With the essential works required to despatch 5643 in one piece to the East Lancs Railway and also to conduct the outside-the-frames steam test on FR 20’s boiler both successfully completed, there has been a lull in FRT operations pending the ending of the current lockdown on the 2nd December. So apologies but this is therefore a very short blog!
The cleaning of 5643 during its maintenance period had inevitably added to the oil and dirt that had accumulated in and around the pit area. Given the current downturn in activities it was an ideal time for Keith to clean and paint as much of the floor area as possible to ensure that we have a clean and safe environment in which to work when full activities resume in December. Well done Keith! This is the transformation after his work… 
The first job was to empty the RSR’s shed road and then for Sentinel Progress to bring FR 20’s frames around from the FRT shed.
This, incidentally, left the FRT’s pit entirely clear for a clean up to commence.
With Ade as banksman, the boiler was lifted off the lowmac and is seen hanging above the frames in the RSR workshop.
After some tweaking of the front right bottom of the smokebox, which had splayed out very slightly, the boiler was successfully reunited with the frames.
An added bonus was the chance to re-fit the chimney which Keith had thoughtfully extracted from the depths of the FRT shed.
The new combo was then shunted outside ready for despatch to the FRT shed.
Progress again did the honours.
FR 20 was duly parked back in the FRT shed before 15.00 and, with assistance from Ade and Tim, Walkden‘s boiler was put in place on the lowmac ready for its own journey towards hydraulic and steam tests.
The re-assembly of the brake gear was finally completed and Phil Bell is seen here giving the turnbuckle an inspection.
Keith assembled the front right hand valve cladding.
He then tackled the installation of the new cab floor
Paul Newton cleaned the copper pipework.
Phil Bell then touched up the black paint on the brass numberplates.
5643 was moved around to the unloading road on Monday morning ready for loading on to the transporter, which arrived just after 10.30.
A couple of hours later 5643 was ready for the road, but shortly before departure a consignment of castings arrived from the Severn Valley Railway, and it was possible to load 5643’s new replacement brake blocks on to the well of the transporter. They call it ‘just in time’ in industry, but this was rather close to call!
Adrian duly left his bed well before daylight yesterday to arrive at Preston at 07.10 to draw the boiler out of the shed and to light the fire.
Alan, John Dixon, and Sam Crawley duly appeared to assist which mostly consisting of breaking up wood from the RSR’s huge wood pile in order to feed FR 20’s voracious firebox.
We are pleased to be able to report that 120 psi was achieved just before 2 pm and in good time for boiler surveyor to conduct his inspection…. 
before giving it the thumbs up.
The gang is seen here in celebratory move with Alan Bennett.
FR 20’s boiler is now ready for a fire to be lit after more preparatory work was carried out on it last week in the RSR running shed. The valves were lapped in after the seats had been re-fitted on to the dome. This took quite some time, but patience is a virtue when working on steam locomotives! The fitting of the gauge glasses, pressure gauge and safety valve springs followed along with a minor adjustment to one of the firebars (it conflicted with one of the new patch screws) and it is intended to light a fire this next Wednesday.
Back in the FRT shed, John Dixon painstakingly removed the screws holding the brass numbers on the front buffer beams; these hadn’t been moved for over twenty years so it provided quite a challenge.
However, the front buffer beam was finally ready for Tim to start a refresh of the paintwork.
The valances have now been primed following the removal of the old paint.
Work continued on Fluff with John Davis drilling holes in a new cab sheet to accommodate the re-used angle support.
The wood for 5643’s new cab floor arrived last Wednesday and RSR’s joiner, John Morgan, kindly came in on Saturday to plane and cut it to size.
Keith is seen here under the loco fitting one of the last bolts to the brake gear.
There has also been a bit of progress to report with Wootton Hall where the new (shrink wrapped) replacement valve liners have finally arrived after having been delayed by the pandemic. The liners will need to be machined and then, themselves, shrink fitted when ready.
Work has continued on the overhaul of Furness Railway No. 20 where preparations are being made for an out-of-frames steaming of the boiler on the 16th November. In deference to the fact that the boiler is sitting on Dave Watkins’ lowmac, we will be doing our best not to set fire to its wooden decking! The first stage to protect it was to remove the wooden packing beneath the firebox (old sleepers) and replace it with a purpose built steel trestle. “A ten minute job,” said an optimistic Adrian as he rolled up with the new trestle, but if truth be told it took a good 25 minutes for Ade, John and Tim to jack up the boiler and fit the new trestle into position, exerting a fair amount of ‘grunt’ along the way.
John Dixon has continued his work in preparing new and second hand dome headed bolts for fitting to FR 20’s chimney, smokebox and frames. The are seen here neatly painted and laid out ready for action.
Alan, meanwhile, has been applying some emery paper to clean up the recently machined valve seats.
Work on refurbishing the dome cover has also progressed, with Fred seen here finding a great way to self-isolate whilst cleaning the internal surfaces!
Keith, continuing his work on 5643, is seen here undertaking the less glamorous job of de-crudding the firehole door support. Keith has also been working with Andy Booth to identify any suspect stays that can be replaced whilst the loco is sidelined for maintenance.
Finally, we must not forget the continuing efforts to rejuvenate Fluff where Phil and John Davis have fitted the new front cab sheets this week.