7820 Dinmore Manor - The Blog

This blog will follow the heavy overhaul of 7820 through to its return to steam. The chassis is being overhauled at Tyseley Locomotive Works whilst the boiler is being overhauled at Ian Riley's workshops.
We are working hard every weekend to bring together the hundreds of small pieces that require refurbishing to get the loco back into working order. Follow us to keep up todate with the weekly progress and who knows if you like the look of what you see you may even be tempted to join us and help put 7820 back in action.

Monday 19 December 2011

Axle box repairs continue.


The bars which connect the T link (from which the springs hang) to the axle boxes were found to be exhibiting signs of stress from 80,000 miles running! Still it made the decision on whether to renew or refit an easy one.


First job to buy a length of the correct size and grade of bar then set the mechanical hacksaw to work. This still takes around 35 minutes to make a single cut even with the 'additional weight' added to the arm. It does mean that whilst the saw is at work we can carry on with more work on the cladding which I guess is marginally easier work than sawing up the bar by hand.


Once cut into lengths its over to the lathe for finishing. I hope to get a picture of the finished bars shortly complete with locating dimple. Once these and a few other spring components are complete 7820 should be in a position to be re-wheeled. Hopefully this will take place in January. Look out for pictures in the new year.

There will undoubtedly be a break in reports over the next week or two as we all earn some brownie points doing family things before starting again in the new year with what hopefully will be a year of assembly and working towards lighting a fire and raising steam once again.

Tuesday 13 December 2011

Naming your car and axleboxes....


Whilst it is commendable that all volunteers take their role in Dinmore Manor seriously a few of us wondered if things were being taken a touch too far when one director arrived at the last working party with his job title emblazoned across the rear of his transport for the day!


Meanwhile deep in the workshops at Tyseley the axle boxes have been metalled and machined, work is also underway on replacing the liner plates so that these can be machined back to fit the reground horns on the frames.

Monday 12 December 2011

Work continues on the cladding


The task in hand- Top of photo; one piece of valve cladding cleaned and ready for painting.
Bottom of photo; as the cladding came off 7820 complete with 10 years accumulation of crud.


The merry band continue scraping, degreasing and using any possible method to remove accumulated oil, grease, soot, ash, brake dust and numerous other baked on substances.



Completed Wheels


Freshley painted wheels awaiting completion of the axle boxes before rewheeling.



Mike is caught admiring his handywork with the black gloss on the driving wheels.

Monday 5 December 2011

A few pictures of work completed so far.


The frames cleaned and painted. Since the picture was taken the horns have been ground to take out the 80000 miles of wear that occured over the last boiler ticket.



Valve chests bored. The valves have also been overhauled and are ready to fit when the time arrives.



One new tyre fitted & all tyres turned. Since this picture many happy hours have been spent cleaning and painting the wheels so that they are ready for refitting once the axle boxes are overhauled.

Sunday 4 December 2011

Hello & Welcome

Welcome to the Dinmore Manor Blog. Here you will find reports on the overhaul of 7820 Dinmore Manor.
Currently the chassis is part way through overhaul at Tyseley Locomotive Works and the bolier is mid overhaul at Ian Riley's workshops.

Our members are working hard every weekend to bring together the hundreds of small pieces that require refurbishing to get the loco back into working order. You can follow the weekly progress complete with photos of the merry workers and who knows if you like the look of what you see you may even be tempted to join us and help put 7820 back in action.

Photos and reports will be added over the next few days follwed by regular updates.

If you would like more information on Dinmore Manor please visit http://www.dinmoremanor.co.uk/