WN18 - Another busy day at the salt mines Flugel - by Kerry Young

17th November 2006

Yes indeed, there were all sorts of things happening around today. There's 15 pics this time and therefore a bulky file, so I hope you'll forgive the file size, but I'm sure there's something for everyone. If you could see what I haven't shown, you'd know why there are so many pictures this time................

Three of us were on deck by about 7:30 am and the day started soon after. Roger here, is welding a new angle iron to the base of the coal hopper for the drivers side. In the rear left I was cleaning off a bench to receive the Westinghouse air compressor that Roger had thoughtfully cleaned during the week. More on that later.

Jolly Roger had elected to have another cleanup of rail and junk on the Valley line, at the same spot we did quite some time ago...............

The grass has grown through the rail lying on the ground, Ian McDonald is bent over fossicking for the material, Sir Colin is near the scissors and new member Terry Someone is somewhat lost. Look carefully and you'll see Rogers head across the other side of the crane. That is usually my job, but I was the nominated driver for this exercise.

My anonymity is at stake these days, as Ian McDonald is as busy with a camera as am I and when I left the cab to assist Roger...........

This was the result. I'll say thanks for the picture Ian, although I'm not sure why! While Ian is in the spotlight, the reader who likes his shots including Castle Rock, has suggested that we call Ian, 'Old McDonald'. After the character who had a farm in the nursery rhyme. I must remember to ask Ian if it's O.K. to use the nick name! (What's that Ian? I can't hear you!)

We had brought the crane runner up to the branch on the valley line. The point here is usually securely locked out and is accessed with a Woods Points key. We had to await the Arrival of Sir Colin to get the use of this facility. I'll try to remember to show you the setup sometime. We loaded non rail items onto the runner for disposal elsewhere.

Having emptied the crane runner, we then picked up the Westinghouse compressor, to bring in and leave on the bench that I cleared earlier.

I took this to show that Peter Jenkinson has added yet two more lengths to the Valley line. Well done Peter!

Back inside, we see the two ends for the 'L' wagon have been assembled by Bob the Builder.

Mike Webb has more mechanical experience than I've had hot dinners. He came across another Coventry die head and was in the process of freeing it up here. I won't say anything about the tidy bench.

How to get the windows out of railcars. Sir Colin's inside and Ian (Old ) McDonald, is assisted by Luke, a new member, as they turn it around to get it back inside. I have another good shot of this on the inside with Ian and Colin, but I won't show everyone Ian!

As near as it gets to playing 'toy trains' in the real world. More Firestone track being laid end on end, straight off the truck. How does that warm the cockles of your heart Peter J?

Happy happy, joy, joy. Mirthful Max and Keith Brown, who thought I took this picture a second or two ago and thought they'd got away with it. Glazing and sanding is the name of the game here. Two carriage end doors of NZR standard pattern in best quality timber.

We saw him earlier with the die head, now it's the exhaust valve of the Westinghouse compressor. We've already had the end off and checked the piston and bore. Mike just loves things mechanical.

From the lunch room. The Valley Line is now right out of sight round the corner. Man, that looks really great!

This is that rear cab sheet for the 'F'. This shows the new angle iron at the bottom where it meets the floorplate. The lower ends of the handrails have been reattached and dressed. Quite a lot of unseen corrective work done here by Steve Fergusson.

I took this as an afterthought. This is the valve components on the intake side of the compressor. The valve head fits into the bronze seat, which screws into the base of the cylinder head. Then the cap (left) screws over the lot and locks and seals it.

There you are, another week gone already. A most excellent day weatherwise and it was easy to really get into the work and we sure got a lot done. Till next week, Cheers, 'K'.