A new main steam pipe made from carbon steel has been manufactured. The bronze sealing olive has been removed from the original main steam pipe. It has been full refurbished and brazed into the new main steam pipe. The boiler tubes are now being fitted. We await its arrival back at Ludborough where the running frames have been fully restored ready for the boiler. Vacuum piping has been installed.
Moorbarrow Project
Moorbarrow's frames arrived back at Ludborough on 12 October and our own volunteers are now working on her. News from McEwens who are doing the boiler is that the holes have been drilled in preparation for the stays. The holes have been countersunk. The stays have been fitted and tacked in position. Approximately half of the stays have been welded. The Smokebox wrapper has been supplied.
Parts of Moorbarrow under restoration.
Firebox outer casing - side plates - Both left and right hand plates have been manufactured to the original pattern and are currently being fitted. The 'but-welding' preparations have been formed.
Firebox wrapper - This has been formed from one large plate, manipulated to the orignal contours.
Smokebox tubeplate - This component has been manufactured complete with the Smokebox attachment flange. All Smokebox and rivet holes have been drilled.
Shortly the inner Firebox will be fabricated and the Smokebox Tubeplate butted onto the boiler barrel.
Latest news from McEwens. The firebox outer back head has had preparatory work undertaken with a good result of no signs of cracking and only minimal shallow grooving. The throat plate has also had this type of work done and the same results as the firebox. Good news on the boiler barrel. After preparation for NDT shows the boiler barrel strakes to between 14 and 15 mm thick with good overall condition both internally and externally. Palm stays have been removed and ready and waiting for new stays.
Robert Stephenson Hawthorn 0-6-0 saddle tank is undergoing restoration. Frames and wheel sets have been sent to RMS Loco Tec for remedial work and will hopefully will be back at Ludborough in October for further work by our own workshop crew. The boiler has been sent to H A McEwens where is it undergoing complete restoration. To date dismantling of the smoke box and smoke box tube plate, the firebox outer casing has been cut off and all longitudinal stays have been removed. Needle gunning and sand blasting of the boiler barrel, fire box back head and throat plate to remove all lime scale.
