It wasn’t long into 2018 that the team overhauling steam locomotive 35005 “Canadian Pacific” picked up their tools and continued working on ‘Can Pac’.
Last Work to be Done in 2017
The last major work completed on 35005 in 2017 was fitting the springs to the driving wheels. This had been a long and difficult task to carry out, but was completed before the start of 2018.
Components such as the mechanical lubricators and atomisers have been returned to the frame, ready for use.
Bryn Engineering Visits Eastleigh
In May 2017, whilst examining the centre valve liners, Bryn Engineering said they needed to be replaced. This work has been completed successfully, despite it being a difficult task, in early January. In order to place a liner into the valve, liquid nitrogen is used to shrink the liner. Once at the correct size, the liner has to be in place inside the valve within 4 minutes of being removed from the liquid nitrogen. Adding in the fact the centre valve has to be kept perfectly clean and the liner has to be moved around the engine, only further complicates the process. Once all the centre valve liners were completed, the same process was carried out with the stuffing box liner. With the liners fully expanded, boring could proceed later the same day.
Work at Eastleigh is hoped to focus on the cylinders next, to fit the slidebars, pistons and valve spindles.
Boiler
Good progress has been made on the boiler since the last update. The back plate has returned from the South Devon Railway. The first time the new one was sent out to Ropley, there was a problem fitting it, being returned to undergo further work. With the arrival of the new throat plate, the new inner firebox can begin construction shortly. Once the throat plate is fitted, the removal of the foundation ring can take place.
- Visit the Watercress Line’s Website
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