Let’s get 4561 rolling
19th February 2025
Boiler
It’s been a while since we bid goodbye to 4561’s boiler and waved it off on its journey to Rileys. Riley’s then had to complete a full assessment of the boiler and come up with a proposal for the refurbishment, with input from BES and the WSR engineering department.
On 26 January, Trustee Jeff Price reported “4561 boiler is in bits at Riley’s awaiting copper firebox crack detection by BES and the manufacture of a new coned barrel section before the work moved on to the next stage of boiler throat plate rectification plus the repair program for the copper box. The old cone section has been condemned“
Meanwhile, back in Somerset work continues on other parts of the loco.
Side Tanks
A decision has been made to fabricate new tanks for the loco to provide water capacity as originally designed . The first image below shows the steel frame and brackets on loco 4561 where the tanks sit. There should be a single row of holes 9 inches apart on the outside angle iron to which the base of the tank is bolted.
As shown by the second and third images, volunteers have had made a thin steel template of the tank bottom plate. A new CAD drawing was produced using the original GWR Swindon drawings, from which the template was laser cut. The template is to the correct size and shape, has the cut outs for the wheel splashers and has the correct locations of the fixing holes.
Connection Rods
As you can see from the images below, the inside faces of the rods are extremely rusted and pitted and we are trying to clean these up as best we can although they are not normally in view. The first two images show the inside of one of the rods before the work started.
Apart from a better appearance, removal of the pitting reduces stress concentration areas in the rod which should much reduce the chance of any cracks appearing. A smooth surface also allows for more reliable non-destructive testing of the rods.
The third image in the block below shows one inside edge having been cleaned up.
The work is still ongoing.
The first two images below show the recessed inside of the rod being cleaned up, and the final image shows the face at the end of the rod having been cleaned up. The counter bore where the bearing flange sits is very pitted and this will need machining.
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.