October/November

The past few months have been very busy with completing and general fettling of the fairlie. I'm pleased to say that she passed her boiler test, and ran about 3 miles on that day. She was also out on the same day as ExpoNG (which is held in the sports centre just over the hill from us), and did at least 9 more miles, this time with the public, although we limited trains to only 3 cars because of poor rail head conditions.

Having completed here, it's now time to buckle down and get the customers tinkerbell on the road.

Fairlie progress

The first batch of fairlie parts came back from the sprayer a fortnight ago, and since then I have been lining out the cab top and tanks. The results are shown below and I'm really pleased with them - by far the most complex lining scheme I've attempted, and it looks very good. Tomorrow (hopefully) I will collect the remainder from him, and lining of the bunker and cab lower sections can begin.

Fairlie close . . . .

Recently, I've been doing some last jobs I need to do before sending the Fairlie parts to the sprayer for paint. This has included a lot of rubbing down of the welded surfaces to get a nice smooth finish, which, although dirty and hard work, will make the loco look so much better when she is done. I am hoping to be able to make an appointment with him in the next week or so, hopefully he can fit her in quickly.

A lot has happened since my last post here. Much work has been done on the power bogie, especially making sure that it can pivot enough in both vertical and horizontal planes while also getting steam to and from it.
The boiler has been put on the frames, and a lot of platework has been done. Hopefully soon it will be time for paint . . .

Fairlie frames erected at last!!

Today was a very special day, now that the tink has gone, there's plenty of room in the shed so the fairlie got the rear section of its frames bolted on at last. The rear bogie bolster was also fixed in place, so she is on all 8 wheels at last.

I also fixed the reverser and brake stand in position. Jobs in the coming days include hooking up the brakes and reverser, and fitting the footwell. I am especially happy with the widened rear section, there's so much more space in there than normal.

Tink number 3 - done!!!

Yesterday I delivered my third tink to her new owner. Both he and I are very pleased with the looks of this loco, it's turned out really well. And now, it's fairlie time. . . . .

August update

The tink platework is now done and the first lot has gone to the sprayer for him to do his magic. Once that paint has hardened I can start the job of lining her. Her smokebox has been fitted out (blast pipe and cap, spark arrestor, blower feed, elbow for ejector exhaust etc.) and then painted, and I've also painted the frames and buffer beams.

I have also decided to abandon my plan of having the big chime whistle on the front of one of the fairlie tanks (in place of the drivers side sandpot) and so have got more lumps of aluminium to make a second sandpot from.

I have nearly completed the firehole doors for both locos, frames from 25x25x3 angle.