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With the windows previously removed, the frame work has since been rust treated, primed and is awaiting the attention of some filler in various places. The inside has also been rubbed down and given a coat of primer. All cleaned down and primed, ready for some filler in a few places Inside of the No2 end cab showing the cleaned up area with a coat of primer applied Whilst we was stripping down the inside of the No2 end cab around the drivers side, we found that the wooden mouldings around the windows have suffered badly from water ingress. Upon some investigation from the team we found two main area's of concern, one being some welding blow holes caused by welding of the angled gutter strip down the cab and a rather large hole in the cab roof. Both areas have now had these area's attended to, new wood work will be required before the cab goes back together. Some of the blow holes in the metal which have caused the water ingress into the cab Another hole that's caused us problems, sadly this is what we was expecting from something 65 years old. With some new steel work added in above the door and the batch on the roof, work can now continue on getting this area fully cleaned and primed. Work continues on the bodyside steel work at a great pace, as you may have seen from previous postings that the bodyside has not faired well with age with large areas of corrosion. Sadly most of the large bodyside grills have suffered with corrosion over the years, the frames have been pushed out causing the aluminium grill slats to become distorted. With the old section of body removed, and the frame exposed, this area will now be cleaned, rust treated and painted before a new steel work is added. And just like magic and new section of steel is added in place Member's of the team hard at it on the bodyside of 37003. As you can see one of the exposed grill area's showing the rotten frame work behind. A new section of steel work having been cut to size is test fitted before being welded into place. The stripped down No2 end cab of 37003, showing some original green 1960's paint coming through 60 years worth of dirt and filth, including a mars bar rapper from 1987!! A removed sand box cover, having some new gaskets made for it. The metalwork will now be treated painted before it al gets refitted at a later date.

A small update to start the month off, work continues at a steady pace. One of the No2 end bonnet doors had sadly seen better days and was treated to some new steel work. Upon rubbing the door down for painting the original cream was uncovered. A nice little bit of history  With the window screens now removed from the loco, attention has turned to the frame work around the windows. This area will be rubbed down, rust treated, filled and the prepared for painting

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. Update 31/01/2026 Today saw the removal of the No2 end window screens, this is being done due to the window rubber being life expired and has gone very brittle with age. Whilst the window are out, attention will turn to the window frames. This will also give us better access to the the more fiddly areas around the window wipers and screen washers. Work has also carried on stripping No1 cab front apart, this end being in far worse condition than No2 end. Attention has also turn to the bodysides, with sections of the body being marked up for replacing over the next few week. The gutter's have also been removed due to being life-expired and in very poor condition, these will be replaced at a later date but in the meantime it gives a good opportunity to clean the area's up.  With the windows removed out and stored away, the area was rust treated and left to dry As you can see, sections of the bodywork have seen better days, this area was not helped by the sand box being full of rather wet sand which has contributed to the rot. The No2 end gangway now cleaned up and painted to help protect it. The No1 end second man's side, having been rubbed down and primed. Progress so far, still a long way to go but we are slowly getting there