18.3.2013 brake change

This week we have gone from the top of the barrel to the brakes. Keith was back and as we had already discussed, we needed to see how many pins needed to be made. We saw fit that we should take the west side apart and reconstruct the east with everything we have available.

 Copyright Tommy Lees 2013

Picture shows the west side without brakes. It took just over an hour and half to take apart mainly due to tight bolts. 

 Copyright Tommy Lees 2013

Picture showing all the components for the brake rigging. The metal pole is not a part, we used it as leverage for the tight bolts.

 The afternoon was spent reconstructing the east brakes. This was the first time we had attempted this, and it showed in the time spent working on this. In total 2 hours were spent re-constructing this side, including getting all the parts from the van and organised. As you can imagine, first time led to trial and error. We at one point had the metal bars not lining up, then we couldn't get the handle onto the pivot pin. As to getting the tension right, again it was trial and error.

Photos Copyright Tommy Lees 2013

The picture above and right show the completed east brake rigging re-assembled. There is still some work to be done, re painting certain areas which were disturbed in reconstruction and some that were missed first time. We also need to re-protect and paint the wood in between the metal brackets.

As you can see plenty of work has now been created, as the parts now need to be cleaned and painted, the west axles, axle boxes and main axles need to be cleaned and painted, a couple of areas on the sole bar need cleaning (in accessible due to brakes) as well as the east barrel, top barrel, valve gear. Any help would greatly be appreciated and we are open to new volunteers. You do not need to know anything about wagons, I still have a lot to learn myself, but that is also the fun part of being a volunteer, learn in the process. If you are willing, do get in touch.

Cold day in March

Cold day down in Swithland Yard, not only the cold going against the work though. Today, I was working by self. We always have plans if one of the group is away, mainly due to common sense, no power tools are to be used. Luckily there is enough work to do by self. This mainly is all small components on the top of the barrel, relating to the valve wheel on top.

So, once I had finished the usual railway tradition of having a brew, and also having a conversation with a member of S+T that had popped by, I started work on taking to bits all the valve gear. Its a pretty simple piece of apparatus. Photos were taken during the dismantling, to aid putting together again once cleaned and painted. All parts were also labelled, given a description stating the direction they go in and when they were taken off. The photo below is halfway through the dismantling. Best way to describe this is a 3D jigsaw, it builds up in different layers.

Copyright Tommy Lees 2013

The whole process of taking the valve to bits took roughly an hour. Whilst putting the items away, I decided that I should label all the bolts we have found. It sounds easy, however due to some bolts being stored for over a year, it was a case of going over the wagon to remember where they went. It has also become more easier to see how many bolts we need to order for areas that are missing. These areas that possibly require new bolts include the ladder for the east side, brackets under the barrel, one or two for the buffers (although I may have these after I ordered wrong ones for something else).

By lunch time, the cold had started taking its toll, and with little work further achievable by myself it was time to call it time, however it was a productive morning and now I have parts I can work on at home from next week. 

Tuesday 5.3.2013

As some of you are unaware of what A6071 looked like before we started, here is a photo taken in 2011, just after I had started working on it. This is looking at the east side.

Copyright Tommy Lees 2013

The start of the day was misty, bitter and we were wondering where the sun was. Luckily it did come out later in the day and it was glorious to work in the sun.

The morning was spent attacking the barrel once again. Keith, on Saturday, had attacked the top of the south end barrel and today he attacked the north end, cleaning all the way to the weld line.

Meanwhile, I attacked the remaining areas of the west face that had yet to be cleaned and primed. These areas were as follows: behind the ladder at the top, a patch just right of the ladder, the remainder of the right side of the walk way and then attacked some of top barrel. The top is proving to be time consuming, seems to be a thicker paint. Either that or the elements have taken their toll.

Copy right Tommy Lees 2013

The picture above shows the south end of A6071. As you can see, the top is now in red primer. Keith was priming the north end when this was taken.

Towards mid afternoon we were in the process of tidying up, when I checked emails to see I had one from Phil, stating he was going to order wood for the brake supports that are missing, and asked if we could see the quality of the two we currently have. Me and Keith set about taking the bolts out that hold the wood, and checked the quality of the wood. Conclusion...wood is solid and does not need replacing. Brilliant. However before we got the email we discussed that the next time we are down we should take apart the west brake pins to make sure they are useable. Reason for this is that we have had an offer for pins to be made for the east brake set, and if we need west pins replacing now would be the time to put it in the same order.

copyright Tommy Lees 2013

We also discussed that if the pins are in a suitable condition, we will re-construct the east rigging using the west pins, allowing us to work on the remaining two wheels, axle boxes, and brake components. 

I have also taken a nut and bolt home so that I can get some exact ones on order. These are brake support bracket bolts, four of which are missing, mainly on the east side. 

Next tasks:

Take apart pipe wheel at top of barrel, (pictures and tags of parts will be made)

Take apart west side brakes, check pins

Undercoat barrel in grey

Clean under left side of west walk way

Take bolt of west ladder, get duplicates made for east ladder

The above tasks should take a couple of weeks to complete, depending on weather and free time.

If you are liking what you read, or we have inspired you to help us then do please get in touch. I can be contacted on thomas_lees_21@hotmail.com.