Back together again
Tender Update March 2006
The tender was finally extracted from the fabrication works on Thursday 2nd March. All did not go to plan as the low loader was booked for 0700 hrs and eventually arrived at 14.30 hrs. Anyway after a lot of blood sweat and tears she finally arrived at Toddington around 1600 hrs. (literally blood I squashed my thumb)
Friday was spent trying to recover lost time and get all the pipework refitted etc all of which had previous been cleaned and prepared. Late Friday afternoon City of Truro steamed off into the sunset with our tender firmly in tow. Saturday saw it shunted into the Carriage shed ready for the painters to start on Sunday. The following week saw the tender prepared, painted and finally lined out the following weekend. Friday 17th will see City of Truro bring the tender back to Toddy for a weekend of activity in re-coupling and finishing off.
The tender is all but totally new. The only things that are original are the grab handles, access steps, locker doors, water done, and filler lid. The tank has been simplified to reduce corrosion and to gain water capacity. The fire hydrant connection has been retained but is now underneath the tank between axles. The construction has used thicker materials in the floor, coal space so most of us will be in the next world before the tank needs further restoration. In addition we are fitting 16 Magnesium Anodes all around the inside of the tank. These sacrificial anodes will attract the corrosion and hopefully, stop the tank itself corroding. It is known technology in the marine industry so we hopeful it will work for us.
So within the next week or so Foremarke will return to traffic with a new tender tank and looking the part, as I believe she always has, but then I could be classed as biased. What is probably a first in preservation is that we have planned, managed, and execute a complete tender tank rebuild, repaint and back into traffic in no more than 12 weeks with no little or steaming’s for the engine lost.
John Cruxon
Locomotive Manager
Locomotive Manager
I have to say how proud of my team I am, that they engineered a complete tender rebuild in only 12 weeks. To have prepared it for transportation, , dispatched, monitored the work, arranged for re-delivery, refitted all parts, organised repainting, tested and mated up to the engine once more ready for service has been an outstanding effort. Thanks go to John Cruxon and pals with a mention of gratitude to DG Welding of Gloucester for so efficiently completing such a mammoth task.
Jim Clarke
Chairman
WE REALISE THAT ALL THE ABOVE IS ANCIENT HISTORY NOW, BUT BELIEVE THE STORY IS INTERESTING ENOUGH TO LEAVE UP FOR YOUR PERUSAL
Jim Clarke
Chairman
WE REALISE THAT ALL THE ABOVE IS ANCIENT HISTORY NOW, BUT BELIEVE THE STORY IS INTERESTING ENOUGH TO LEAVE UP FOR YOUR PERUSAL
Photographs by John Cruxon & Jim Clarke
