The Holden F5 Locomotive Trust has released an extensive update on the work being completed over the last 10 months or so.
Back in October 2020, most businesses that heritage associations deal with were in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. Staff were furloughed and meant output was slowed. This was no different for The Holden F5 Steam Locomotive Trust.
The Trust were left with no choice but to turn down income as fundraising efforts were removed as part of the lockdown.
Some good news came in September, though, as a letter came through from a solicitor saying that a generous legacy was left to the trust.
Ron sadly passed away and had been a member of trust since the early days, and thanks to this legacy, both The Holden F5 Steam Locomotive Trust and Tyseley Locomotive Works were in a position to proceed with GER 789's frames.
Soon after, CME Elliot Powick was having talks with CME of Tyseley Locomotive Works, Alistair Meanley, which resulted in a Schedule of Work being agreed to.
Castings were then removed from storage and were prepared for assembly, and the frames were relocated to Tyseley's Workshop, cleaned and primed ahead of construction.
The team at Tyseley, together with input from Elliot Powick, meant that by Christmas 2020, the frames were rapidly approaching the hot riveting phase.
Since Christmas, the frames have been hot riveted together, the machined cylinders are now installed, the smokebox and footplate have been installed, pending riveting, and four new buffers have been bolted to the frames.
Designs for the radial trucks and horn guides have been completed, but the Trust is waiting for the price of steel to drop before proceeding with the casting.
Ongoing meetings will complete the next Works Schedule and an announcement will be made in due course.
Original CME Graham Rowland, has continued with researching drawings as requested by Elliot Powick.
If you want to donate towards GER 789, please click here to visit their website
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