Saturday November 22nd
Couldn't get there due to total exhaustion. Did anyone do anything? Please let me know if you did.
Sunday November 9th
Present myself, Andy, Hazel, Mike Purslow and Ralph Thomas and Chief Security Officer (the dog) Stanley.
- Andy and Hazel removed the tarpaulin and used one half of the aluminium ladder laid lengthways along the top of the chassis to form a longtitudinal support for the tarpaulin. The external appearance is greatly improved and the working area below is a lot better.
- General scraping and debris clearance up towards the middle of the loco inside the frames.
- I made another attempt with Andy's assistance to remove one of the studs from the top of the sandboxes using lock nuts. We failed due to Andy's dodgy back and my complete lack of energy.
Saturday October 25th
Present were myself, Andy and Hazel, John Hunt and Chief Security Officer (the dog) Stanley. We all had a late start but worked up to 5:00 p.m. as the weather was very good.
- The top tube was removed from sandbox number 3 (right/rear). The nuts and spring washers were all scrap. The top tube still has its cap retaining chain and has a thin gasket under the main flange. Hazel scraped the back of the box and Andy disc-brushed off the tube.
- The top tube was removed from sandbox number 4 (left/rear). The nuts and spring washers were all scrap. The top tube still has its cap retaining chain and has a thicker gasket under the main flange. Both of the rear boxes have boss on the front with 2 off 5/8" Whit studs (scrap) and a boss on the side with a single 5/8" Whit stud (o.k.). Hazel scraped the back of the box and all four were lined up on the ladder under the engine.
- John tackled the large retaining nuts for the driving axle keeper plates. These are married with 6" long by 1 1/2" Whitworth fitted hexagon head cotter bolts. The bolts have 2" A/F heads while the nuts are 2 1/2" A/F castellated with a 3/8" cotter pin through them. One of the cotter pins is well and truly stuck while others will be difficult to get at as the bolts must have turned in service.
- The left rear keeper plate is of a different pattern to the other two remaining. The rear pair of bolts are of a different type and has plain rather than castellated nuts.
- The rear axle has two keeper plates, the center axle has one and the front axle has none. It was noted that the centre axle cants down from left to right at about 5 degrees. This is because it is only prevented from dropping out altogether by the left hand keeper plate which, we concluded, should be left where it is until the axle can be dropped in a controlled manner.
Sunday October 12th
Present were Andy and Hazel, Mike Purslow, John Hunt and David Winter. I arrived late following a pistol shoot at Wedgenock. Chief Security Officer (the dog) Stanley took little active part in the proceedings spending much of the day relaxing in the car.
- Some more gas cut bracketry removed from the inside of the frames by Andy.
- Hazel and David scraped, chipped and wire brushed sand box number two into a more presentable state.
- Mike and John continued general scraping and debris clearance at the rear of the loco inside the frames.
- I co-opted David into an all-out effort to get the remaining two sandboxes off the frames. The seized nuts on number 3 were dislodged and the box roped up for safety. We then realised that the unit could not be removed as it fouled part of the reversing gear. A bearing housing top was removed and the sand box finally hit the ground. The exercise was repeated on number 4 and accomplished in less than 1 hour.
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105-2Saturday September 27th
Met Andy and Hazel for a chat about the state of things but no work done. Debated the possibility of linking our respective 5MBytes of Demon webspace together - Andy and Hazel will start by trying to get the Newsletters up and running.
Sunday September 14th
Lake Galatea is back! - started by bailing out the tarpaulin.
- Got the right front sand box off and detached the top tube. This is different to the tube from the left side having a substantial (about 3") skirt below the main flange. There is a possibility that it has rusted away on the left hand one. Recovered 5 7/8" nuts and 4 washers all re-usable. Two each of the 3/4" nuts and washers holding the top tube on are scrap.
- Got the two support brackets off and recovered a number of other small items, nuts and washers, to be brought home for cleaning up with my brassed wire cup brush.
- Started on the right rear sand box by loosening the 7/8" nuts on the inside of the frames. Two of the nuts are solid being surrounded by corrosion.
12-1Sunday August 31st
Arrived late and depressed due to having just handed in 25 years worth of (now illegal) firearms and related equipment to the harassed and disinterested West Midlands Police. Torrential rain prevented any possibility of doing any usefull work.
Sunday August 10th
A somewhat disappointing day due to intense heat, several totally seized nuts which I could not shift and back pain. The Earl of Mount Edgecumbe team adjacent seem to be making good progress stripping the frames which is a little depresssing when compared with Galatea's almost imperceptible progress.
- Attempted and failed to move one of the 3/4" studs in the top of the left front sand box using two nuts as lock nuts. A proper stud puller will be required - especially considering the state of the studs in the bottom of the boxes where the threads have wasted away.
- Started preparing the right front sand box to be dropped out of the frames. This is now free apart from one of the 7/8" nuts which I could not budge even after applying heat.
- Continuing on the sanding gear theme I started on the burnt-off remains of the sand pipe brackets. These are fixed to the frame with fitted cotter bolts (3 for each). One bracket was removed, one is missing, the remaining two are in situ each with one bolt remaining in seized up condition. The nuts will probably need to be split to get them off. Of the fitted bolts (12 in all) some are o.k. some are too wasted and are scrap and one is missing.
Saturday July 26th
Had a late start and was delayed during the day by rain and interested bystanders.
- The Sand Box Tube was scraped and wire-brushed all over in preparation for the remedial work to set the distorted inlet tube back to 5 3/8" diameter (outside). This to be done by IEP Doncasters Limited in Blaenavon.
- Knocked some more sand out of the sandbox to establish the method of fixing of the studs at both ends. These are screwed in to the end plates and do not appear to have any other method of fixing. Replacements are to be made by Llandaff Engineering in Cardiff.
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11-1Sunday July 13th
Present were myself, Mike Purslow and Ralph Thomas
- Commenced with a general tidy up around the loco removing debris, litter and the pile of sand (assisted by Paul Owen) and straightening out the tarpaulins over the boiler and firebox.
- Scraped away the debris from the inside of the frame where the left front sandbox had been. Cleaned up and oiled the four 7/8" Whit studs and their nuts and washers. Extracted the remains of the cotter pins from the 3/4" studs, brushed off the threads and oiled them up.
- Applied heat and brute force to the two remaining 3/4" nuts holding the sandbox tube on to the sandbox to get them off and eventually got the tube off.
- Mike and Ralph continued general scraping and debris clearance at the rear of the loco inside the frames.
Thursday July 3rd
Bailed out the tarpaulin and straightened it up - cleared up the supporting wood and metalwork that had collapsed into the pit. Started scraping the front right hand sand box back to bare metal.
Saturday June 28th
No work undertaken due to rotten weather and exhaustion - I will try to get to the museum during the forthcoming week to straighten out the tarpaulin at least.
Sunday June 15th
Commenced with the ritual bailing out of the tarpaulin which has now been pulled well over to the one side of the engine by the weight of the gathering water. This will need straightening out on the next visit. Rain and exhaustion stopped me at one o'clock.
- Emptied the compacted sand out of the other three sand boxes and piled it up for disposal (somehow).
- Got the left side front sandbox off the inside of the frames and laid it alongside the engine.
Saturday May 31st
Did anyone do anything? Please let me know if you did.
Saturday May 24th
A solo effort by myself (not surprisingly - I'd come on the wrong day!). The weather was freezing at first but brightened up nicely later. Commenced by draining all of the water from the tarpaulin which could be measured in feet in places! Drew the whole thing forward over the engine to give it better cover at the front. Quite a few interested visitors who wanted to know all about the engine - in fact, at times it was difficult to get on with the job. My back gave out around 2 o'clock and I had to pack it in.
- Concentrated on the left side of the engine above the running plate, the front sand box in particular. This is fixed to the inside of the frame by four tabs with four 3/4" Whit studs through the frame. The leading tabs have a spring washer and one full hex nut on each while the trailing tabs have a spring washer and two full hex nuts on each. The studs and nuts are all in good condition. The sand tube is fixed by a flange to the top of the sand box with four 3/4" Whit studs up through the top of the box. Each has a spring washer, hex full nut and a cotter. These are all badly wasted. The tube has two lugs which are bolted with a pair of 5/8" Whit hex head cotter bolts, spring washers and full nuts to upright brackets attached to the inside of the frame. The bolts are badly wasted but the tube and brackets look o.k. The bottom of the box has a flange plate and four 5/8" Whit cotter studs in a very wasted state - otherwise the box looks reasonable. It is of welded construction and may need the top and bottom removed to replace the studs.
- Removed a large amount of compacted sand from the box and got all the nuts off ready to drop the box away from the frame. Its still very heavy so I left it in situ until my back recovers.
10-1
10-2Sunday May 11th
Present were myself, Mike Purslow and Ralph Thomas
- Bracket removed from the Left Hand Running Plate - secured from above by 2 off 5/8" BSW hexagon head bolts 1 1/8" long and 2 off hexagon full nuts. Condition - recoverable. A cranked link was attached to this with a 5/8" BSW bolt 1 1/2" long plus a spring washer and hexagon full nut. Condition - recoverable.
- Bracket removed from the Left Hand Running Plate - secured from below by 2 off square head 5/8" BSW bolts (1 7/8" long with 1" of thread) and plain washers. Above were 2 off hexagon full nuts with plain and spring washers. Condition - may be recoverable.
- Bracket removed from the Left Hand Running Plate - secured from below by 2 off 5/8" BSW hex head bolts with hex full nuts (all scrap). A second bracket exists from the Right hand side. Both brackets are wasted along the bottom flange and may not be recoverable.
- Bracket removed from the Left hand Running Plate - secured from below by 1 off 5/8" BSW hexagon head bolt and 2 off 5/8" BSW square head bolts with hexagon full nuts. Condition - recoverable.
- The Left hand Running Plate was scraped off in the area where the brackets had been fixed.
- Mike was left in charge of the parts for return to Sheffield.
- Mike and Ralph were engaged in scraping and debris clearance around the cab, footplate and dragbox area
09-1
09-2Saturday April 26th
Cancelled due to bad weather and work commitments.I continued with development of the outline design for the Galatea database using HTML, PERL and Web Browser technology
Sunday April 13th
Present were Andy and Hazel, Ian, Bryan, James and John, Mike Purslow and Bill Snowdon, myself and Chief Security Officer (the dog) Stanley
- Removal of the Right Side Expansion Link comprising two halves, 4 off 1" dia x 7" long fitted bolts, 4 off Hex Hd Nuts and retaining cotters, 2 off Phosphor Bronze Bearing Blocks which support the Radius Rod Stub Shaft when assembled and the lubricator actuating link and 1 1/2" Whit retaining nut.
- The Right Side Expansion Link Retaining Bosses (2 off) each with 6 fitted bolts and nuts were removed.
- Right Side Radius Rod comprising rod, stub shaft and Taper Pin
- The Right Hand Top Slide Bar was removed with 2 off Round head 1 1/4" dia fitted bolts (6" working length) which attach it to the motion bracket. Each bolt has 2 shim washers and a Hexagon Nut. Two 1" dia fitted bolts with nuts attached the slide bar to the cylinder head casting. 5 packing pieces were removed.
- The Taper Key holding the Left Hand CrossHead on to the Piston Rod was removed. Efforts to detach the Cross Head from the Rod with the Museum's purpose built CrossHead Splitters were problematical due to faulty equipment. Eventually the item succumbed and the CrossHead was removed
- More scraping and general debris clearing was performed.
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Sunday April 6th
Present were Andy, Hazel and the dog Stanley.
- General scraping and debris clearance around the right hand cylinder.
Sunday March 9th
Present were Andy, Hazel, myself and John Hunt. Dogs present were Stanley and Chas (deceased)
- The woodruff key in the end of the drain cock operating shaft proved impossible to remove so attention was turned to the collar inside the frames joining the short external shaft with the main shaft coming from the left hand side. This is fixed to each shaft end by taper split pins and a woodruff key - there are two different sizes of pin, the larger on the outside and the smaller on the inside. After a severe struggle both were removed which will allow the collar to be removed (this will probably require the application of heat).
- Moving to the Left hand side I removed the link mechanism for operating the mechanical lubrication to the left hand cylinder in a complete state with its two supporting bearing blocks. I also removed the operating rod that drives off the valve gear. NOTE : the UPPER hole in the drive link was in use on the left hand side.
- I removed the main longtitudinal operating rods for the cylinder drain cocks which are in two sections with a link shaft supported by two bearing blocks joining them. Each section is itself made up of two pieces screwed into a spacer block and locked up with nuts (presumably to allow length adjustment).
- Andy removed both of the twisted remains of the front running plate jammed between the frames and supporting angle by the application of brute force and determination.
- Andy realised that the left hand piston head was loose in the cylinder and devised a rope arrangement to extract it. It came out quite easily and appears to be in good condition. Spurred on by this success attention was turned to the right hand side piston head but this is unlikely to be as easy still having its nut on the end of the piston rod in place.
Saturday February 22nd
Present were Andy, David, Bryan, Ian, James and John. I was unable to do more than a flying visit due to pressure of work. Hazel was otherwise occupied looking after her dogs.
- The LH main slide bars were removed.
- Much of the RH valve gear was dismantled.
- Both left and right hand bogie mudguards were removed.
- The operating rod for the Left Hand Mechanical Lubricator Assembly was removed
Sunday February 9th
Present were myself, Andy and Hazel
- The following work was undertaken and completed :
- The link mechanism for operating the mechanical lubrication to the right hand cylinder was detached from its operating rod, removed and wire brushed. Dimensions and photographs were taken. The assembly comprises a 1" diameter shaft supported by two cast iron bearing blocks or hangers which are bolted to the underside of the running plate with 4 off 5/8" Whit (BSW) x 1 1/2" Hexagon Head Bolts with plain full nuts (probably should have spring washers as well). This is driven by an operating rod from the valve gear. NOTE : the LOWER hole in the drive link was in use on the right hand side.
- The right hand drop link for operating the cylinder drain cocks (?) was detached from the operating shaft, removed and wire brushed. Dimensions and photographs were taken. A woodruff key remains in the end of the operating shaft which will need to be removed to get the (single) support bracket off for refurbishment.
- More wire brushing on the front of the inside cylinder block was done
- Hazel worked from the right hand side on removing debris from the inside cylinder block.
Saturday January 25th
Present were myself, Andy, Hazel and the group from Sheffield comprising David Hardy, Bryan Jowett, Ian Goddard, James Williams and John Wade
- The following work was undertaken and completed :
- One section of the right hand running plate was removed
- Two copper oil pipes removed from the right hand side of the inside cylinder area
- The front right hand side of the inside cylinder block was wire brushed and painted with green primer
- The front buffer beam was wire-brushed, needle gunned and painted with green primer
- Some debris and scrap platework was removed from the inside of the front buffer beam
- Some parts of the valve gear were removed from the left hand side
- A pipe hook bolted to the underside of the front drag box was removed
Sunday January 12th
Present were myself, Andy and Hazel
- Two large foreign bodies were removed from the bolier (with assistance from another group). These were later identified as being the main steam elbow and the top cover mounting ring.