Like a house of cards

Saturday morning saw Mike Riddley, Mike and Peter Reynell turn up to take advantage of the comfortable work area in the Eveleigh large erecting shop.

Today saw more than a little progress on the cab. In the past, nearly all the work has concentrated on removing years of built up corrosion and muck from the panels so that the damage can be identified and assessed.

We finally have given up trying to do the repair work in situ, and the decision was made to reduce the cab to smaller sub-assemblies so that the panels can be repaired properly and the corrosion that has until now been trapped between the riveted components can be removed properly.

With a few rows of rivets and bolts removed, the cab quickly fell apart like a heavy house of cards. The rear panel of the cab took five or six people to lift onto trestles.

The roof vents were also liberated from the roof panel so that they can be repaired separately before being refitted to the new roof.

Over the next few weeks, replacement components will be arranged so that the corroded areas can be removed and new metal welded back in. There is a new roof to be cut and rolled, the angles that mount the cab to the loco frame will need to be replaced, and some paneling around the windows will need attention.

It seems like a lot of work, considering that it just a cab, but once it is finished, I doubt it will need to be touched for another 20 or 30 years.

Sunday 21 June 2009

The start to the day was significantly delayed due very wet conditions that did not clear until midday. After the weather cleared David and Alf salvaged the useful parts off the unserviceable super heater elements.

Barry Peffer having returned from his overseas work, was reunited with the needle gun on the boiler cradle. Shaun Barker continued with the strip down and assessment of the front pivot. Gavin and Paul jacked up and removed the first of the four bogies revealing many years of grime and rust. As a result of this the leading unit is now a 4,8,0 and will soon be an 0,8,0. As suspected the lateral control springs will have to be send out for reconditioning.

Peter went out on the local steam train to Bungendore to sell raffle tickets, thanks Peter! Bruce drove down from Sydney to measure up the compressor bores confirming that they are within specification. Bruce also gave us a look at the great work he is dong with the power reverser and has promised some photos for the blog.

Our next work day is Saturday the 4th of July and Super week will start on Monday the 6th of July.

Alan Gardner.

Attendees...

Alan Gardner

Peter Reynell

Gavin Woolf

Paul Quinn

Shaun Barker

Jake Barker

Barry Peffer

David Villiers

Alf Spiteri

There has been some new content added to the history channel...Check it out here

a nice shade of grey..

The contractors have been in and completed the sandblasting and priming of the bunker, and what a difference it makes!

Progress report..... Saturday 13 June

AT Eveleigh; in the Large Erecting Shop, "Cabin Boy" Ron Denholm and I liberated some 55 year old rust from the area around the Firemans side door and window where the outside plating had buckled from the internal pressure. Fortunately the frame work has not deteriorated as much as has the plate work, so repair will be relatively easy.

IN Canberra the rear bunker has been sandblasted and undercoated in a trendy shade of grey by a contractor, so there is another painting job.

Photos when they come to hand.

Next Canberra work Day SUNDAY 21 June

Saturday 6 June Canberra workday

Another fantastic turnout, another productive day..although the wind chill factor in the afternoon reminded us that it IS winter, and that 40 degree celsius summer is now behind us.

Tasks undertaken included:

• more pressure washing, now about half way finished on the front engine unit; thanks again, Roger
• more painting, thanks Stu
• cross compound air compressor dismantled, with some challenges, including the b*****y thing creating a vacuum which made the removal of one piston a challenge; thanks Ian, Shaun, Shane and all the other expert advisers.
• removal of the pivot bearing at the front end of the boiler cradle; thanks to Marc, Kyle and John [and again, more experts]

AND , to show that we do not only pull things apart, the compressor was test fitted to the smokebox to prove that the new support plate will work.

In attendance:
Alan Gardner
Al's mate Graham Kidgell from the little railway near Melbourne
Peter Reynell
Shane Bollard
Shaun Barker
Ian Senini
Marc Millar
Mike Ridley
Stu Edwards
Kyle Rollinson
John Kempton
Roger Maynard
Also on site were Lindsay Richmond, who made lunch, thanks Oldmate; Paul Quinn, vibrating on a bogie frame;
Andy D, Jack Barker, Gav W. ; Dave and Keith Malcolm lighting 3016 for todays' Bungendore train, and David Villiers as cleaner and polisher.

Next workdays

• at Eveleigh..Saturday 13 June...contact peter@project6029.com for access and job details.
• at Kingston [Canberra Railway Museum] Sunday 21 June

The next Superweek is planned to commence on the 4th of July, the anniversary of the first workday, and then 6-10th of July.