January progress.

With the loco having arrived in the shed in mid November, we gave it a few weeks to dry out and assess the condition of the loco and come up with a work programme.  It was decided that we could start by stripping down No2 cab, this included removal of all the fittings like the tail lamp brackets, taillights and safety hoops along with the bonnet side doors and top bonnet doors.

No2 end in the process of being stripped down to aid repairs

A selection of the parts removed from No2 end, all labelled up to what side they belong to, these will be cleaned up, repaired and refitted at a later date.

With the bonnet side doors removed it gave us proper access to fix the bottom of the drip trays, sadly over the years water has got into these and eaten away at the frame supporting these. New steel work has been welded in place and the whole area given a coat of primer

No2 end driver side area getting some primer applied after repairs

The top bonnet doors needed some metal work replacing on them,  it was easier and far safer to remove them off the loco to repair them. With these out of the way, we decided to remove the hinges to thoroughly clean that area up. Its likely that these hinges have never been off the loco since the day it was built.

Driver side of the bonnet top cleaned and primed, attention will then turn to the secondman's side

Sadly some components on the loco are life expired and gone beyond repair, this is the replacement sand box cover for the No2 end drivers side ready to be refitted.