DMU running under its own power to Birkhill	Changing spring on 80105	Changing spring on 80105	Sentinel boiler being prepared for steam test	80105 on black Bun service
80105 on black Bun service	Inside new van	Pete and Ian with new SLOG (LOGS)Van	Cast pot for new piston rings	Brazing copper drain pipe for 419
Setting up cast pot	Billy expanding tubes in No.1 boiler	Tom preparing No.1 for boiler inspection	Machining cast pot for Piston rings	Kenny & Alex repairing Van Door
Kenny & Alex repairing Van Door

4-1-08 A happy New Year to you all! With this years running season starting in less than 10 weeks the pressure is on to have all the maintenance and repair work carried out in time. 80105 requires attention to a lot of small steam leaks. New joints and packing and seats requiring re-cut etc. The center driver axle springs need to be changed as they have broken leafs. New Knuckle pins and bushes may also be required. Routine maintenance such as boiler wash out and cleaning the lubrication system is also to be carried out. No.1:- requires attention to the firebox tube plate as the beaded edge on some of the tubes has burnt away. The slide bar location bolts need to be replaced and adjustments need to be made to cross head slipper clearances. The injectors are to be serviced and the side tanks are to be replaced as well as the normal maintenance items. Morayshire :- Is to be prepared for its boiler inspection and normal routine maintenance items.  419 has passed its boiler hydraulic test and is being prepared for the boiler internal inspection particularly of the crown stays. Fair Maid:- The frames have now been moved onto the hard standing at the rear of the Romney shed. The new axles, eccentrics, wheels and new crank pins are being put out to a contractor to be assembled. Austerities :- The cabs and bunkers are now back on the frames. The side rods have been primed and material for new bushes ordered. Cast Iron pots for the new piston rings are now on site. A detailed task list has been devised for the remaining work to complete these locomotives. There is well over 500 man hours for No.19 and 600 man hours for No.7 to complete the outstanding tasks. Sentinals :- a boiler is being prepared for a steam test.

13-12-07 I do apologise for the late update but the day time job has been hectic lately! First of all I would like to thank the organisers of the Caley Ceilidh for the very well organised event. Good food, good company, good music and a very good time was had by all! Can we do it again next year please?
There has been good turn out on recent Monday evenings but its been a bit quiet at weekends. However progress is being made! 80105 is in traffic and is working the Santa specials. The brick arch had started to fail with a couple of bricks falling (These are large shaped bricks made with fire clay with 2 making a complete arch) On investigation it was found that the RH support rod had disintegrated. Both support rails were replaced and the brick arch replaced with mostly new bricks by Tam and Norman on Monday evening. Morayshire is out of service for annual boiler examination (cold inspection followed by steam test)  CR 419 is being prepared for its Boiler hydraulic test with all the boiler fittings removed and replaced with blanking plates. The regulator valve has also been removed and blanked off but water is still leaking into the cylinders. It looks as if the J pipe (This is the pipe that goes between the regulator valve and the steam pipe) will have to be removed to find the leak and may explain the apparent regulator steam leak. Austerities:- At long last the new pistons are finished. Dick is now machining the new water tank filter elbows from new brass castings for both engines. New cast pots are expected in the next week for making the new piston rings. The Bunker for No.7 has been modified with its internal sloping chute and is now ready to be lifted into place. Billy has started to get the new lubrication pipe work to the same condition as devised by Alisdhair on No.19 which is now complete. The side rods for both engines have been cleaned up and primed ready for painting. The brasses are all badly worn and new bushes are to be made as well as new knuckle pins (This is the pin that holds both parts of the connecting rod together) New bushes are also being made for the front valve cover plate on No.19. There has been very little progress on the Sentinals and the Fair Maid in the last few weeks. The steam heating van has now been put back together after its boiler inspection but there is still some problems with the fuel pump and it is hoped that these will be resolved by the weekend. The new point at the north end of Birkhill station was damaged last weekend when 80105 slid through the point while running round on the first run of the day. This will result in the remaining Santa and black bun specials being topped and tailed as there is a significant lead time for the replacement blade. Running shed improvements:- The workshop area has been cleared up and the a new sign in/notice desk made. The lighting in the running shed is to be upgraded. This will entail replacing the existing low level fluorescent lights on both the north and south sides of the main shed and replacing all the workshop lights. This work will also involve replacing the current light switch positions etc. The main doors are also to be refurbished and fitted with  new secure pedestrian doors that meet safety/escape requirements. The plan is also to refurbish the old bothy area into a washing, changing and laundry area. Removal of most of the tired old lockers and fitting new shower units is planned for the shower room as is a general refurbishment of the toilet area. (If you have a locker in the shower room or you know of a locker that is not in use any more please contact Jim Verth as they need to be moved)

See photos of recent activity by Alex Livingstone

Kenny making new sloped bunker base No.7	Tinning cross head slipper	Billy sorting out some of No.7 parts	Jim and Malcolm removing the regulator valve 419 (It is said that all he has to do is whistle and it jumps to his hand........	Simon with dome removed from 419
Dave Thornton cleaning up trestles.	Dane cleaning up the bores in No.19	Dick machining elbows	Ronnie in full flow! Captions please	New tank outlet elbows part machined No.7 & 19
Malcom putting the finishing touches to refurbished crane	Norman and Tam with wasted brick arch support	Norman and Tam replacing brick arch supports 80105	Dick fettling new machined brass elbows	Reforming warped deflector plate for 80105
Passing new fire bricks into Norman and Tam	Santa visits the engine crew!	Santa on the shovel! with Jim, Tony and John Craig of the Civils "Monday Squad"

 

23-11-07 Work on clearing out the running shed workshop is now getting under way as is the clear out of surplus appliances and lockers from the running shed bothy area. The steam heating van boiler has been opened up for inspection.. No.419 has also been prepared for its boiler hydraulic test. Work has now started on re-metaling the crosshead slippers for the Austerities. Reaming of the spring hanger holes is now complete. 80105 is being prepared for the 'Santa Special' service due to start next weekend.

See photos of recent activity by Alex Livingstone

Tom Willison stripping white metal for crosshead slippers	Billy Willison drilling split pin holes in spring hanger pins	Sentinal safety valve ready for test	Jim and Dave replacing seals for manual lift truck	Tom & Norman dismantling boiler end covers steam heat van
Cleaning of side rods No,7	Simon cleaning valve spindle rods No 19	Completed pins for the Austerities	End cover being removed from steam heat van boiler	Steam heat van boiler covers removed for inspection
Adjustable tap being machined	Side rods No.7 being cleaned and primed