Last Updated 01/01/10
31418 Overhaul News
All traction motors have been washed out , cleaned up , re-brushed and their cables re-connected.
All cylinder heads , pistons, con rods and cylinder liners were removed from the engine block. A3 & B5 pistons were seized inside their liners and were lifted out 'as one' and separated with a hydraulic jack.
All the pistons were in excellent condition and did not require any work other than cleaning up and re-ringing. The con rods were also thoroughly examined.. A3 & B5 cylinder liners have been scrapped due to water damage but the other 10 have been re-used following honing.
All 12 cylinder liners, pistons , rods and cylinder heads have now been re-fitted.. New big end bearings have been fitted throughout and all rings have been renewed.
The 'engine roof panel' has been shotblasted / primed and re-fitted. Cab roofs and some of the bodysides have also been shotblasted / rubbed down and primed.
As a result of severe frost damage on the 'A' Bank turbo on 31418's power unit (ex 31421) , the 'A' Bank turbo recovered from 31123 has been de-carbonised , freed-off and has had new oil added. It now spins freely and has been fitted and painted. The 'B' Bank turbo has similarily been dealt with in-situ and also spins freely now.
The 'exhaust roof panel' and the ' electrical cubicle roof panel' have been shotblasted / primed and the ETH cubicle has been examined, painted and refitted into the loco.
Nose end doors , louvres , cab doors and skirting has been removed for shotblasting / repair. Some of the corroded bodywork has been cut out ready for replacement.
The concrete block (ballast weight) has been removed and the boiler, which has been cosmetically restored, fitted in its place. The boiler water tank (ex 31123) has been shotblasted, painted and fitted into 31418. Three corroded air pipes in the boiler room have been replaced and the boiler / radiator area cleaned, primed and top coated. The boiler area roof section has also been shotblasted, had corroded steel replaced, painted in primer and re-fitted. The emergency fuel tank along with the rad fan cowl have also been cleaned up, painted and re-fitted.
Work continues with the power unit and cutting out corroded steel and replacement which is now concentrating on the cab doors which require re-building.
All skirting has been removed and shotblasted. Most sections will require repairs. Both nose ends have received a thorough cleaning , rubbing down and priming. 21/08/08
Both no 2 end cab doors have been removed for rebuilding and the cabs are stripped out. Corroded steelwork has been cut out ready for renewal. Many of the filter box recesses will have to be completely rebuilt as a result of severe corrosion. 21/08/08
'BEFORE' ..... Serious corrosion around the no 1 traction motor blower air intake is seen here. Most of what 'should be there' has completely disappeared and will therefore require rebuilding. 23/08/08
'AFTER' .... The area has totally been rebuilt..31/05/09
A view of no 2 end cab showing replating work in progress. The roof vent and nose door bases are being rebuilt and new steel will be cut and welded in below the marker lights. The nose end has been cleaned, rubbed down and primed . 21/08/08
All of the removable roof sections have now been shotblasted and painted apart from the 'boiler roof' . Both battery boxes have been removed for overhaul and to gain access to the fuel tank. The fuel tank will in turn be removed to enable inspection and testing of the air receivers. 21/08/08
The 'Exhaust roof' is about to be fitted following replacement of the ETH cubicle, generator bulkhead and turbo manifolds......a major step forward ! . 31/05/09
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| Current Location: |
Swanwick...Midland Railway , Butterley |
Status
Summary of work done in 2009
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Undergoing long-term restoration to working order.
During 2009 a major step forward to seeing 31418 running was achieved with the following major achievements, thanks to our dedicated workforce.
- Continue with power-unit overhaul..... (completed December 2009)
- Continue with body overhaul.....lots of new steel required ! .....(in progress)
- Boiler room (no 1 end) area to paint and 31162's original boiler to cosmetically restore and fit. The boiler water tank ex 31123 will also be cleaned up / painted and fitted. A new bulkhead archway will also be fabricated and fitted to replace the corroded one now removed. The roof section will be shot blasted, painted and refitted....(completed October)
- ETH cubicle ex 31421 (already electrically repaired) to be examined, painted, fitted and turbo manifolds to replace . The roof will then be fitted....(completed May)
- All main gen , alternator and eth cubicle cables / wires to re-connect....(completed April)
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Planned work for 2010
Bogie swap / Body lift |
- Continue with body overhaul.....(in progress)
- No 2 end roof archway to renew and electrical cubicle / area to clean and paint...(April 2010)
- No 2 cab to rub down and paint, doors and floor to repair...(in progress)
- Suspension tube bolts to renew on 2 axles....(August 2010)
- No 1 end cab doors and floor to overhaul...(April 2010)
- Remaining panels / louvres to shotblast and paint ( May 2010)
 As a result of sustaining a collapsed suspension tube bearing to No 4 wheelset whilst in British Rail ownership , the decision was taken to change No 2 bogie completely for the No 1 bogie recovered from scrapped 31123.
The underframe was treated to 3 thorough steam cleans , it was that bad ! , and claws , cables , pipes etc were disconnected . 31123's No 1 bogie was overhauled and repainted then converted to a No 2 bogie by the fitting of AWS. Over 4 days Thursday 15th Feb - Sunday 18th Feb 2007, the bogie exchange took place in the PRCLT West Shed at Swanwick.
On the Thursday , the loco was lifted from its bogies and both bogies removed. The No 1 bogie being taken 'downstairs' for steam cleaning and the No 2 bogie placed for storage. The Friday saw more steam cleaning to the No 1 bogie after which it was positioned back inside the shed for drying and for a small amount of repairs to be carried out. On the Saturday the bogie was re-painted and repairs carried out on the loco's underframe. Finally , the Sunday saw 31123's bogie brought 'upstairs' and later in the afternoon both bogies were carefully positioned underneath 31418 and the body gently lowered down.
31418 was taken back 'downstairs' and placed into storage. Claws , cables etc will be fitted shortly.........another major step forward......!
31418 is positioned ready to be 'set up' for lifting at West Shed on 15/02/07.
Bogies are removed from underneath 31418 by Class 03 D2138 on 15/02/07.
No 1 bogie ex 31418 is steam cleaned at Swanwick on 16/02/07.
31418 sits on the jacks awaiting the return of some bogies on 16/02/07.
No 1 bogie receives finishing touches following repair and painting on 17/02/07.
Another view of 31418 waiting for bogies on 18/02/07. All photos by M Atmore. |
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