A lull in the restoration!

Since the last post in August No 9 has not been forgotten, but due to other duties that the team have been called on to do, she has been returned to the great outdoors. Work continues on parts of the engine and the firebox doors are being constructed, along with the guide runners. As you can see from the photos Alan is getting on with with this.

 The right hand trailing sandbox has still to be formed although the parts have been measured and cut out using the plasma cutter. They await the welder! See photos on 18th July in Clean, build & Protect!

One of the next tasks is to examine the firebox, crown stays, and general state of these. It had been damaged and a dip is obvious in the top of the firebox. This will require the removal of the top of the firebox.

One of the other reasons No 9 has been left out in the cold is the Shed is rather full at the moment, as can be seen from the photos! Apart from the usual stock of locomotives, various lathes, boring machines etc. have been aquired from York and now take up a lot of space. The working areas will be re-arranged to accommodate these. 

Work in cleaning the many parts we have already removed from No 9 will continue throughout the winter and she will be brought back into the Shed when space is allocated to her.

 

 

No 9 still out in the cold!

   

Firebox doors bottom guide rail. As will appear on engine.

 

Firebox doors guide track.

1 & 2 roads full with engines and machinery.

3 & 4 roads full. 46512 to fill gap in 3 road! New arrival - Class 37 drying out!

 

Removing the motion.

In June and July we removed all the parts of the motion including 8 oil pots still in their NCB blue! All parts are in storage ready to be cleaned, repaired or replaced - probably a winter job.

 

Oil pots from motion, still in NCB blue. Injector still has some NCB blue as well!

 

Valve rods disconnected and slide bars where oil pots are located.

LH piston about to be removed.

LH piston removed. Very dry and with some rust on rings.

Before removing the LH piston we slackened the 4" nut on the RH piston. This was achieved by welding a tube to the box spanner.

Eccentric rods.

4 eccentric rods to be removed.

Eccentric rods disconnected.

Eccentric straps for removal.

4 eccentric straps and 1 rod on trolly! Hard work!

The 2 valve connecting rods (centre) and the RH & LH con rods with crossheads on either side.

Both con rods in pit!

 RH & LH big ends and slide bars.

All removed.

Piston valve rods gone along with all other motion.

Cab and saddle tank.

 The cab is in good condition, apart from the hatch, where water ingress has caused rust around the sliding opening. This was completely cut out and is being replaced. A new section has been made and will be welded in place. The windows have been removed and cleaned but the glass will need replaced. The saddle tank is still at the inspection stage but will require some work and a good clean out. The cladding was reuntied with the saddle tank awaiting work.

 

  Saddle tank & cab roof in yard.

 

Cab roof and saddle tank in yard.

Hatch on cab roof cut out. A new section has been made.

 Marking out the template for the new cab roof. Cut out the opening with the plasma cutter.

New cab roof hatch runners both riveted. Stop runner next.

Riveting set-up showing inner cab roof.

Cab roof with hatch in place. Handle still to be fitted.

Cab roof hatch in place. It slides!

Cladding in yard.

Cladding on trolley taken from area where track to new running Shed is being laid. Re-united with the saddle tank!

 

Cleaning cab roof with flap discs to remove old paint and surface rust.

Cleaning up quiet nicely.

The new sliding roof will be inserted here.

A coat of red oxide to start the preservation.

Clean, build and protect!

 The parts of No 9 that are servicable have been cleaned using hot wash and grit blasting with a lot of success. The safety valves in particular have cleaned up well using glass beads which are less abrasive than steel grit. However some parts have had to be renewed, e.g. the ashpan and damper doors and a new sandbox (the original having disappeared!).

Start of new ashpan.

New ashpan being built.

New ashpan.

Ashpan fully protected with red oxide.

Damper doors - front on floor, rear on table.

Combined steam and delivery valve partially blasted with glass beads.

Front and rear safety valves cleaned - glass beads give the brass a satin look to polish.

Filter for water tank.

5mm steel sheet marked out for new RH trailing sandbox.

New RH trailing sandbox parts grit blasted & protected.

3 of the 5 steps protected with grey undercoat. These had to be needle-gunned and some straightening had to be applied.

Reverser frame

 In October 2020, with No 9 finally inside The Shed, the reverser frame and rod were dismantled for inspection and cleaning. The counterweight was secured and we tackled the work. All but 2 of the nuts and bolts needed much persuasion  releasing there grip - this engine has been looked after!

Reverser secured before removing lever and rod.

Reverser frame and lever.

Reverser rod removed - starting on the frame. This engines bolts have been fairly easy to dismantle - kept well lubricated, but not all!

Reverser rod lying on running board.

Reverser lever frame.

Pivot block lying on top of reverser rod.

Just 2 bolts to remove. These bolts were the ones that were not co-operating!

Reverser lever and frame dismantled. The cab floor and side plates had been removed in August as they were well past their sell-by date.