80064 Restoration Update – Great Progress Despite the Wind

It was a challenging start to the day at Cranmore, with the windy weather causing frequent power cuts. For a while, it wasn’t clear quite how much work would be possible, but thankfully the power returned and stayed on, allowing the team to get on with a very productive day.

There has been some excellent progress on 80064, with several important stages of the overhaul now moving forward.

Smokebox taking shape

The smokebox has now had all the fittings and liner plates riveted into position. This is an important milestone, and the photographs show some particularly impressive rivet work.

Inside the smokebox, you can see the various brackets which will accommodate the self-cleaning screens, table plates and header brackets, together with the liner plates fitted along the bottom of the smokebox.

The new fabricated steam pipe glands for the smokebox have also been completed and are shown in the photographs.

Bearings removed

Another significant piece of work has been completed with all the coupling and connecting rod bearings pressed out. These can now be assessed and either remetalled or renewed as appropriate, ready for the next stages of the locomotive’s mechanical overhaul.

Painting progress

A team of six were on painting duty, making excellent progress on the locomotive’s frames.

Jeff, Jonathan, Ronnie and Toby are shown hard at work on different areas of the frames, while Isaac was working underneath at the front and James was concentrating on the bogie components.

It is particularly encouraging to see so many volunteers contributing to the restoration. Every one of these jobs takes 80064 another step towards returning this important locomotive to steam.

There is still a considerable amount of work ahead, but the steady progress being made is very encouraging. 80064 is continuing to move forward, one job at a time.

Photography: Steve Masters

Photographs Show

  • The last of the rivets being fitted into the smokebox.
  • Lots of nice rivet heads!
  • A view inside the smokebox, showing the brackets for the self-cleaning screens, table plates and header brackets. The liner plates can be seen to the right of the photograph at the bottom of the smokebox.
  • All coupling and connecting rod bearings pressed out.
  • Jeff painting the frames.
  • Jonathan and Ronnie painting from the front.
  • Toby painting the left-hand side. Out of sight are Isaac underneath at the front and James working on the bogie components.
  • The new fabricated steam pipe glands for the smokebox.
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/