Let’s get 4561 rolling
3rd June 2024
It’s been almost 6 months since this blog was last updated and things have moved on quite a lot. There was a pause in proceedings whilst the Trustees and the WSR PLC assessed the situation together and the Trustees made plans for the remainder of the restoration project.
It became clear that much as the team at Williton would have liked to restore the boiler of 4561 it was quite simply a step too far, given their current and predicted workload. It was therefore agreed that the chassis would remain at Williton but the boiler would go to an outside contractor with Ryan and his team still closely involved in the decision making.
So following an extensive tender and due diligence process it was agreed that the boiler would go to Riley and Sons in Lancashire. On 18th April the boiler was collected and taken to Riley’s.
On 21st May, Trustees received notification that the firebox has been removed along with the lower part of the steel back head. The images below are from Rileys and will be discussed at the next Trustee meeting on 10th June.
Meanwhile, work on the remainder of the locomotive continues at Williton with a volunteer team led by Mike Wightman doing much of the work under the watchful eye of Ryan Pope.
Some very shiny new bolts have been made and the loco is now back off its wheels for the detail to be completed. As with the rest of the WSR home fleet, 4561 will be greece lubricated and so the old top feed lids will not be required and new tops will be fitted to the boxes.
24th January 2024
Work on 4561 continues steadily at Williton and we can now bring you some of the first images of the pony trucks on their wheels
Words and pictures by Matt Healey
These two images show the pony trucks on their wheels.
Here we have the painted and cleaned Spring cups and in the final photo the 1st axle box crown being cut.
8th December 2023
We are delighted to be able to bring you an update on progress on 4561. It’s been a long and very quiet year, whilst Trustees work through some issues with the loco and it’s boiler. However, work on the chasis components has been continuing at Williton all year and we can now bring you some images and updates, courtesy of Matt Healey.
We would also like to pay tribute to Mike Johns who advised the WSRA team for many years and also supplied the words and images for this blog. Sadly, Mike passed away recently. May he Rest In Peace.
Words and pictures by Matt Healey
These two images show the first pony truck axle box set up on the horizontal borer for machining of the axlebox horns.
The second pair of images show the first of the two pony trucks to be re wheeled.
25th January 2023
Words and pictures by Josh Chivers
Both pony trucks have now been top coated and axle boxes are started to be test fitted onto the axles.
We’re looking for more volunteers to come along and help prepare and paint the wheels. If you can spare a few hours to help please contact Don Wood at WS Restoration at Williton
Bores and thrust faces being machined.
16th January 2023
The festive season was rather busy and the blog was a little sidelined, so here’s an update for the end of last year and the start of this year..
Words and pictures by Harry Spencer
During December work on the front end of 4561 was on the final straight, and the image shows the last pieces of cladding around the cylinders being sorted.
Just needs is a coat of paint before it goes rusty. If anyone would like to volunteer for this and similar tasks please contact the team at Williton.
Meanwhile with the front pony truck assembly, New bolts have now been made where needed and most of the bends heated and straightened.
Also the pony truck arm was heated and straightened before going back on.
Whilst the 1st Axle Box was being finished it up on the borer, it was trial fitted on the pony truck wheelset
Meanwhile, another axle box was being prepped for white metal.
Regarding wheelsets, the 1st coat of gloss paint was applied to the 1st set of wheels.