27th & 28th February 2010, Baron Street Works, Bury

Saturday 27th February

The day began at 8am at Castelcroft where the remaining brake rigging was loaded onto the running boards of 03, D2062, which would bring them down to Baron Street. After a brew and breakfast the rigging we had was layed out at Baron Street whilst waiting for the 03 to arrive with the rest.

D2062 arrives and rigging is unloaded	Jason cleaning out a hanger bush

The 03 arrived and a suitable trolley was sourced and used to move all the parts over to D9531, these were then laid out with the rest. Next job was checking that all the pins would go through bushes ok and highlighting any that needed adjusting. We then spent time with emery cloth and wire wheels on a drill cleaning up bushes and the main stretcher bar pins, once complete the first stretcher was lifted across and rested on the rail heads. The hangers were then fitted to it and people positioned for the lift - once in place pins were inserted at either side to complete the process. This was repeated for the other two hangers and spreaders.

Brake hanger, test fitted	Spreader bar being lifted across underneath the loco

We then tried to fit the brake blocks, unfortunately we found that the holes for the pins were slightly miss-aligned so will need boring out at a later date. After a well-earned cup of tea, attention focused on the pull rods and connecting plates. The rear set were fitted first and pinned up then, the 1st small pull rod fitted and pinned, triangle plates attached to this and its stretcher, then the long pull rod fitted, followed by triangle connectors - its very much like Meccano, on a much bigger scale!

Big Meccano! Rigging connection plates (red ones are new)	Fully pinned triangle with turn knuckle nearest

One of the triangle plates on the opposite side had been fitted wrong, so this was corrected but took some time as the securing pins were reluctant to come out. Once done the next sides pull rods were fitted and the securing pins all hammered home. Meanwhile, the slack adjuster pull rods required the bushes opening out to fit the new pins, this was done with a small abrasive on a drill, but again took sometime to complete. One rod was half fitted before we decided to call it a day.

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Sunday 28th February

Our initial aim was to finish fitting the two slack adjuster rods, but the bushes all needed opening out. With this done we were able to fit up the rods, but not as easy as it sounds they needed adjusting out to the correct position then the rigging was barred back so that the pins would enter, as they were rather heavy as well it was no easy task!

With this done, attention then turned to one of the slack adjuster anchors, the pin for it was freed and taken out then it was fitted to the bracket. The other side has the bracket missing, which should be on the lifeguard (found later in the day), so was cable tied up out of the way. With the above complete it was time for another parts rummage! Two of us headed up to Castlecroft to go and search on the wagon for various items, the main ones being the brake cylinder dog bones and pins, main brake shaft return springs and hand brake actuating arm. After a good hour searching, we managed to find the return springs and the lifeguard that has the slack adjuster anchor bracket on it. The search party relocated to the containers at Baron st, again after hours of scratting around, we found the 2 overhauled fuel pumps, and 6 overhauled injectors and various other parts but still no luck with the dog bones or handbrake arm. With light fading we transported what we had to the 14 and C15 coach, then called it a day.

Completed rigging, viewed from the pit looking from 'A' end towards 'B' end

A good days two days graft with a great turn out of helpers, thanks to all who pitched in, it was a good feeling to have the rigging fitted after all these years!