A major step forward

The November working day

Excellent progress was made on Saturday at the "official" working day on Project 27.  A band of 7 of us were on site on Saturday (Matt, Ben, Sean, Ruben, Russ, Jim and Clive).  The day started with grinding yet more mill scale off the last frame surface, and then painting it with Bonder Primer.

Sean ponders the task ahead! (all photos by Clive Emsley)



Sean and Ben removing the mill scale

The last frame plate painted!

With the plates painted it allowed Matt to cut the last few holes and put threads in a couple of them these holes are only in the right hand frame.

Matt carefully marks the position of the last few holes



The holes carefully marked out and ready for cutting and tapping

Matt driving the trusty mag drill cutting one of the last holes 

Ben tapping one of the holes on the right hand side frame plate

 With all the holes now drilled and tapped we wondered what to do next!  so, we got on with putting some temporary bolts into the buffer beam assemblies.

Sean trying to remember which buffer beam parts go where!

There was also a bit more grinding and painting to be done

One of the angles that are located behind the buffer beam

Russ spent most of the day cleaning cylinder covers in the main workshop in
readiness for the machined cylinder block's arrival

So, that got us to about 2pm.  Now, what could we possibly do for the next 2 hours or so?  I know, lets erect the frames!  The frames were lifted to a vertical position and temporary stretchers were placed between the frames, prior to the final stretchers being bolted and then riveted into place.

All ready for the lift, just the final checks to make!

Carefully lifting the left side plate

Jim lifts the second frame plate using the block and tackle on the borrowed sheer legs.

Ben and other members of the team located a number of temporary stretchers

With the frames erected and held using temporary stretchers it allows us room for adjustment longitudinally and vertically.  There will now be a few weekends setting up the frames to ensure they are level and square.  If this is not done correctly it will affect the performance of the chassis, and therefore locomotive.

Carefully lowering the frames onto the frame stands

Adding the last bolt into one of the original stretchers ready for tightening

The frames sitting on the axle stands with the frame gauge sitting on top

Matt starts the process of setting up by making sure the frames are level longitudinally and transversely

Matt and Jim adjusting the stands to ensure levelness.



The process took a couple of hours from start to finish, and now we feel we have a locomotive again!  the cleaning up of the remaining stretchers and final assembly of the rear drag box will continue rapidly so that the frames are in a position to accept the cylinders when they return to Sheffield Park.  There are a number of angles and brackets to finish making, as these are made, they will be test fitted to the frames before final fixing.

The work didn't finish there!

As the day turned into late twilight and darkness, Jim gave a master class in applying bonder primer!



Jim worked quickly to apply a coat of Bonder Primer

We have only been able to get to this stage with your donations and purchases from the Fenchurch Fund stand at various gala days on and off the railway.  we need your support to continue this work, as we are entirely self funded being a sub-committee of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society.


If you would like to see this locomotive working in a few years, please help us to fulfil our aim.

To donate, please go to our BT MyDonate page:

 https://mydonate.bt.com/events/27

or use the QR code below.

 

If you would like to make a regular donation, please ask for a Standing Order form by email to the address below, please also use this address for enquiries and offers of physical help.


thefenchurchfund@gmail.com

The Project is entirely self funded and relies on your donations and sales stand purchases

for the work to continue