Things have been progressing steadily with the restoration of 56040 “Oystermouth”. The following is a list of jobs completed during July, August, September and October:-
1) Bodywork and other items
1.1) Shunt 56040 to settle springs and dampers.
1.2) Clean bodyside.
1.3) Remove old / contaminated cantrail filters, and temporarily fit hardboard panels in their place, to provide winter protection.
1.4) Clean jacking cavities and painted with rust preventative paint.
1.5) Pull out dent on No 1 end drivers side.
2) Bogies and Underframe
2.1) Steam clean bogies and fuel tanks
2.2) Dismantle, clean and re-assemble both ‘A’ and ‘B’ side fuel tank sight gauges.
2.3) Secure lifeguard on No 2 end secondman’s side.
2.4) Renew / refit sand pipes as required.
2.5) Fit missing compressor check valve.
2.6) Remove batteries from ‘A’ and ‘B’ side battery boxes (six batteries each side).
3) Cabs
3.1) Clean both cabs (heavily contaminated with plasterboard dust ! !)
3.2) Free up sticking cab doors.
3.3) Remove corroded door step plate and corrosion from pillar cover plate by No 2 end drivers door.
3.4) Refit main brake gauges.
3.5) Refit AWS reset buttons and bracket.
4) Radiator Compartment
4.1) Refit E70 brake control unit.
4.2) Refit loco brake distributor.
5) Engine Compartment
5.1) Engine barred over – moves freely.
5.2) Engine cooling system refilled in July and emptied in October.
5.3) Remove both ‘A’ and ‘B’ side starter motors. ‘A’ side one OK, but ‘B’ side one waterlogged ! !
5.4) Engine rocker arm and fuel pump covers refitted, to provide winter protection.
5.5) Refit missing / tighten loose cooling hose jubilee clips.
5.6) Refit BICERA fitted crankcase door to engine.
5.7) Drain engine bed plate of oil and water.
6) Clean Air Compartment
6.1) Refit floor panel in electrical cubicle.
6.2) Refit missing air filters to the main air system.
6.3) Refit motor contactor cubicle doors.
Luckily problems have been few and far between so far (touch wood ! !), with the waterlogged starter motor (expensive ! !) and the failure under pressure of an air pipe (big bang ! !), being the only things to report to date. Lets just hope our luck holds out ! !
