The "heavy gang" (featuring Neil, Martin F and John Cooke with occasional hindrance from me!) managed to get the heat exchanger back into the loco.
Then not content with that, attention turned to the major challenge, installation of the No.1 exhauster!
This proved to be every bit as difficult as expected but by using a block and tackle with some slings managed to get it over the main obstacle, the fine oil filter housing, and plant it in position on its new flexible mounts.
It should now be relatively straightforward to connect it up.
Whilst we were tackling the exhauster, Mark A cleaned up all the flanges on the heat exchanger and pipework and made some new gaskets.
Then with the help of Gordon managed to get all the pipework loose assembled.
Mark is planning to tighten everything up next Saturday and all being well we will attempt to start the engine the following weekend.
Dick H has been applying some undercoat to the desk and draught screens in No.1 cab and has put a coat of white gloss on the ceiling.
Tony T-B has taken the aluminium edge off the L/H draught screen and rebated the wood underneath so as the new cab lighting cables can be run in there.
The original routing no longer being available.
The new piece of hardwood that goes across the front of the cab was cut to length and offered into position. Hopefully it will bend enough to match the contours of the floor structure which result from accident damaged attained by the loco some time during it's BR career. Once that is in place, the vinyl covering can be applied and the DSD pedals installed. The drivers side DSD pedal assembly actually acquired the distorted shape of the floor structure during the past mishap so the temptation to straighten it out was resisted in the hope that it will still match up when fitted!
The FV3 Auto Air Brake valve from No.1 cab was sent away for attention by a third party during the week and the good news is that it will satisfactory. A second spare unit that was also sent has been examined and should also be ok once a couple of missing parts have been sourced.
The loco has unexpectedly been filled with 300 gallons of fuel during the week so some form of action must be anticipated!
