

 

Smoke box ready.

 

 

The saddle tank being positioned by Nathan.

 

No 9 back in the Shed.

Saddle tank down on studs!

Alan taking a bow! Jemmy resting!

Tank settled on smoke box. As Brian W commented - 
"It's a long punt to the end" 

6 bolts on RH side in place. 
 

Driver's view - something to look forward to!

                                                                

Boiler barrel angle ring, vacuum and steam heating pipework & plates.

 In the last 6 weeks the work has concentrated on vacuum and steam heating pipe connections. But a big move forward for a new part was the drilling and countersinking of the boiler barrel angle ring by Nathan - we had to check on the old one how many holes - 88. Excellent work. The vacuum & steam heating pipework around the rear sand boxes has been completed. The vacuum was taken between the sand pipe and the step avoiding the sanding rod and lever - we duplicated the steam heating on the right-hand side. The makers plates that had to be levelled, and the registration plates, are now back on No 9. The lining with Ruston gloss paint was done away from the Shed allowing "dedicated concentration" on each of the raise figures & letters in a clean and dry area - kitchen table! On the 21st May we rescued the injector pipes from the wagon and attached them temporarily. Steady progress with lots more connectios to make!

Boiler barrel angle ring drilled & countersunk.

New route for front vacuum.

Vacuum pipe into cab. X marks the spot we were going to take it up.

RH side - vacuum into cab.

Homework on kitchen table. Peace & quiet - cuppa close by!
 

Plates re-united with No 9.

Steam heating pipe in 20C40 midnight blue. Impossible to paint when in place.

Accessing the cab and avoiding the sanding gear. 

 

              A view of the steam heating pipe avoiding the sand lever & rods.

Front vacuum & steam heating bags.

 

Rear vacuum & steam heating bags.

Vacuum below - steam heating above in 20C40.

Injector pipes in place - temporarily.

Another view of injector with overflow pipe.

 

Injector pipes in cab. Steam heating one on the right. Other pipe on floor.

3 weeks of variety! More vacuum, assessing old and drilling new, and resinating stuff!

 Vacuum pipework has continued and the process of achieving it is thoughtful to say the least! We are still working on the route under the running board weaving our way past steps, sand box, injector pipes etc.The sanding box levers and handles have been partially fitted and painted and the rods are also in place. Other work has seen the old boiler barrel angle ring heated to measure the expansion and the marking out and drilling of the new one. The makers plates have had a layer of resin poured onto the back and now have a flat surface for fitting to the cabside. Highlighting the lettering and borders is ongoing - with Ruston gloss paint. I tried with Humbrol and it was too runny - filled between the letters! The ejector has been mounted on a plate - its final position has still to be decided. 

Alan aligning the elbows at each end of the pipe.

Threaded pipe and checking elbow.

Vacuum pipework under front right.

Testing the vacuum on 26th March. This will be done for each section rather than for the entire pipe.

Nathan has marked out all 88 holes on the boiler barrel angle ring for drilling.

Nathan countersinking the rivet holes.

 

  

Right hand sanding box handle.

And in finished black along with the left one drying.

 

Rear of the makers plates - a dam built and resin poured in. A level playing surface!

Painted and ready for highlighting.

First coat of "Buttercup" to lettering.

Ejector mounted on plate.

And finally for this Blog- on a cold snowy Easter Sunday - some heating on the old boiler barrel angle ring to measure expansion!

Bunker Blue, plates, rods, pipework & a moving No 9!

 A 1st coat of 20C40 Midnight has been applied to the bunker by Brian Warrender. The RS&H Ltd makers plates and the Railway Executive registration ones have been trial fitted. The makers plates are bowed in both directions and will have resin attached to the back to allow their attachment. Otherwise a sharp crack would be heard! Milling would make them too thin.The sanding box rods have been made to facilitate the operation of both back and front boxes and new brackets have been made to support the vacuum pipework under the running board - this will mostly conceal it. And No 9 was moved briefly on Thursday 12th March for the first time since 2018/19 when her dismantling started. This was on 2 road for a matter of a few metres each way to make sure everything was doing what it was supposed too! Nathan was pleased and all was good. Another big milestone in her restoration. 

The Blue bunker!

Makers & RE registration plates trial.

 

Sanding box rods.

 

New bracket for vacuum pipework.

2 videos of No 9 being moved by the Vanguard on 2 road to make sure everything is movng correctly. 2nd video courtesy of Nick Thompson.

                                       

More pipework, windows and others!

 Again a busy few days and more to come! The vacuum pipework continues on the front and rear buffer beam. Nick discovered in the Mag drill box 2 hooks which fit onto the side to support it. Life is so much easier! Problem with the sealant on the window, and new parts for the injectors. The boiler barrel angle ring has arrived from South Africa and a delivery of other large items are due this month from Israel Newton & Sons. A new steel firebox has been ordered, along with the outer wrapper.

Various vacuum pipework in grey undercoat.

Alan drilling holes for the bracket studs.

Holes being tapped for studs.

Pipe and bag for photo!
 

Windows re-sealed. The sealant that Martin had put on did not harden - it needed removing. 

2 injector water valves - new one on right.

LH injector handle and shaft in place.

Bottom of same - handle on injector. 

And finally for this Blog the Boiler Barrel Angle Ring awaiting attention.

 

 

Guard irons, vacuum brake and steam pipework.

 4 new guard irons have been sourced and alterations made. Some 3.5" had to be cut off to make them fit and the holes reamed to the correct size. All were primed, and fitted to No 9 and given a coat of midnight blue. It is nigh impossible to tell from old photos what colour they were but the consensus is - blue! They wouldn't stay that colour for very long working at a colliery. The vacuum pipework was retrieved from the wagon and grit blasted and primed. The long pipes may need to be replaced. Brackets have been made to support the pipes. Next job is the fitting.

 

4 new guard irons primed.

Cutting 3.5" of to fit on No 9.

 

Squared edge shaped.

 

On in midnight blue!

The vacuum pipework cleaned, grit blasted and primed awaiting further attention. 4 new brackets have ben formed.

Some of the pipework primed.

Nick applying heat to form the bracket.

2 partially formed brackets - and an original.

The jig that Alan made to form the new brackets. Applying heat to bend the fixing points round.

Brackets undercoated.