November 2025 Update

By Pete Maddicks & Tony Howard

Firstly, on behalf of the Trustees and all of the team may we wish you and yours a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. 

This is going to be a momentous coming year for the Fund, please keep reading the updates and watch the press. We will of course inform the shareholders of any major developments. 

This month we completed the cladding and fitted the side tanks. 

Saturday 1st November
On site today Kevin S, Peter M, Simon B, Si B, Steve M, Tony H.
Kevin and Simon cleaned up the faces on the backhead on the firebox in readiness for fitting various fittings. They later did the same on the safety valve, and fitted both clacks.
Si and Tony made a start fitting the top half of the backhead insulation and cladding. Steve painted the Jockey valve plate, and touched up parts on the frames that had been scratched. Peter inquired whether we could fit the Steam Fountain,  but as it has had more items added since it was previously hydraulically tested, it needs another test.

Monday 3rd November.
On site today, Bob L, Charles L, Dave L, Peter M, Phil H, Steve T, Tony H.
Dave and Steve worked on the awkward shaped cladding, this item is getting to be a pain in the backside. Phil and Tony worked on the repair to the broken lug on the Blast Pipe. Phil had made a steel washer at home that would repair the lug.
The Blast Pipe was put on the vertical milling machine, and the jagged face of the broken lug was cleaned up. The washer was cut to fit the lug on the Blast Pipe, and the Jumper Ring was bolted back onto the  Blast Pipe. Charles helped Dave and Steve with the cladding sheets. Bob had more painting to do.

Saturday 8th November.
On site today, Dave Mc, Kevin S, Simon B, Steve M, Tony H  
One of the shelving units in the Fruit D needed attention.  Kevin and Simon took on the task to repair it. After the repair Kevin put copperslip on the left-hand clacks studs,and tightened up the nuts.
Tony cut the insulation for the next two items of backhead cladding. These two items could not be fitted until the tanks are replaced and the supporting bar is fitted between the two tanks. Dave and Kevin replaced the firebars into the grate. Steve was painting the frames.

Monday 10th November.
On site today, Charles L, Dave L, Dave Mc, Peter D, Steve T, Tony H.
Dave L  and Steve finally finished the piece of cladding that had been a problem to get right.  Dave Mc and Tony installed the insulation around the corners of the firebox that are covered by the elephant's ears. Charles and Peter cleaned up the welds/brazing on the superheater elements in readiness for a final hydraulic test.

Saturday 15th November.
No work today, because Dave Mc came in on Thursday 13th  and finished the last two superheater elements, and painted the top of the frames where the water tanks sit

Monday 17th November.
On site today, Bob L, Bryn T, Charles L, Dave L, Dave Mc, Peter D, Phil H, Si B, Steve T, Tony H, Dave L and Steve.
Steve finished the piece of cladding that had caused the problem over the last few weeks. It was fitted, and with Dave Mc operating the Crane, the right-hand tank was fitted complete with its internal splasher. Tony and Peter made the three gaskets needed for the front balance pipe. Tony then made the four lead washers for the supporting bar that goes between the water tanks at the cab end.
Peter and Bryn fitted the operating lever system for the front sandboxes. Everyone was involved in bolting the tank to the frames. Other good news is that the Superheater Elements were tested and passed.

Saturday 22nd November
On site today, Alex E, Dave Mc, Jacob L, Simon B, Steve M, and Tony H.
When the right-hand tank was fitted last Monday it was noticed that the gasket that seals the rear balance pipe to the tank had not been fitted. Not wanting to lift the tank again, Tony came up with a solution to the problem, by slackening the bolts that hold the balance pipe to the bunker it would lower the balance pipe enough to slide the gasket in place. This solution worked and the gasket was slid into place and all the nuts and bolts were tightened securely.
An attempt was made to fit the front balance pipe, but unfortunately this job needs another rethink. The flange on the pipe will not pass through the cutout in the internal splasher. This will be looked at on Monday. The front sandbox operating system was fitted.

Monday 24th November.
As Myself and Peter M were not on site today, no people will be named.
I do know that the larger section of the front Copper balance pipe was fitted, after modifications were made to the right-hand internal splasher.

Saturday 29th November
On site today, Charles L, Dave Mc, Kevin S, Peter M, Phil H, Simon B, Steve M, Tony H.
After an early morning shunt to move the loco over the pit, the left-hand tank was lifted back onto the loco, with Dave Mc operating the Crane. The tank was bolted down to the frames.
Following last week's success with fixing the rear balance pipe, we did the same operation. Alas, this time it was not as successful. We will look at this again on Monday. More success was with the front balance pipe with both sections fitted to the tanks. Just the two sections to be bolted together.