BR ‘4MT’ 2-6-4T No. 80097 is expected to return to traffic at the East Lancashire Railway by early summer, according to the owning group, the Bury Standard 4 Group.
Volunteers have now completed running a large tap through all the threads of the firebox tubeplate on the loco. This enabled them to ensure that not only were the threads in a good condition to take the new tube threaded ends, but also to check the thread type of each of the 21 large flue holes – some of them were different to the others.
By early April, the order was due to be confirmed for the new large flue tubes, which will come complete with threaded
‘bottle’ ends to be screwed into the firebox tubeplate. A quick turnround is expected.
Meanwhile, the restoration from Barry scrapyard condition of BR ‘2MT’ 2-6-0 No. 46428 continues to progress. The cab is almost ready to be fully assembled, bolted and welded together. The rusted studs on the cylinders are being drilled out and a new smokebox door baffle plate has been fabricated. New door hinge pins have been turned, as well as brake mechanism plates.
The old chimney is being prepared to be used as a publicity/donation feature near the group’s sales coach at Bury (Bolton Street) station.
The cab for BR ‘2MT’ No. 46428 is taking shape.
BS4G