Here is what we achieved:
Old boiler out; thanks B and D Cranes of Canberra..and all the hours of work by Gav; Andy, Alan; Mike and the Vintage Hyster fork lift, which in turn recieved running repairs in the form of a new alternator, thanks to David Griffiths. Others helped too, Paul Quinn and Dave Malcolm amongst them.
New boiler tested; thanks again to those named above, to Barry Peffer for his wonderful work on cleaning and polishing fittings and to Roger Maynard for his one-armed painting.
Guest worker on a couple of days was Life Member Gerry Birminghan, who was able to drill out stay tell tales that were otherwise inaccesable. Great to see him, and indulge in some "remember whens".
Kerry Mellor assisted, particularly when rail bourne movements were needed, and at story telling time when my Michael was informed of some of the good old days stunts. I denied all such tales. Simon Cowling assisted with shunting.
Dismantle Power reverser; thanks David Carroll.
Boiler frame cleaning has begun, thanks to Paul Coulter, whose Father Ted drilled boltholes in a plate which provides access to the superheater header. This is one of many bits that have to be transferred from old to new boiler, and is a good example of the work that has to be done to remove the modifications made for stationery use..the plate was welded on the replacement boiler; which of course did not have the superheater.
And a hugh big thank you to 3801 Limited for the loan of the test pump; which was delivered to Canberra in the trailer behind the V8 Superute [made a big difference to the fuel consumption, too!]
Clean site up, using the Hyster and my equally vintage body. And Howard Moffat came along on Friday and in between photos also cleaned up the work site.
Thanks too, to the owners of the carriage in which Mike, David G. and I stayed; you will no longer have a problem with stale beer!
Rumour has it that the sound of a Garratt whistle was heard; but best fact from the week was the spanner in the works!
Pictures will follow.
Gavin is making a new smokebox floor; and at some time we will need another big plate of steel to make a new compressor mount [the stationary conversion took six inches away!]
Another 300 hours [task total 1300]...so we are about 20% into the job.
Next work day is Sunday 19 October..come long.. be part of this fabulous project. 1000-1600; Canberra Railway Museum.
