6989 gets an outing with the tender frame attached for the B.R.C. 40th Anniversary Celebrations in August 2009. Photo Allan Baker. NEWS FROM CHARLIE JONES - OUR CHIEF ENGINEER - July 2010. The boiler is now out of the frames and on the purpose made concrete base outside the shed. We plan to have replaced all of the bolier stays by the end of this year. The remaining boiler work will be done comensurate with the funds we are able to raise.  We also plan to have the tender tank substantially completed by the end of 2010. Charlie SUNDAY WORKING PARTY DATES FOR 2010: To be advised WEEKDAY WORKING PARTY DATES FOR 2010  Jeff will be working Tuesday and Wednesday every fourth week. Contact Jeff on 01278 781649 if you are interested in attending any of these sessions. 27 and 28 July 24 and 25 August 28 and 29 September 19 and 20 October 16 and 17 November 14 and 15 December Jeff
PROGRESS AS AT 6TH JULY 2010. CURRENT WORKING PARTY: Charlie Jones - Team Leader ,Jeff Jackson, Rod Wallis, Paul Emerton, Chris Tayler, David Horsley, Andrew Jones, John Spaul, Brian Tomkinson and Daniel Tomkinson.. COMPLETED WORK: LOCO FRAME AND MOTION. The frame and motion is completed. The locomotive and tender were reunited for the first time in 15 years on 2nd Septemeber 08 when they took up residence in our new shed (the ex King shed). The boiler was lifted on 6th May 10. TENDER FRAME: The frame and running gear are complete. TENDER BRAKES: The brake system is virtually completed and requires only final adjustment, fitting of spacers and split pins. TANK: The tank base plate is on the frame and aligned. The tank rear and sides are located and both rear joints have now been seam welded. Part of the coal shute is similarly fitted. All baffles are tacked in place and are being rivetted/welded as we progress. The water dispersion dome is derusted, repaired and painted ready to fit. The toolboxes and support brackets are refurbished ready to fit. The toolbox/coal bunker door supports are repaired and derusted and painted ready for assembly. The beading for the joints and edges of the tank has been removed from the old tank has been cleaned up and are being rivetted to the tank.  WATER FEEDS: All that is outstanding are the flexible hoses and fittings between the tender and loco. STEAM HEAT Manufacture and fitting of the "fixed" steam heat pipework is completed on the tender and is 95% completed on the locomotive. The drip trap and copper pipe for the feed to the control valve in the cab is being sourced. The pipe work is being lagged as we do the final assembly. ENGINE CLADDING: The steam pipe covers,safety valve bonnet and baseplate and smoke box blower pipe cover are all manufactured and trial fitted, but are now removed and stored for boiler refurb. The firebox elephants ears have been collected from the SDR. BOILER CRINOLINES BANDS: All 8 crinoline bands are manufactured and trial fitted, but are now removed and stored for the boiler refurb. LIVERY: The driver’s side nameplate is fitted to the loco. Work has commenced on the fireman’s side nameplate. The 38G shed plate and smoke box number plate are fitted. Charlie has made a bracket for the "Cathedrals Express" headboard and it is put on the engine for special events. INJECTORS AND CLACK VALVESVALVE PIPEWORK: Both injectors are fitted. The copper and steel water feed pipework between the injectors and clack valves is completed on the driver's and fireman's side. (top feed pipes removed for boiler refurb) The injector live steam feed copper pipes are bent to approximate shape and are trial fitted on both sides (removed for boiler refurb). The injector overflow valves are fitted and the overflow pipes manufactures and fitted. LOCO BRAKING SYSTEMS: All of the brake components and large vacuum pipes are on the loco, Approx 50% of smaller bore pipe work is done. CAB FITOUT: All of the cab componets have been trial fitted and are now removed for the boiler refurb. LUBRICATION SYSTEMS: The pipe fittings for the lubrication pipe work have been procured and work on fitting the pipework is in progress and circa 40% complete.. ASHPAN/DAMPER CONTROLS: The ashpan has been refurbished. The fulcrum assembly that operates the ashpan hopper and damper door controls was also refurbished in 04 and is ready for for assembly and fitting to the loco. BOILER: We had a cold boiler inspection done by two different inspectors on 29th August 06. Their findings were that the boiler is in very good overall condition and needs only to be retubed, all firebox stay nuts replacing, copper welding to build up a small area of the front tube plate and steel welding on small areas of the boiler barrel to remedy minor pitting and and areas around the mud hole doors where slight erosion has taken place. We have stripped the boiler and it is now on a a concrete plinth outside the shed. We are planning to commence work on the boiler around the end of July 2010. CAN YOU HELP? We are always in need of volunteers to assist with the restoration. You do not have to be a locomotive engineer -although it would be great if you are - there is plenty to do for all abilities. We run working parties most Sundays and Tuesday and Wednesday every 4 weeks ( see the schedule above) the whole year round. We always need more volunteers. If you want to help you need to be a member of the Quainton Railway Society - for insurance purposes. Interested? then contact Chartlie Jones on 01525 635860, or Jeff Jackson on 01278 781649 (before 20:00).
06 May 10. The cab roof is lifted to allow the boiler to be lifted. Photo C Jones.	Nov 09. The tender sides mounted ready for alignment and fixing. Photo J Jackson.
06 May 10. The boiler clear of the frames. Photo C Jones.	06 May 10. The boiler on the new concrete pad with the rest of 6989 alongside. Photo C Jones.