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Pit to Port Project -
November 2007 Update |
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The year has seen steady progress to the point were we are now in “put it back together” mode. The wheelsets have been fitted with new tyres and the axle journals trued up at Bill Parker’s Flour Mill works. Axleboxes have been bored and fitted, new piston and valve rods produced at Bodmin, cab and bunker platework repaired. Wheels have been reunited with the frames, the new saddle tank has arrived and the inner firebox is ready to be fitted. A lot of paint and filler has been applied and the carpenter has tackled the cab shutters, careful research being needed in order to identify the correct shade of green used by the Port of Par. All of this takes far longer than may be supposed and a few words do not account for the skill, perseverance and dedication of the staff, contractors and volunteers involved. Our
contractor, Pete Phillipps Engineering, has repaired the wear and tear of
years of work on the boiler outer firebox to the stage where we can dust
off the riveting gun ready for action. Stays have been delivered and tubes
are on order. |
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The saddle tank has been made from stainless steel following the success with one provided some years ago for Alfred, Judy’s younger brother. To be historically correct, Judy’s should be of riveted construction and we therefore need to find a satisfactory method of fixing plastic, dummy rivet heads to the surface. Archive film of Judy and Alfred at work in Par Harbour has been very kindly donated by Keith Batchelor. This was taken by Keith and his father, Carey (a driver at St Blazey), during a visit to the port in 1964. The China Clay History Society, keepers of the ECLP archives, has also provided films that cover the quarrying and processing of clay.
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Many visitors have watched the proceedings and signed the visitor book with supportive comments and a video and photographic record has been made of significant events. As is usually the case, the project programme has slipped a little as staff and volunteer time has to be directed elsewhere and materials deliveries are sometimes delayed, but the intention now is to have Judy ready for official return to steam at Easter next year, which, in our timescale, is not too far away. Any visitors to the Bodmin and Wenford over the Christmas period will be able to see the progress for themselves |
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