On Thursday January 9th 6024’s boiler and ashpan arrived in Minehead being fitted later in the day.

The work was assisted by Riley’s who had brought the newly made ashpan to Minehead wanting to ensure the final fit was good and to undertake further work on it once in the frames. Anyone who has seen under the rear of a King will know how tight a fit the ashpan is. It was very pleasing to see it drop into place without any problem.

As would be expected, a few minor alterations were needed to get the boiler to sit happily in the frames. The repaired fire iron tunnel turned out to be very slightly foul of the firebox side expansion bracket but that was about it.

Once the boiler was in the frames the engine was taken for a short run up the yard to shake it around a little. No problems presented themselves.

Whilst the chassis was out in the yard the opportunity was taken to give the pit and surrounding area a pressure wash. Our thanks to Nick Parry for undertaking most of this work. The pit is, for now, nearly spotless.

Now the hard and heavy work required to finish the locomotive begins.

On November 20th 6024’s tender moved from Bennett Boilers in Highbridge to Minehead. The move, overseen by Keith Lines, went without a hitch and didn’t seem to cause too much traffic chaos on the A39! Several “panels” of track needed to be laid at Highbridge to remove the tender from the workshop and it was pleasing that calculations proved to be correct, the assembled tender would fit through the door.

On arrival at Minehead, which was a tight squeeze down the road and through the gate, the tender was quickly unloaded before being shunted to its temporary position outside the shed. It will shortly move into the shed, either sitting alongside the engine or behind it as WSR needs dictate. 

Meachnically very little remains to be done to the tender. The snagging list is very short. Electrically a few tasks remain to complete the 24V power system along with a couple of minor modifications decided on when analysing the recent commission process. A larger task is the fitting of the AWS/TPWS, OTMR and remaining GSM-R systems. The vast majority of this work is being contracted out to an industry specialist. The most visible task remaining will be the final painting, the green parts will be left until the locomotive can be painted as one whilst the other parts will be worked on as time allows.

The tender was moved for us by Allely Heavy Haulage. Our thanks go to them for their professional service, as ever. 

6024’s boiler has passed its steam test.
 
On Tuesday November 5^th 6024’s boiler was subject to its official “in steam” boiler exam with our insurance inspector assessing the freshly overhauled boiler. Also in attendance were 6024PS officers and, of course, Riley & Sons (E) Ltd staff.
 
Over the previous few days the boiler had been brought into steam for the first time since April 2012. The safety valves were initially set well below the normal 250psi, being raised in stages. As would be expected, and especially in view of the heavy work undertaken, this process highlighted a few areas needing further work. However, it is pleasing to report that this was no more than relatively minor if rather warm work! The vast majority of the boiler was right first time, a tribute to the quality of the workmanship.
 
The boiler, which was tested in the ELR yard at Baron Street, Bury, has now  returned to Riley’s works in Heywood for final painting and trial fitting of the ashpan. This will occur over the next week or so making the boiler ready for despatch to Minehead. It is planned to return it to the chassis on the same day it arrives.

It is with considerable pleasure we are able to tell you that on Thursday October 31st 6024’s boiler passed its formal hydraulic test with flying colours. The boiler inspector pronounced himself very happy with what he saw. 

The first fire since 2012 was lit on Sunday November 3rd. The steam test followed on Tuesday November 5th. 

Album number eight from the Bob Robson collection has now been published. This selection of Bob’s photos covers the 2002-2003 period. We hope you continue enjoy this unique record of No. 6024’s life.

Apologies for the significant delay in publishing this album, the WordPress software behind this website has been less than co-operative!

The final album, the ninth, will follow soon.

Album number eight can be found here.

Album number seven from the Bob Robson collection has now been added to the Photographs page on this website. This selection of Bob’s photos covers the 2000-2002 period. We hope you continue enjoy this unique record of No. 6024’s life.

In total there are nine of Bob’s albums to be published, more will follow very soon.

Album number seven can be found here.

On Saturday 19 January No.6024’s tender, No.2425, took another big step towards completion with the final fitting of the tank to the chassis in the workshops at Highbridge. This follows on from its rewheeling and subsequent independent inspection in late 2018.

Much work remains to be done before the tender can be moved to Minehead to join the engine. Just some of the tasks remaining are:

• Bolting the tank to the chassis, it was previously riveted.
• Fitting numerous smaller items such as toolboxes, hoses and footplating.
• Lots of painting with final painting to be undertaken at Minehead.
• Significant electrical wiring which is probably the biggest remaining task and one which could not progress until the tank was fitted.

Something a little different…. No.6024 features in a recently published and very readable physics textbook written for university students and those with a more general interest in science and technology, “Outside the Research Lab Volume 2 – Physics in Vintage and Modern Transport” by Sharon Ann Holgate.

The total reworking of No.6024’s electrical systems during the current overhaul is covered in some detail in chapter two of this interesting and informative book. The locomotive even features on the cover! Other railway related topics covered in the book are the electrical systems on A1 No.60163 Tornado, class 08 and 09 diesel shunting locomotives and the Milwaukee Road streamlined Cedar Rapids Skytop parlour lounge observation car in the USA.

The official webpage for this book can be found by clicking here.

A short video on the book can be viewed here.

Album number six from the Bob Robson collection has now been added to the Photographs page on this website. This selection of Bob’s photos covers the the late 1990s and early 2000s. We hope you continue enjoy this unique record of No. 6024’s life.

In total there are nine of Bob’s albums to be published, more will follow very soon.

Gallery number six can be found here.