Tube plate to smokebox.

The remaining parts have been delivered from Israel Newton & Sons Ltd, riveting the smokebox front to the wrapper has been completed, along with the strengthening rings, and all the rivets are being ground flush. The front bracket has been trial fitted ready to be secured to the cylinder block, and the doubling plates riveted in place. To allow a trial fitting of the smokebox/tube plate it was secured in place by one bolt and some threaded rods.Two brackets to attach the tube plate to No 9 has been sourced, cut to size and drilled.  More drilling and riveting to follow. Thanks once more to all who help in her return to steam!

 

2nd delivery from Israel Newton & Sons Ltd

Front bracket attached for a trial fit. Bolted to cylinder block & smokebox front.

 

LH doubling plate getting riveted. 

Smokebox riveted! Superb work by Nathan & Doug Paul.

Dart bracket riveted - flat both sides.

Rivets being ground down on face. Jamback on chair.

Front tube plate in wrapper. Secured for a lift to the engine. See next photo.

Threaded rods securing the lower part.

Raising the smokebox/tube plate.

Trial fitting.

Front tube plate bracket measured - ready to be plasma cut.

Angle iron we cut from length and in half with many cutting discs!

Smokebox assembly.

 A long post this time - but a lot completed. We are still waiting for the remaining parts from Israel Newton & sons Ltd (due to carrier issues) but lots of things are needing done before they arrive. The boiler barrel has been brought into the Shed on 1 road and Benny McInnes has been working on it. The smokebox front has had the 2 strengthening rings bolted on and that, and the wrapper. have been bolted together, and the holes countersunk for riveting. The doubling plates (smokebox side stiffeners) are now on (we found a plug from the Rotabroach drilling lodged between them - removed!). The saddle tank was inverted and filled with water and a small hole was discovered which has been patched. The rest still to be grit blasted - awaiting dry weather when we are on Shed! On Saturday 10th October the smokebox was trial fitted to No 9, and after some fettling is sitting nicely in place. The front bracket has been drilled to accommodate the bolts to the cylinder block casting. Steady and visible progress being made.

Both strengthening rings on smokebox plate. Door hinges on temporarily.

 

Firebox stored in wagon for the time being.

Holes drilled and bolted wrapper to front plate.

Rotabroach comes into its own on curve!

 LH doubling plate (smokebox side stiffener) clamped and partially bolted.

Boiler barrel on 1 road. Benny doing some remedial welding.

Barrel braced.

Benny's weld.

RH side of smokebox - all ready for riveting.

Trial fitting - nicely done!

Smokebox trial fitted. Front bracket can be seen and dart brackets. See next photo.

Front bracket - 5 holes drilled.

I'll not wait so long until the next posting! Again thanks to all who help in her restoration.

Grit blasting, protection and Christmas arrives early!

John Bratchell-Hunt sealed the footplate ends of the tank and blanking plates were made to cover the injector and balancing pipe openings to stop grit entering. The underside of the saddle tank was grit blasted on the 27th of August and moved indoors to 4 road.  2 coats of primer, 1 of grey undercoat and a finish top coat of gloss black was applied over the next 3 weeks to protect it. The rest of the tank will be done as soon as possible depending on the weather. Alan worked on making the ejector pipe assemblage which is taking a new path into the smokebox. The left-hand step had been bent during the inverting of the tank and was returned to its original position with some heat. 

Then this week (w/c 7th September) Santa made an early Christmas delivery with some parts for us to assemble! Firebox, smokebox, foundation ring etc.

LH plate back on with blanking plate.

 Nick grit blasting.

Underside of tank grit blasted.

1st coat of primer.

Finish top coat in black!

 

Alan soldering part of the ejector pipe. 

Part of the ejector pipe under the running board.

Left had step.

Christmas has come early!

 

Does what it says on the steel!

No 9's new firebox.

Another view of firebox.

Smokebox next to No 9.

Door blast plate and rings.

The tank will be turned over and grit blasted when the weather allows. It will be filled to check it is water tight. As soon as the other parts arrive I will post another update.  

 

Wash-out, new baffle plates etc

Having removed all the old corroded baffle plates Tyler replaced them with new and, making sure all the tools were removed, the tank was given a thorough wash-out. The water ran clear through the water inlet and, to make sure, another wash-out was done. Wooden blanks were made to cover the equalising/balancing pipe holes and the injector ones, to stop any grit getting into the tank when it is blasted. John Bratchell-Hunt is welding the replacement ends back in, along with the bracket to attach the tank to the cab. The last rod was attached to the radius link and an oil pot for the piston glands was given a coat of 20C40. The chimney will need some attention, including welding in a broken piece, and Nick cut off the bolts and drilled a centre pilot hole so that Nathan can burn them out.

 

Water running clear.

New baffle plates in. Thanks Tyler.

RH bracket and opening welded back in place. 

LH opening partly in place. Bracket still to go on.

Blanking plate on injector valve.

Blanking plate on balancing pipe.

All rods attached to radius links.

Oil pot for piston glands in 20C40!

Nick drilling the bolts on the chimney. The piece needing repaired is by Nick's left knee.

Watching the weather now for a dry spell to grit blast the tank - and quickly prime and protect it!

Removal of old baffles & clearing out of detritus!

To facilitate work on the inside of the saddle tank the footplate ends were partially removed. These were corroded where the water is fed to the boiler and were needing replaced. New plates have been fabricated and will be welded back into place. This allowed Tyler Playfair to gain entry and has completed the removal of the old baffles and cleaned the rusted detritus from the tank. This was a great effort by the only human on site that could access the innards, being small, agile and fit enough for the task. An extractor fan provided fresh air at all times. I did get into the tank but was unable to even turn over! Hoovering removed the detritus from the water point on the bottom/top of the tank. The baffles, which were rusted and corroded, were removed and will be replaced with new one. We did discover one hidden baffle on the top which Nathan passed as acceptable on seeing photos. Shot blasting the tank is what is required now - weather permitting.

LH side cut out. This is of course upside down! Access now possible.

 

RH side with Tyler ready for work. 

One of the 6 baffles that were removed.

Extractor fan providing fresh air. Another baffle gone. 

Some of the detritus being hoovered via the water inlet.

The hidden baffle at the top of the tank.

All 6 new baffle plate primed.

Alan preparing the new tank end.

Where the detritus was pushed out - the water inlet.

                                               

A tight fit on the last baffle on the RH side!

 

Tyler 1 - tank 0!