Shiny Shoes

Several people bemoaned the lack of a blog post last week.  I decided that I deserved some time off for "Good behaviour", well ok, some time off anyway. What passes for normality around here will be restored just as soon as I have worked out what normal is.

This week, the lifting jacks that have been stood outside the David Page shed for some considerable time, have been sent off to be overhauled.  The space for them on road 7 in the David Page shed is now ready for them to be installed.

Lifting jacks being lifted

The above two photos courtesy of John Cruxon

Apparently the crane was capable of lifting 100 tons, perhaps we should have forgotten about renovating our lifting jacks and just stuck the crane in the shed instead.

3850 has seen a fair bit of dismantling work take place over the last week or so, which has caught me slightly by surprise as there is nowhere obvious to stash the large volume of bits that have so far come off of it.  Here is a bit of a catch up on what has happened so far:

As she was at the start of Sunday, most of the boiler cladding removed

 I have heard a rumour that 3850's water gauge frame may be temporarily mounted somewhere and be used as a working exhibit for new and trainee firemen to practice replacing broken gauge glasses.  I'm not sure how true that is, but nevertheless, Eleanor had a head start by dismantling it on Sunday.

Eleanor removing 3850's gauge frame

 The backhead cladding was already partly off, some more cladding and the fire box doors and runners were removed on Sunday

Liam removing a section of backhead cladding

 The sight feed lubricator was removed and given a clean too

Liam cleaning the sight feed lubricator

The brakes were largely removed on Sunday:

Ash and Tom got on with dismantling the brakes

 The job entailed getting underneath 3850... and in Ash's case at least, it involved getting fairly grubby too...

... or perhaps it's some sort of war paint?

 Oblivious to the fact that he needed to clean himself up, Ash conscientiously cleaned all the tools that he had been using first.  I'm not entirely convinced that the wash room was the best place for that, but nevertheless, full marks for trying.

Cleanliness is next to impossible and all that.

A team of people spent Saturday rubbing down Foremarke Hall's tender in anticipation of some top coats of paint being applied.  I have no photos from Saturday I'm afraid, however Sean returned on Sunday to finish carry on with the job:

Sean continueing rubbing down Foremarke Hall's tender

Foremarke Hall herself has been at Tyseley for boiler work for some time now, I have received a few photos and an update on progress from John:

The boiler rebuild has progressed well, and is now just in need of having its flue tubes installed.

Boiler being lifted from a well wagon.

Beware, low flying boiler.

Foremarke Hall's bogie has been removed  in order to permit access to the leading pair of axle boxes which require overhauling

Removing the bogie...

...axle boxes stripped and cleaned, ready for overhaul.

Careful examination of the top right hand corner of the above photo reveals a piece of metal with "7029" painted on it.  Obviously Foremarke Hall has been keeping good company during her stay at Tyseley.  I wonder how close 7029, Clun Castle is to steaming again now?

The above four photos all courstesy of John Cruxon.

As mentioned last time, Dinmore Manor was only back with us briefly, before heading off with 3850's erstwhile tender, (the one hired from the Bluebell Railway, has now been returned to its owners) to the Battlefield line for their gala over the weekend.  Apparently it was an excellent event, and one of our newest firemen, Mike was on hand to capture a few photos for posterity.

7820, waiting whilst Cumbria & Sir Gomer make a spirited departure

Dinmore Manor at the head of a maroon set

Both the above photos courtesy of Mike Solloway. 

Dinmore Manor will be returning to us in the latter half of November, after a few events on the Severn Valley Railway.

And finally, on  Sunday, 5542 was the sole steam loco out running, her driver, Ian, was due for his biennial reassessment, Neil on the other hand, who was driving the DMU wasn't. I've mentioned in the past that appearance is one of the things that the inspectors are looking for.  I'll leave it as an exercise for the reader to work out which boots belong to which person.

Spot the difference

Inspector Irving was observed returning to his car to get his sunglasses.

Apparently it was clean them like this or watch Eastenders on the tv... enough said!