Boscastle Locomotive Limited
May 2021
Tender
The six tender axleboxes have all been stripped of their old whitemetal ready for re-metalling, unfortunately this revealed cracks in many of the boxes. All of the cracked axleboxes have received weld repairs and are waiting for heat treatment but this has obviously slowed progress with these items considerably.
The two small curved cab door sections have been assembled and are currently being painted along with the other doors.
The rolled bodies and dished ends for the new vacuum reservoir tanks have been delivered and are being prepped for assembly. Pipe bosses for the reservoir tanks have been machined and we continue to produce fitted bolts for the tender spring hanger brackets.
Boiler
All of the accessible studs for boiler fittings have been removed and a start made on refurbishing the seating faces for fittings such as the whistle valve and belly plate, this work is limited by the fact that the boiler is currently upside down. The rear mud hole door apertures have been cut out and ground to shape in the new rear outer firebox plate. The large regulator valve is being carefully stripped down for refurbishment, but is fighting all the way!
Finally, the long awaited stay taps have arrived, so firebox staying can continue as work priorities allow.
Images on this page are copyright A.J.Morgan