FINAL painting of ‘Modified Hall’ No. 6989 Wightwick Hall will soon begin at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre as the last pieces of the Hawksworth 4-6-0’s cladding are completed.
Most of the work has now been finished with just the ‘elephant ears’ that cover the top corners at the front of the firebox still to finish (RM August).
The first for the fireman’s side is now almost finished and the 6989 Wightwick Hall Restoration Group hopes the second will be easier to produce, based upon the knowledge learned.
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The newly white-metaled coupling rods have been fitted to the loco and the end float has been adjusted to working tolerance. The driving wheel tyres have been checked and confirmed as fit to run, but the group intends to drop the driving wheel axles shortly in order to inspect the axle bearing surfaces.
“Since it was a very long time ago that the surfaces were checked, we plan to drop the axles to check they are still in good condition and to renew lubrication felts as necessary,” spokesman Mike Taylor told
The RM.
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