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November summary
Work has continued through November.
Libby
Work has continued on "Libby's" cabsides and the first coats of finish black gloss have been applied. However, "curtains" forming, thought at first to be the result of temperature in Rowsley loco shed, has on investigation been attributed changes in the paint formula forced on Dulux by legislative changes in 2010. "Experiment a bit with thinners" is the advice. The original distinctive lamp housings located in the front and rear handrails and badly corroded are to be replaced with better examples collected over the last 10 years! The original Simms lamp assemblies, in most cases missing, are to be replaced with the BR high intensity type.
Pluto
Although no progress has been made on Pluto, conversation between Andrew and his 'guru' on the rotation conversion has finally revealed that yes, the rotor tips do need to be reversed. Andrew reckons this can be carried out in situ but fitting this in before Christmas is a problem.
14 901
Back in traffic at the Gwili, but reportedly suffering from filter blockages.
Brush 0-6-0DE
Progress on the cab internals has resumed with floorboards and seats lifted out for storage off site. The Westcode braking system has been completely removed and a start made on removing valves and contactors located under the cab floor. Some idea of the 'jungle' of equipment sited there can be judged from a single pickie below:
"03" D2128
A "stock" oil tank is being prepared and painted ready for installation to the loco. New brackets for the transmsission cooler have been made but will not be installed until the welder is next taken over. Brackets to carry the vacuum brake valve and dummies have been manufactured and are ready for installation. The transmission cooler has been collected from Rowsley and will reach Scunthorpe shortly. Work on the cab front bulkhead where the instrument panel(s) site has been carried out with a needle gun ready for the shot-blasted and new panels to be refitted and wiring to commence.
Following a decision NOT to attempt any further removal of the casing side frames, the cab bulkhead has been attacked as thoroughly as possible behind the end sections with a needle gun and re-primed. The front end adaptor that will provide a forward PTO shaft from the Cummins has now been finished and painted. The compressor base has been drawn up and profiles supplied - one requires machining before assembly and it is unlikely to be on the loco before the year end, but the top and bottom anti-vibration (a/v) mounts for the cooler group have arrived and various components connected with their installation are ready.
Finally, the wagon which has been carrying the casing sections since they were taken off the loco 2-3 years ago has been brought back around and it is planned that the parts will go for shotblasting, priming and plating (where required) early in December.
Andrew has even got around to pondering future colour schemes, and it is likely, as one of the few "03"'s to receive a TOPS number although retaining BR green, that it will eventually appear in BR green as 03-128.
Beverley
Despite the fact that the engine in Beverley was manufactured as far back at 1966-7, it is gratifying to report that Cummins maintain ex-stock parts availability, even on parts for assemblies long since discontinued on new engines. As a result the neccessary joints and seals for the oil cooler have been ordered and received within 48 hours permitting a resumption of engine work.
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