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Saturday 30th May 2015

Firstly, I must say that I will add some pictures tomorrow, I forgot to bring my "everyday" camera with me today :-(  (here is one of my holiday snaps to be going on with!)

I have now updated this post with some pictures of the activities on Saturday.


Brussels to Zeebrugge train at the juntion with the Blankenberge line

Well, following my trip to study the delights of Northern Belgium I spent the day on Saturday at Sheffield Park. This was not to commemorate the 75th anniversary of my Grandfather comming off the Mole at Dunkirk, but to do something meaningful on the loco!
After uncovering the frames on Saturday Morning, I met with the members of the SECR Society and Southern Railways Group to show then round the restoration of the loco. 



Members of the SECR Society and the Southern Railways Group

They were interested to see the work being carried out on the frames and hearing our plans to replace the rear section of corroded material.  They also saw the cylinders and ballance weight that are awaiting works to refurbish, in the case of the weight or for measurement, in the case of the cylinders.  They were interested to hear the possible cost of the restoration and particulary the cost of the cylinder castings and a new boiler. One of the questions asked was the usual one regarding the livery of the locomotive following restoration! Whilst this is a long way off we do need to have a selection in mind and a "preferred" livery.  Currently the livery, preferred by the restoration team and the Fenchurch Fund, is early Southern lined green with the number A27 on the tank sides. As I have said the livery is a long way off and this is not set in stone!

They also took the opportunity of taking pictures of 178 and 263 from the "wrong side of the fence" whilst they were with us.  They went onto have a talk about the railway from Roger Price before travelling behind the C class 592.

Following their visit, I spent the day wire brushing and chipping rust away on the inside of the right hand frame, to be honest, if you looked at it, you wouldn't notice where I had been! 




Area between the frames after using a chipping hammer and wire brush

 I did have a little excitement using a "wizzy gadget" to burnish the holes in which the fitted bolts were located! Once cleaned to shiney bare metal, the holes were greased for protection until the day comes that they are required to locate the new fitted bolts to hold the new set of cylinders.


Some of the burnished holes



The holes having been "greased up"

The wire brushing, chipping and general cleaning up work will continue for a good while yet, with a good coat or two of quality primer following on for protection. Whilst this is not the most glamorous of jobs, it is vital for a good foundation to a top class restoration.

If you would like to help us in this vital work please E Mail me at thefenchurchfund@gmail.com for further details.  We are always looking of new ways to help pay for the work we are carrying out, so if you have any ideas, please let us know and we will see if we can use them.  The items so far that need paying for include: a set of blast pipe castings, paint and sundries, whilst in the near to medium term we will need to consider how we pay for a set of cylinders and a new boiler!