Engineering Update - February 2025
December 2024 saw 5551 'The Unknown Warrior' move into the main workshop area inside Tyseley Locomotive Works, enabling reassembly to commence.
General
There have been two important developments at Tyseley in the last three months. First, on 10th December 2024 the locomotive chassis moved into position on Number 1 road in the main workshop at Tyseley where we can start the process of recovery and assembly. The space had been freed up by progress on other third-party contracts at Tyseley.
Second, now that our insurance cover is in place, we will be able to get our Volunteer Warriors back in action. The first volunteer day was expected to be Thursday 20th February. Priority will be to move components from our containers in the secure car park and from the carriage workshop into the main workshop and on to the shelves adjacent to the engine, as soon as space on the shelves is made available; and also to continue with cleaning and preserving components as required. In preparation for work to start, the TLW and Patriot CMEs will carry out a 100% audit and identify any remedial work needed before any components are finally fitted.
Locomotive Chassis
The first set of refitting tasks has been identified for Tyseley Locomotive Works to commence, and a purchase order has been issued so that work can commence as soon as practicable.
Tasks for Tyseley Locomotive Works include, but are not limited to, the fitting of the horn guides including the production of fitted bolts, finishing of the inside cylinder bolts and the final fit of the inside cylinder plus the repair and fitting of the Inside Motion Support Stretcher.
A pre-production drawing of the machining required on the spring hanger brackets has been supplied to Tyseley Locomotive Works for pricing.f .
Cylinders and Wheels
Riley and Son carried out a complete relocation to new premises in Bury in recent weeks so no further progress has been made on the cylinders and wheels. We have been advised that work on our components is expected to restart in mid-February.
Boiler
Good progress is continuing to be made on the boiler work packages. The latest work being undertaken has been on the refurbishment of the regulator valve and the fitting of the shoulder stays.
Meanwhile it has been agreed that a meeting will be held at Heritage Boiler Steam Services (HBSS) to discuss and agree on the technical details and boiler configuration which will enable us to move forward to the completion of the boiler.
Tender
No further progress has been made with the tender at Leaky Finders. However, a review meeting with them is well overdue and will take place as soon as practicable.
Update compiled by Kevin West, Design Engineer and Keith Riches, Project Director
