Sir Nigel Gresley overhaul – update 9

In The Works, the overhaul of Sir Nigel Gresley continues. Locomotive Engineer Darrin Crone provides us with an insight of the previous couple of weeks’ work.

This is the ninth update – you can catch up on the previous posts here.

Week commencing 7 October


Work started on the repair to the frames this week, with a number of rivets being drilled through. We were permitted to use the NRM’s magnetic clamp drill for the job. We must thank the workshop staff for letting us use the mag drill, as it makes this task so much easier. There aren’t a lot of rivets to get through, and most of the ones to be replaced are now drilled through on the right hand side of the frames.

The various brackets on the outside of the frames are in the process of being dye penetrant tested. The left-hand brackets are completed and have been checked off as OK by our CME. This work is continuing on the right-hand side of the loco.


Using dye penetrant fluids on the loco brackets to test for flaws leaves the inspected areas pink. This is the right hand slidebar bracket.


The descaling of the saddle and middle cylinder castings has really come along this week. The concrete cast into the pockets above the middle cylinder to the rear of the saddle was removed this week, along with various nuts, bolts and washers in the concrete – though no silver sixpences yet. Most of the Engineering Team had a go at this work.

A section of footplating has been very neatly removed above the right-hand cylinder so that we can access a broken bolt on the top cylinder flange. Removal of broken and life-expired fasteners continued this week.


Bob Shearman cutting the footplating above the left hand cylinder to allow access to change a bolt.


Away from the locomotive we had a visit from a Mk1 coach specialist from the NYMR. He examined the coach electrical system and found a blown fuse which we replaced, allowing the coach battery supplied lights switch on and off correctly. The condition of the dynamo and regulator were inspected and look good.

The bogie cleaning was effectively completed this week and needle gunning began. There isn’t a lot of paint on the underside, so work is concentrated on removing the paint from the bogie sides. When complete we will examine this side of the bogie then turn it the right way up.

Painting continued this week on the removed sandboxes and suspension components. The painting bench was moved to the front of the loco, as the space it had been occupying is now required by the Museum. In addition, the components laid out next to the painting bench have been moved to increase the free space on the north road in the workshop.


The painting bench has now been moved to in front of the loco.


On Saturday the Junior Volunteers moved the components and the smokebox front plate near to the bogie in preparation for refitting to the smokebox. The preparation involved removing the remnants of the old seal where it mated with the smokebox barrel. The Juniors also moved the cods mouth operating mechanism clear of the wheeldrop so that the NRM can do their planned wheeldrop demonstrations.

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