West Somerset Railway Association

Supporting the Heritage of the West Somerset Railway for over 50 years

Members
Join us

Let’s get 4561 rolling

4561 Side Tanks – more great progress

 Today the tank was lifted and turned onto its back so we could use the ‘squeezer’ with the hydraulic power pack to close up the 50 rivets that secure the base of the tank to the tank frame/angle iron.

The rivets need to be flush on the underside, so one of the jobs on Tuesday is to grind them down so that the underside can then be painted with the epoxy.
Once the epoxy has dried we can stand the tank back up and all being well finish off the last remaining rivets along the top and bottom edges next Saturday.
It is the first time that we have seen the underside of the tank since all of the welding has taken place, hence the burn marks in the epoxy paint which have now been cleaned off.
Report and pictures by Paul

 This work needs funding please could you help to keep up this progress moving forward. Please click the link to donate https://wsra.org.uk/donate-to-wsra-locomotives/

 

 

 

Progress update on 4561’s side tanks

container Shelving
container Shelving
container Shelving

Before the top sheet was finally put in position the fixing bolts for the air vent, feed pipe bracket and top inspection cover were welded in place. These items cannot be accessed internally once the tank is complete, so the bolts are held captive to allow the parts to be subsequently removed if required. All of the other items on the top of the tanks will be rivetted in place.

 

The top sheet was then put in position for the final time and bolted up through every other hole to await riveting.

 

The tank filler was checked in place, and installation of the beading to the top edge has since been completed. Both of these items will be riveted in place once the riveting of the top and side sheets has been completed.

 

With the top sheet secured in place we have made the tube that carries the feed water pipe through the middle of the tanks, and also the two drain pipes that keep the top of the tank clear of water.

 

 

The Manufacture of New Side Tanks for 4561 are Progressing Well

Further Progress is being made on 4561’s at Minehead

All of the 10mm holes that were laser cut in the inside platework have now been drilled through and transferred into the angle iron frame.
These holes in the frame have now all been drilled out to 10.3mm and tapped 12mm, to take the stainless steel bolts that will secure the inside platework in position.
Work has started started on drilling out the 10mm laser cut holes in the inside platework to 12.5mm to provide a clearance around the 12mm bolts, with approximately 60% holes enlarged so far.
As always a huge thank you to the “Tank Team”