A good turnout of volunteers at the Cranmore workshop this week meant progress on many fronts with WSRA's BR Standard 4 tank 80064. Steve Masters reports, with photographs.

Smokebox

James and Patrick riveted the new self-cleaning smokebox table plates together, and the finished plates are now ready. The old smokebox door has been stripped of all its fittings so they can be reused on the new door.

Axleboxes

James heated the first of the new axlebox crowns ready for tinning and white-metalling. The serrations in the crown were tinned, the white metal poured, and the first crown is now done.

Frames and motion

Alistair made a start cleaning the first coupling rod. Rowan turned the bogie frame back the right way up and gave it a coat of grey undercoat, then painted the driving horn way where the block has been refitted. If you look very closely you can spot Isaac in his hiding place underneath the saddle fabrication, needle-gunning and painting in a very confined space!

Rear bufferbeam

Jeff and Dave removed the rear buffer, which revealed that the loco has obviously had a heavy shunt at some point – the rear bufferbeam is rather bent. The bent gusset plates, gussets and rivets have been removed so the bufferbeam can be straightened and new gussets fitted.

Cylinders and fittings

Both rear cylinder covers have now been removed. Paul has been using the new grit blaster to clean up the fittings – one cylinder cock body now looks like new. Elliot has also made a start machining the new piston head casting on the borer; you can watch a short video of this on the ESR Workshop and Running Shed News Facebook group.

Wheels at Riley's

All the carrying wheels have had their tyres turned, and the first of the driving wheels has now come off the wheel lathe.

All photographs © Steve Masters.