26 April 2017
The large kit of parts that is Welsh Pony is beginning to be a smaller number of larger parts.
With a lot of the frames work complete, they have been painted inside and out, and will be ready to receive the wheels soon. The driving wheelsets are complete with refurbished axleboxes refitted, ready for placing in the frames.
In a corner of the works lie the coupling and connecting rods, with the eccentric straps nearby, ready to be fitted to the eccentric sheaves on the driving axle.
The work on the new boiler has progressed to the stage of hydraulic testing, where the boiler is tested to ensure it is water tight to above the working pressure. With this completed, thoughts can be turned to adding the various fittings.
These may be seen in the works beginning to collect together, including the safety valve turret surround and regulator quadrant.
With the saddle tank repaired a couple of years ago and painted for protection, the cab has been recently shotblasted and painted also, now residing in the carriage shed.
Finally, the new, vacuum braked tender, is nearing completion and sits in the erecting shop near the boiler.
See the March report for previous progress.