There is still a chill in the Furness Railway Trust shed at Preston but we are hoping that another visit from the heating engineer will sort out the air source heat pump tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed!
In the meantime, there has been plenty to keep the Trust’s volunteers busy over the last week or so.
Ron decided to clean up Hunslet ‘Austerity’ 0-6-0ST Cumbria’s blast pipe and then give the finished product a coat of heat resistant paint – we hope that he isn’t too disappointed when the paint gets burnt off!
Alan spent some time assessing Cumbria’s eccentrics and Dave, Anthony and Alan then set about removing the eccentric straps which have now been cleaned and await further attention.
The Trust’s boiler surveyor, Adam Wright, visited yesterday and is seen here busy with his trusty hammer testing Cumbria’s firebox rivets as part of the locomotive’s 10 year out of frames examination. Adam concluded that the firebox crown stays will need replacing although the rest of the boiler was deemed to be satisfactory.
Alan and John were busy dismantling the safety valves ready for inspection.
Furness Railway locomotive No. 20 underwent its 14 month examination during Adam’s visit and it now due to undergo a steam test next Monday. One of tomorrow’s jobs will be to put back the fire-grate and fit the ashpan, wash out plugs and mudhole doors.
Finally, we wish Alan a very happy birthday today and look forward to the cakes!