HERITAGE SHUNTER UPDATE
03179 – Rushden: The restoration team has continued with the overhaul of Clive and recent tasks have included cleaning the rest of the wheels and removing the connecting rods which have been put in store. All the wheels have been repainted in a coat of green and a coat of grey primer was applied to the rear bufferbeam.
D2302 – Moreton-onlugg: The end of April and beginning of May saw the D2578 Locomotive Group – owner of 03145, D2302 and D2578 – hire in a steam cleaner to give all three locomotives a good clean. This brought all three shunters together at the shed for once, as one of them, 03145 at the moment, normally lives in the South Sidings at Moreton Park. Work has continued with cleaning up bits of D2302. The engine was cleaned in preparation for a coat of Gardner Grey paint. Cleaning of the front and rear bufferbeams has started, as well as the back of the cab and around the right-hand cab door. The latter revealed that the area beneath this door had suffered badly from rust, causing the bottom sill to bulge out, allowing water to penetrate between the cab floor and side. Another area on D2302 that has suffered badly from corrosion is behind the front bufferbeam, with the pipework from the air governor to the unloaded valve suffering the worse.
D2578 – Moreton-on-lugg:
The locomotive's starting issues continue, with only one starter motor engaging on most attempts, so the group's electrician has investigated the cause. The start contacts were dismantled and cleaned, which has brought about an improvement, with both starter motors now engaging, but the start circuit still exhibits a connection fault.
12099 – Kidderminster:
Work continues on the Class 11 shunter at the SVR and its exhaust manifolds were being put back in late June. Having painted all the interior cab walls, the metal cab floor has been cleaned of all grease, oil and dirt, then scraped, primed and painted chassis black. A wooden floor will now need to be designed and fitted. The floor pipes still need top coating. Electrical work continues.