News, 3 March 2023
News, 3 March 2023
For the first time in years this week's update contains news regarding work on the engine, but first this.
The no. 2 end driver's side buffer valance is now about finished, with all the will in the world it's almost impossible to form the tumblehome at the bottom of the panel without small deformations and defects. After the welding is complete and the bottom edge is put on, there are a good few hours to be spent on removing these defects and the result is seen below. Only the other end to do now....
The same applies to the bodyside and the no. 1 end B side is receiving the detail treatment too.
The position of the vacuum train pipe is slightly different between the donor loco and a Baby Deltic, certainly in terms of how and where it passes through the bufferbeam. To replicate the original locos as faithfully as possible we've moved the pipe and filled in the (now) unused hole. The photos below show the sequence.
In readiness for the overhaul of the main and auxiliary generators we have started to get the generators uncoupled. The auxiliary generator is mounted on top of the main generator and is easily removed. The main generator is less easily removed. It is flange mounted (in common with the Type 5 locos and most other EECo traction) and therefore is rigidly connected to the engine by a split adapter ring. The photo below shows the engine (left of shot) and main generator (right of shot) with the generator cooling fan in between the two. The fan is also in two parts and has to be removed to expose the bolts which couple the engine output shaft to the main generator input shaft. Once this is all off the generators can be lifted out and sent away.
This overhaul is expensive. We don't ask directly for donations very often and we're not going to break the habit now, but, we are approaching a period of high spend (electrical machine overhauls, cable and pipe purchase) so if you feel about to help with a donation to our funds, please follow the link below.
Thanks.
