6880

Good progress was made this weekend, 31st May - 1st June, despite a small team consisting of Quentin, Max, Richard, John Kerr, Steve Rodenhurst and myself. Ian Massey popped in for a look as he was doing his firing test, which he has passed.
Well done Ian, you have just acquired more responsibility!

The dragbox underwent final alignment and was drilled and bolted into place. Max spent a few hours getting his head around 1936 Swindon drawings and managed, with the help of a few more pairs of eyes and Foxcote Manor, to decipher what it was trying to tell him and marked out the back buffer beam.

With mag drill and rota broach cutters the manufacturer of swarf could then begin, with around 65 holes to drill we knew this was gaoing to be a long job, and was going to stretch into Sunday. After a good nights sleep, the rest of the holes were drilled and with the aid of some temporary brackets the buffer beam was fitted to the dragbox.

So at long last 6880 has grown in width..

No doubt the extended weekend coming up in June, the 18th to the 22nd, we should be able produce even more swarf, and this should result in more parts being made and fitted.

We have just acquired a full set of eccentric straps at a fraction of the price it would cost to have them made new. I would not be far off in saying we now have around 75% of the inside motion. The eccentric rods are due to arrive towards the end of the month, complete with new pins.

We attended the GWRS gala on the weekend of the 24th to 25th May, usually a good turnout, but the weather was very windy followed by never-ending rain, so on Sunday we decided to head home. We did however make a small amount of money for the 6880 fund.

5199

So far I hear 5199 is running well with no problems, the Bluebell lads have taken to her with one driver requesting that they have her for keeps..... sorry but that is going to be a NO!

We have just taken delivery of a new radial truck spring as a spare, along with a set of new brake blocks and gaskets for the first boiler washout.

That's all for now, thanks for reading.

Will