Project 27: Early January Winter Update 2024
With the start of the new year and the frames sheeted over, to protect them from the elements, the team has started to move forwards on two fronts…
With the start of the new year and the frames sheeted over, to protect them from the elements, the team has started to move forwards on two fronts…
Andy Kelly’s photos record the passing of the out-of-frames steam test, and bacon being fried in the tradition manner for celebratory bacon brioches. During the Terrier 150 event, the incomplete ‘Fenchurch’ was displayed as best as was possible in the circumstances alongside ‘Stepney’, as seen in Owen Hayward’s photo from 30 July…
Fenchurch’s boiler has passed its hydraulic test, and boiler fittings are being overhauled and re-attached, as seen in Andy Kelly’s photos below. It is hoped that the loco will be assembled ready for display alongside ‘Stepney’ over the Terrier 150 weekend coming up on 29-31 July…
A second update for June see’s the majority of the boiler work for Fenchurch’s boiler almost complete with only a few additional tasks to be finished off before the boiler is ready for a hydraulic & initial steam test. The opportunity was taken at this stage to make a trial fitment of the boiler…
Following on from the start of the year and with the side valances previously set in place after the temporary fitment of the front end for alignment the four valence end plate wings where finally welded into place. With this work completed a start could be made at finishing off the final riveting to the rear end of the frames as well as the front end, once the counterweights had been removed and in doing…
With the repair section to the bottom of the boiler welded in and the tube plate set into its final position the front tube plate is finally ready to be riveted into place using the modified and upgraded hydraulic rivet squeezer especially adapted for this task…
May has seen good progress again on the overhaul work being carried out on Fenchurch for her 150th anniversary later in the year. Statfold Barn has pulled out all the stops getting Fenchurch’s bottom end overhaul completed & ready for delivery back to Sussex…
As a small group, we rely on fundraising to keep achieving our goal of seeing the Bluebell Railways smaller fleet of engines operational. So get on board with us today no matter how large or small the contribution.