No.5 Mona Project

After a short hiatus to concentrate efforts elsewhere, notably the preparation of No.8 for her appearance at the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway's Beyer Bash last month, work recommenced today on the cosmetic restoration of No.5 in the goods shed at Port St. Mary.  Working parties will now continue every Saturday and Tuesday evenings subject to availability, the next potentially being TUESDAY 14th JUNE.  As the accompanying images show much progress is being made.

Another evening working party took place last night at Port St. Mary with Association volunteers continuing their work on No.5 concentrating on reassembly and painting; in addition to working inside the frames as we get closer to the point when the boiler can be refitted, the first coat of green undercoat was applied to the fireman's' side tank and various other areas.  The next working group will be on SATURDAY 7th MAY in the goods shed; as ever if you can assist in our endeavours we would be delighted to hear from you on granttaylor@manx.net

Volunteers were again on site at Port St. Mary yesterday evening continuing their work on No.5 with work concentrating on reassembly and fitting of the running gear as well as preparation and application of red oxide to the drivers' side wheels and pony truck.  Another working party will take place this SATURDAY 30th APRIL from 10.00am, if you would like to get involved please contact granttaylor@manx.net

Association volunteers were again on hand yesterday, Saturday 9th April at Port St. Mary goods shed while work progressed on the cosmetic restoration of No.5.  The driving wheels are being prepared for painting as well as the left hand side of the outer frames, the pony truck axle boxes have been cleaned out and lubricated. Work has also been carried out to the eccentric straps on the axle and the valve gear has now been cleaned up with work started on refitting it. The die blocks, valve rods and expansion links have been reinstated.  The next working group will be from 6.00pm on TUESDAY 12th APRIL at Port St. Mary.  If you can assist please contact granttaylor@manx.net

Work continued yesterday evening by Association volunteers on the frames and motion of No.5 in the goods shed at Port St. Mary Station;  attention was focused on reassembling the motion and applying further coats of black paint to the running boards, steps, buffer beams and couplings and will continue as time allows; the next planned working day is this SATURDAY 9th APRIL from 10.00am.  If yon can help please contact granttaylor@manx.net  

Volunteers from the Association continued their work on the frames of No.5 at the weekend; work concentrated on cleaning out the axleboxes and cleaning the trimmings ready for filling with fresh oil, the weight shaft was also refitted and more painting was carried out as progress is made to allow the boiler to be returned to the frames.  The next working group will be on the evening of TUESDAY 5th APRIL, if you can help please contact granttaylor@manx.net

With lighter evenings now upon us volunteers from the Association have been on site at Port St. Mary Station earlier this week continuing work on No.5 with focus being between the frames with a view to completing paintwork so that the boiler can be lifted.  As well as red gloss being applied to the inner frames, the opportunity was taken to gloss the connecting rods and front buffer beam. The next working party will be on SATURDAY 2nd APRIL from 10.00am to which all are welcome; another working group is planned for the evening of TUESDAY 5th APRIL and anyone wishing to help should contact granttaylor@manx.net.

Work continues on the cosmetic restoration of No.5 in the goods shed at Port St. Mary; last weekend work focused on cleaning the right hand valve gear, continuing to paint the rods and inside frames and much progress was made.  A start has also been made on painting the picket fencing outside the shed and with the lighter nights it is planned to have more working groups in the coming weeks.  If you can help please contact granttaylor@manx.net

Work has been continuing at Port St. Mary in  the goods shed as Association volunteers progress the cosmetic restoration of No.5 with an aim of having the locomotive ready to be displayed as part of the summer transport festival at the end of July.  Work has continued cleaning and measuring mechanical parts, the valve gear is now completely disassembled for cleaning and the valve spindles and nucles are now fully reassembled and lubricated.   The cleaning and painting various components for the sanding gear, vacuum exhaust pipe and various other pieces has also progressed. At this stage the next working party date has yet to be decided upon, but with the lighter evening is it is proposed to continue works potentially on a TUESDAY evening.  A further blog post will be made when  the next volunteers days has been selected.

A group of Association volunteers were again on hand last Saturday at Port St. Mary continuing work on No.5.  The work was once again focused on the mechanicals with some cleaning up the outside rods for painting.  The left-hand cylinder and crosshead have been freed up and some further painting was also carried out as well as  dismantling and cleaning the grit out of the valve gear.  The next working party will be on SATURDAY 19th MARCH from 10.00am, if you are interested in helping please contact granttaylor@manx.net