The following pictures illustrate the latest progress from both Tyseley and Llangollen.
At Tyseley the coupling rods have been fitted to the wheels, whilst preparation of the connecting rods has taken place adding paint to the rear of the rods. The boiler is edging ever nearer to completion with the fire hole inner and outer sheets riveted. At Llangollen the further painting of the tender is ongoing.
Chris and the Team worked remarkably hard this weekend, finishing off removing the tubes from the boiler. Here we see some remarkable shots from inside the boiler, which has now also had its tube plate partly removed. Meanwhile the wheels were re-painted ahead of re-wheeling and further holes drilled in the cylinders ready for the cleating. Many Thanks to everyone, Chris,Colin, Richard P, Quentin, Mick, Barry, Max, Bill, David and Lynn. Also saying a fond farewell to Max who is returning to the Carribean (see you next year!)
The momentous news this week is the wheeling of the locomotive on Monday 8th April at Llangollen.
The following pictures show how this was done.
On 13th April a video of the wheeling can now be watched on U Tube. Pleas click the following link
Firstly the frames were bolted onto dummy wheelsets for rolling outside
Here Mike Pierce is overseeing the fitting of an axlebox to a wheel bearing
Next the frames were lifted above the wheel sets
The wheeled chassis is run back into the shed. The first movements of Betton Grange as a rolling chassis
Finally the locomotive sits back in the shed ready for the spings to be added in the coming days
There has been a shunting around in the workshop at Llangollen with the result that the wheels are now positioned in front of the frames ready for the lifting to take place once everything is ready.
in the second photo the right hand leading axle box is now fitted leaving only the rear pair to be completed. Members coming to the AGM next weekend should see the axle boxes on the wheel sets before the actual wheeling takes place
At the last working weekend up to 8 volunteers started the work of preparing the frames and wheels for the imminent wheeling of the locomotive
Below Robin Matthews needle guns the wheels ready for the first undercoat. Work on this will continue until the wheels are ready to be put under the frames in early April
Other work concerns painting the frames including the buffer beam. Here John Sandiford prepared some of the rivet heads for primer
Work on re-furbishing the axleboxes for 6880 being carried out at Llangollen workshops. All 6 boxes will soon be ready for the wheeling of the locomotive. Meantime the Springs, Spring Hangers and other associated parts have been ordered.