2018 saw the Dean Forest Locomotive Group purchase Pannier Tank 9682 and have continued with her ongoing restoration with the latest progress, marking a great effort by the engineering team.
The last few weeks have seen riveting up the new rear drag box assembly alongside riveting down to the new cab floor. The report mentions the task as being a little sweaty due to the sweltering heat of the last few weeks.
The project contractor has carried out the removal of the old cylinder block and frames, which have now been split into its two halves.
The block, as anticipated, is substantially cracked, which is due to carrying water over under its last ticket. Metal stitching has seen this damage repaired. However, the group believes they will likely need replacing and will begin looking into getting a new cylinder block made for 9682, which as ever with steam locomotive restoration, is likely to be expensive. Any help with funding would be enormously appreciated by the Engineering Team.
9682 has plenty to keep the Engineering Team hard at work and once again, the Group wishes to thank all of those for their ongoing support!
To find out more about the Dean Forest Locomotive Group, please visit their Facebook page or their website by clicking here.
