Week Three This week, the 541 tender tank side sheets were rubbed back so we could spot and sort out any irregularities and then apply a second coat. The 4253 crinoline team were, once again, hard at it fabricating more of the bands by bending them to the correct shape against the plywood patterns we made, tweaking where necessary with … Read More
Week Four Tuesday started off with dressing back the previous Sundays’ welds on the side panels of the 541 tender tank and then getting the rear top panel turned over and carried inside for cleaning. The crinoline team were hard at work trial fitting the firebox bands while others were fitting the flanges for the blower and brake ejector exhaust … Read More
Final Week On Tuesday, there were many people working on the 541 tender tank with grinders to grind back the countersunk rivets retaining the door closing plates and the lamp brackets and steps on the back panel and to dress the welds between the front and rear side panels. Meanwhile, work continued on the ‘toilet seat’ part of the crinoline … Read More
Week Four During this week, a fair amount of progress has been made on constructing the crinolines for 4253’s boiler which is a hugely time-consuming task with numerous parts having to be cut, shaped, bent, welded and drilled. Band numbers 1 and 2 (starting at the smokebox end) are pretty well finished and trial fitted along with the top longitudinal … Read More
Week Three On Tuesday, we continued with the drilling of the smokebox where, given the rarity of a very sunny day, the temperatureinside it reached 42º before the guys called it a day. The cleaning up of both the superheater header and the cylinder block saddle was completed after which they received a coat of heat-resistant paint. A blanking plate was … Read More
Week Four This week, 4253’s boiler was filled with water for the first time in 60 years for its initial hydraulic test which took the pressure to 260 psi. There were a few leaks that need addressing but no surprises there given the amount of repair work that’s been undertaken. As it’s return it now imminent, the superheater header has been … Read More