THE Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s (RPSI) activities have been severely disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic yet, behind the scenes, progress has continued to be made on its project to recreate an LMS-NCC‘W’Class Mogul at Whitehead.
Despite the lockdowns, some contract work on the new No. 105 has continued, along with pattern-making and light machining. A major milestone saw the completion of the main frames, which have now been shot-blasted at Whitehead and await the next stage in the project.
Traditional patterns
The locomotive’s two cylinders were also cast last year at Taylors Foundry near Glasgow using traditional patterns made using original 1932 drawings. Machining has been completed by Cooke Bros, near Newtownards, leaving only the valve liners to be fitted. Additional progress has seen the motion brackets, crosshead brackets, reverser brackets and other major cast steel parts produced, with machining now under way.