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.

                                    
 

Bunker progress etc.

 The internal supports for the bunker have been riveted in place, primed and top coated in black. Possibly never to be seen again as 2.3 tons of coal will be covering them! The bunker and cab roof have been given a top finish coat of black (as promised) and the cab has also been given a top finish of black. The riveting on the coal door has been done, along with a straightener/strenghtener. 2 countersunk bolts had to be used at the top on one side as it was impossible to rivet inside the locker.The window frames have been fitted, although the glass will be put in at a later date. New guard irons have been sourced and another job will be the vacuum brake pipework which required making new brackets.

Straightener and support inside bunker.

Wire brushed & primed. Riveting still to do.

Bunker undercoated.

 

 LH straightener in bunker primed.  

Coal door guides riveted. 2 bolt top left replaced with countersunk - locker. 

 

Coal door strenghtener ready for riveting. Done

 

 

Rear window frames.
 

Nick applying black finish in bunker. 

Inside cab black with cream ceiling for light.

 Cab roof in black.

A new handle or knob for one of the rear window frames. Alan's work! 

A separate posting will see the guard irons and vacuum pipe work covered. 

 

 

Cab roof, bunker and window frames.

 On the 5th of January the bunker was lowered into position and the weld area ground clean.The cab roof was then attached and bolted to the bunker allowing the correct positioning for welding the bunker to the cab sides. John Bratchell-Hunt completed the job and primer was applied. The corroded part of the locker had been cut away by Alan and JB-H welded in the replacement. The bottom sheets, initially tack welded to the bunker, were welded, cleaned and primed. Drilling the holes to attach the uprights inside the bunker was tricky as the weld had bowed the top & bottom - a sturdy piece of wood straightened this and the angle irons maintained the structures integrity when the wood was removed. Strentheners will be put in between these and the rear of the bunker, again to stop coal distorting the structure. 3 lamp brackets were attached to the rear of the engine. A raiding party, Alan & Roddie, went in search of window frames and handles etc as they can now be put on. The glass need replacing as it is either cracked, broken, scratched or missing. Lots of riveting comes next!

Weld area ground clean.

 

Bunker & roof attached.

Cab roof on.

McRae & French posing - never!

Bottom sheet tack welded on.

Drilling the angle iron support holes.

The replaced corroded locker base, primed.

3 lamp brackets on rear of bunker.

Windows & glass retrieved from wagon. Glass will be replaced.

Cab roof door handle.

Front left window catch.

Nathan in a snowy tele-handler delivering the bunker.