Lakeside Ivatt takes shape

THE overhaul of the Beet family’s BR ‘2MT’ 2-6-0

No. 46441 continues to progress at the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway.

A new casting pattern is being produced from which both a left or a right-hand new rear cover may be machined – the rear cylinder cover of the mogul is cracked.

The piston rods have been reground ready for the new piston heads which are being manufactured, as are the new piston rings. Painting of the footplate is progressing well and the tender cab windows have now been refitted.

On the boiler, new firebox back shoulder pieces have been tacked into place and are ready for welding. These will subsequently be reinforced by adding the original shoulder patches as doublers. The lower firebox wrapper side sheet profiles are also in the process of being cut to size. Refurbishment of the remaining footplate fittings is now in progress.

The smokebox front ring chamfer awaits machine finishing. Once complete, the smokebox barrel can be riveted to the front ring and to the boiler when completed.

Preparation of the frame surfaces for repainting continues on Fairburn ‘4MT’ No. 42085. A new bracket has been made for the handbrake crank and pivot, which has been trial assembled with a new pin before the old frame stretcher is removed.