July 2025 Update

By Pete Maddicks & Tony Howard

Work has continued at a great pace again this month, the large copper pipe work from the water valves to the injectors are being manufactured. The cab floor is almost complete and has been covered with hardboard to protect it. Work has also progressed on the boiler, with all the mud hole doors completed, the main steam pipe in, and all the water trays installed.

Friday 25th was the day we have all been waiting for since February, when the embankment at Mor Brook collapsed. The amount of work that has gone on both behind the scenes and in public is staggering, but as they say it always helps to have friends and now the right people. So please come, visit us, have a ride on the train and see firsthand the amazing job that so many people have worked so hard to accomplish. 

STOP PRESS. At approximately 1200hrs Monday 4th August our boiler successfully passed its hydraulic test.

Saturday 5th July.
Kevin S, Simon B, Steve M, Tony H.
Steve gave the pipework that was hydraulically tested last week, a coat of chassis black. The rest of us removed the two rear sandboxes so the last of the Copper pipework could be made.

Monday 7th July.
Bob L, Charles L, Dave L, Dave Mc, Peter M, Phil H, Steve T, Tony H.
Tony and Dave Mc removed the  rear window frames from the cab. They were given to Bob to remove the paint.
Dave L and Steve T carried on installing the cab floor. They needed the cab doors removed to be reduced in height.  Dave Mc and Tony undertook this task. Phil worked on the ashpan in the boiler shop. Charles worked on the steel wrapping around the Blast Pipe. Peter was sorting out various pipe fittings, and cleaning up the treads with a Die nut. Later on Dave Mc, Charles, and Tony assisted Phil D (Boilersmith) fitting the ashpan to GWR 813.

Saturday 12th July.
Dave Mc, Si B, Tony H.
After a discussion earlier in the week on whether we would be working today, it was decided that we would not be working as the main steam pipe had not been fitted. Two days later we were informed that the main steam pipe had been fitted.
Dave Mc went on Friday to assist in building a platform either side of the boiler. This was to enable us fitting the water trays today. These water trays had been made some years ago when we were at Bewdley. These trays enable the water that enters the boiler through the clacks flow to the front of the boiler and disperse it either side. The trays sit on brackets either side of the main steam pipe, and each tray is put into the boiler through the safety valve aperture, bolted to the one behind and slid forward, so once the last two brackets are fitted to the longitudinal stays these are the most difficult to fit. By lunchtime we had completed the job.

Monday 14th July.
Charles L, Dave L, Peter D, Peter M, Simon B, Steve T, Tony H.
Charles was still working on the steel wrapping around the Blast Pipe.
Dave and Steve worked on the wooden cab floor including the raised platform the Driver stands on.
Peter D was working on the lubricating pipework for the vacuum pump.
Simon and Tony tested the copper balance pipes for leaks.  These do not need to be pressure tested as it is only "head of water pressure ". Once they had been filled with water they check for leaks, no leaks. The flanges were filed to remove any high spots.
Simon and Tony then joined Charles to check the studs that the Blast Pipe is fitted to. Some had seen better days, it was decided to replace them. Firstly remove them,  easier said than done. The first two snapped off. Looks like getting a lot of heat on them, letting them go cold and have another attempt. If all fails then drill them out and possibly increase stud to the next size up. 3/4*to 7/8" Whitworth

Saturday 19th July.
Simon B, Steve M, Tony H  
After discussing the problem of removing the worn studs over the Internet, it was decided not to heat the studs.
Charles made a drilling fixture for finding the center of the stud, to drill it out. A scrap piece of 10mm thick plate was found to sit the mag drill on. Simon and Tony cleaned up the threads on the studs, and also cleaned up the surface of the 10mm plate, and then cleaned up the edges. Unfortunately the drilling fixture did not arrive on site. Hopefully it will be there on Monday.  Steve painted the inside of the frames where the firebox sits.

Monday 21st July .
Bob L, Charles L, Dave L, Dave, Peter M, Phil H, Simon B, Steve T, Tony H, and new volunteer Josh.
Tony showed Josh around the shed, Machine shop,  and the Boilershop. Josh had basic safety rules explained to him. Phil then took Josh with him and explained the job he was doing which was taking the injectors off the plates they sit on, then removing the plates and fitting a plate that will move them inwards so the pipework can have more clearance.
The drilling fixture was obtained and Charles, Simon and Tony made a start removing the worn studs that secures the Blast Pipe. We quickly realised that we would need to increase the old holes from 3/4" to 7/8" Whitworth. By the end of the day we had drilled and tapped four of them, just another four to do.
Dave L and Steve carried on working on the cab floor. Dave was in the Boilershop with the Boilersmith filling our boiler with water, a few leaking tubes but were quickly dealt with. Peter assembled the controls on the Steam Fountain.

Saturday 26th July.
Dave Mc, Kevin S, Peter M, Simon B, Steve M, Tony H.
Dave, Simon, and Tony removed the crinolines from the firebox. This was to allow the Boilersmith to caulk the leaking stays. Later 200psi was achieved. The stay nuts will have to be fitted before a hydraulic test of 300psi can be achieved.
Simon and Tony made a start removing the remaining studs that secure the Blast Pipe. Tony had aquired a taper shank drill to fit our large mag drill. This mag drill has a gearbox so the drill can be slowed down.
This made a difference. They were joined by Kevin and all the studs were removed and all the holes were tapped to 7/8" BSW.

Monday 28th July.
Bob L, Charles L, Dave Mc Jacob L, Peter M,  Phil H, Steve T, Tony H.
All work today was in the Boilershop fitting the stay nuts to the Crown Stays. After removing the protective paint from the plain washers, all the Crown Stay nuts were fitted to the top and the inside of the firebox.
Tony checked the job that was done on Saturday and found one hole had not been tapped. Tony then looked at the Blast Pipe in particular the fixing holes. The holes were large enough to fit onto 7/8" diameter studs, but will have a discussion next week to see the best way to proceed.