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Showing posts from January, 2023

ANOTHER WORKING DAY, 28th JANUARY

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Association volunteers were again on site at Port St. Mary yesterday continuing work on No.5 with work including bolting the boiler down at the smokebox end and adjusting the tank brackets.  The anti-draft plates in the front of the cab have also been refitted, a rather awkward task.  The steel plate that supports the vacuum ejector has been fitted and a trip was made to Port Erin to borrow the seats and cab floor from sister No.6 to copy and make new sets for No.5,  There will be another working party next week on SATURDAY 4th FEBRUARY and you can contact us at granttaylor@manx.net if you are interested in getting involved or would like further information on the project's progression.

VOLUNTEERING DAY, 21st JANUARY

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Association volunteers once again had a productive day at Port St. Mary working on No.5 yesterday with attention focusing on bolting the boiler down by fitting the two clips that go either side of the firebox and tank brackets.  Looking at what bolts required for the smokebox end.  A selection of ironwork has been cleaned up and put into red oxide. Namely sandpipes, fire hole doors, bracers for the steps and damper rods.  During the week as a homework project the gauge glasses are being sandblasted. A new coal bunker door was made, the old one being to bent and twisted, despite efforts to straighten it out. Work will continue next SATURDAY 28th JANUARY and you can contact granttaylor@manx.net for further information.

WORK IN PROGRESS, 14th JANUARY

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Volunteers from the Association were on site at Port St. Mary Station again yesterday working on No.5, with focus on removing the broken back fireman's side window, which put up quite a lot of resistance but eventually came free  and can now be repaired and cleaned.  A general coating of various components with black paint also occurred; parts including the steam turret, fireman's side brake rods, boiler clamps, cab steps among other items were coated.  Work will continue on the locomotive next weekend, if you would like to get involved or have any questions please contact granttaylor@manx.net, next on-site meeting SATURDAY 21st MARCH 2023.

SCENES FROM THE ARCHIVE, 12th JANUARY

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As work progresses on our official cosmetic restoration of No.5 in time for the 150th anniversary celebrations in July this year, a look back through the archive of the locomotive in service with our thanks to Steven Harris, Richard Greenwood and Steve Broomfield; work on the locomotive will continue at the weekend.

COSMETIC PROGRESS FROM 8th JANUARY

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Some further views of our volunteer progress on the cosmetic restoration of No.5 in the goods shed at Port St. Mary Station showing progress on the cabs, whistle turret, coal bunker and on the footplate; the next working party will take place on SATURDAY 14th JANUARY when our volunteers will be on site from around 10.30am to continue their works. Please contact granttaylor@manx.net for details.

FURTHER PROGRESSION, 7th JANUARY

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Excellent progress was made at Port St. Mary on 7th January with all the studs on the backhead of the boiler in the cab having been cleaned up, ready for re-fitting.  A replacement draincock rods and pins were re-fitted.  Elsewhere, The cab steps and back sand-pipe on the driver's side were removed, with the aid of a small propane torch.  The back of the steps were then refurbished with fresh paint. The reason for the steps' removal was to enable the frames on that side to be needle-gunned and painted, the section under the coal bunker between the frames was also started to be dealt with in this way. Also receiving attention was the steam turret on top of the boiler, which was needle gunned and painted in red oxide.  Undercoat was also applied to the exterior of the cab and roof. The next working party will be on SATURDAY 14th JANUARY, please contact granttaylor@manx.net for further information.

NEW YEARS' UPDATE, 1st JANUARY 2023

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The latest working volunteer party at Port St. Mary goods shed started out by having a small tidy up and re-organise in the shed; moving a box of castings and the locomotive's outside motion off the trestles, thus enabling the trestles to be used to clean up and repaint the brake rods from the fireman's side.  Also painted were the tank brackets, which are now needed to help secure the boiler to the water tanks and tie them together.  Progress was also made on the back of the main frames, under the bunker, the area being cleaned with aid of a small needle gun, then painted with a coat of red oxide.  Works will continue into the new year.