Let’s get 4561 rolling
29th November 2022
Another week and another update of work on the locomotive.
Words and pictures by Harry Spencer
The second axle box has now got its white metal.
The first box is now on the borer and a start has been made on machining it out.
On the frames, riveting work has been carried out to the front soul bar section with Mister Healey on the guns, Mister Roper on the jack. And Mister Chivers pumping one out… as the jack
Mister Chivers has been busy making new bolts for the bent pony which still needs bending back straight.
Finally for this week, the pony truck wheels are slowly being painted up with one wheel in undercoat grey and the other set in being sanded for gloss black.
21st November 2022
This blog entry gives a sample of the work that has been going on in the background in recent weeks, despite delays with suppliers and other issues beyond our control.
Words and pictures by Harry Spencer
Work has started on replacing some of the old running boards on the front end of the locomotive, here is one the RH side boards along with the old one.
Work on the axle boxes has also started with the first box fully white metaled and ready for machining and the second box being prepared for new white metal.
On the first pony truck, work has started on stripping it down.
Here it is on the pillar drill having the seized bolts drilled out because it was discovered to be bent.
These images show one side of the pony truck assembly and the other side rather more severely bent.
15th August 2022
Progress has been limited over the past 3 months while waiting for the three coupled wheelsets to be machined and returned from Tyseley.
Words by Mike Johns. Photos: Ryan Pope and Tyseley Locomotive Works.
Having originally thought that one axle would have to be replaced owing to abnormal journal wear it had been found that it could still be machined without exceeding the GWR standards so Tyseley were asked to assist by re-profiling all 6 axle journals and wheel faces on their wheel lathe.
The first photo above shows this work in progress on one of the wheelsets in Tyseley’s wheel lathe. This second photo shows the finished result with the highly polished wheel face and axle journal.
The three axles have now been completed and once returned to Williton will enable work to progress on re-wheeling 4561’s chassis.
Meantime the six main axleboxes seen in the third photo.(upside down) now have bronze liners fitted to the horn faces and the six new spring hanger forgings machined and fitted between the horns.
8th April 2022
It’s been a while since the last update. The delays have been for several reasons including longer than expected lead times for supplies, other work and the impact of the February storms.
Words by Mike Johns and photos by Ryan Pope.
Having decided to replace piston rods and heads orders were placed in December 2021. They were then subject to extended delivery periods and have only just arrived. This has meant only minor jobs could be progressed on 4561.
The two piston rod blanks have also been delivered and are fit for purpose as seen in this photo.
This photo. shows one of the piston heads being proof machined to confirm its suitability for use. It is not – the small marks you can see are voids indicating that the casting is porous and not fit both having to be replaced by our suppliers with fault free castings – and a further delay waiting delivery.
A close up shows the defects exposed which may well extend sideways below the machined surface and the next photo. shows that the other piston head is similarly defective.
Amongst the jobs that have been progressed the new cylinder cladding sheets have been cut and rolled for fitting. This photo. shows the right hand one fitted in position having been given a coat of priming paint.
The opportunity has also been taken to fit part of the front platform as seen here.
Originally the front of 4561’s frames had been subject to collision damage and were bent. The last platform had been cut to fit hence the curved section on the LHS of the photo. does not reach the top of the angle it is to be bolted to as can just be seen.
29th November 2021
A problem was found when the second piston rod was set up for machining. In the picture it is shown with a square standing on the piston head. You will notice that while the bottom of the square is in contact with the piston rod, above this there is a tapering gap between the rod and the rest of the square. This indicates that the piston head is not square to the piston rod as it should be.
It is not known how or what caused this situation but for future safety the decision has been made to replace both the piston rod and piston head for which quotations are being obtained pending approval to place the necessary orders.
Work has progressed in aligning the cylinder slide bars which have now been finally fitted with the requisite bronze packing pieces fitted between the fronts of the bars and the rear cylinder covers and also between each slide bar and its companion slide bar bracket.
Work has continued machining the new cylinder cock castings. The photo. shows how each casting is mounted in a lathe to enable the machining of centre section, which will house the actual valve when fitted. Each of the six cock castings is being machined stage by stage for conformity and to ensure that each is dealt with in the same manner where any awkward setting up is needed.