| May 2009 Engine and No 1 cab progress |
The latest delivery of new engine components arrived in mid April, which has enabled work to continue on the overhaul of the ex 50008 power unit, which has included fitting a further 4 overhauled pistons into their liners, along with their new piston rings, new big end bearing shells, new stretch bolts, nuts and washers and con rods and fitting further overhauled cylinder heads. The total now stands at 4 cylinder heads fitted and 8 pistons/connecting rods. The order for the next set of new components has just been placed with European Diesels.
Some of the old piston and con rod assemblies that were obtained as spares at the time the locos were bought from Operation Collingwood have been sorted out, and the gudgeon pins removed from six of the worst. Where found to be in good condition the pins were cleaned and greased for storage, the pistons have been set to one side as spares, and the worst of the conecting rods put on the scrap pile (some had been cut and some were in a very poor condition following years of outside storage at the P and B). The following two pictures illustrate a couple of the overhauled cylinder heads, pistons and liners refitted to the power unit.
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Another area that is really starting to come together is the refurbishment of No 1 cab in 50030. All the loose paint has been removed and all internal surfaces sanded, the cab vestibules have been repainted to a high standard, replacement ceiling vents, warning light cluster, cab lights, fault light panels and AWS horn have been refitted and wired up, all of which have been overhauled to a very high standard. The cab lights in particular need seeing to believe.
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| Replacement fault light panels, at the time of purchase the front covers, lenses and all the internal fittings had been removed from these panels. We could run a spot the deliberate mistake contest with this picture, as at the time a couple of the identification labels had been transposed, the panel has now been corrected. |
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| Cab vestibule showing overhauled ventilator, brake indicator panel and showing a couple of the switches masked up for painting. |
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| Fire pull ring housing in the process of being cleaned up. |
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| I am not sure how or what Tom has done to the cab lights, but they look like brand new ones! |
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| The drivers instrument panels for No 1 cab were refurbished and restored sometime ago by Doug, and are now in store awaiting other work in the cab to be completed. |
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| Above is seen one of the instrument panels out of its wrapping. The large hole is not a missing component, it's where the desk mounted vigilance device will protrude. At the time of purchase this cab didn't have any serviceable gauges present. |