Week One

The week started with building a Lobo frame round the firebox end of the boiler after which all the crinolines were reassembled back onto position.  

Once that was achieved, measuring and marking out commenced on the next stage which is the making and fitting of the horizontal joining bars.

When trial fitting the brake ejector to the backhead we were not too happy with the threads on the mounting studs so these have been removed and will be replaced.  Pending that, a couple of old studs were used so we could mount the brake ejector thus enabling us to start working out the pipework position.  

Likewise, the main steam manifold was fitted to the top of the backhead as there are many pipes that will terminate there.

At the other end of the boiler, the superheater header was hoisted onto the front running plate 

before being placed in the smokebox 

and then lifted, via a chain down through the chimney, into its approximate position supported on 3 x 2 timbers placed in the lower row of flue tubes.  Then further packing pieces were added until it was at the right height after which it was moved the correct distance from the tubeplate and centralised.

We could then mark the position of the holes in the retaining brackets at each end through onto the smokebox sides after which the header was lowered again, the centre of the scribed holes marked, centre punched and pilot drilled.

Work also continued on the jigsaw puzzle that is the backhead cladding with more sections being measured,

 marked and then cut out.

On the 541 tender, one of the final jobs is fitting the water gauge float and, after a trial fit, the stainless mounting rod was heated and bent to put a set in it.