April, May and June 2010, Baron Street Works, Bury

As many of you will know, the sole surviving Class 15, D8233 was started on the 19th of June this year - a major milestone in the restoration project. Have a look at the D8233 website if you haven't already at www.d8233.org.uk.

D8233 Startup, 19th June 2010

So what has that got to do with D9531 'Ernest' I hear you ask!? .. Well as many of the 'Ernest' workforce are involved with both D8233 and Cobo D5705, manpower has to be shared around and D8233 has just had a little of the limelight. D9531 will be running far sooner though!

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Following the early April working weekend, a smaller team worked on the 24th and 25th. A new bleed pipe for the Transmission heat exchanger was spliced in via a T piece to the top bleed pipe. One of the nearby pipe joints that had been leaking was repaired and jubilee clips to all the flexible hoses on the bleed pipes at the base of the coolant header tank have been doubled up.

The cooling system was filled again to test for leaks and make sure that all the bleed pipes worked and the solder joints held, the header tank was brimmed and the loco left overnight for the coolant level to settle.

New 'T' piece fitted to bleed system	Adam busy with the bleed system

Next day Jason & Adam checked the cooling system and the level in the header tank had dropped right down, but there was no sign of any leaking under the loco and upon squeezing the top engine coolant hose it was found to have water in it. The hose pipe was run out again and the header tank topped off, bubbles were seen as the coolant system continued to bleed out trapped air in the system. Further checks confirmed the transmission oil level was unchanged from when it was last checked, later the header tank was topped up again and the engine then left, all signs being positive.

Over May and June progress has still been made with much of the emphasis being on further gathering and organising all the remaining parts together then relocating them to 'Paddy' at Baron Street. 'Paddy' has also been tidied and re-organised which will benefit the workgroups for D9531, D8233 and D5705.

Paddy's cleared passenger compartment	Parts harvested at Castlecroft for relocation

Four air tanks have been delivered to the works by Martin Tottle, one of which has been taken by Les Tappenden who is working on their support frames. It is a busy time at the railway with the Diesel Weekend about to start, but a plan of action has been drawn up looking beyond this and covering the next few workgroup weekends:

· Gathering and storing remaining parts
· Fit 6 new split cotter pins to main brake shafts
· Complete under frame FTR as far as possible
· Fit side rod taper pins
· Complete fuel system and fit new fuel pumps
· Make new engine sump oil drain flange and tap
· Remove oil priming pump, flush out and check motor
· Check Engine mounting bolts
· Change transmission oil
· Complete start panel wiring and mounting
· Complete power unit oil pipework & fill sump
· Locate and fit exhaust stack
· Jump start power unit, making adjustments as required
· Hydraulic testing of air tanks
· Fitting of air tanks and framework