The Preservation Years - 2004
We spent quite a bit of time during the year working on the batteries. The ones on the loco had lasted way beyond our expectations and we regularly monitored each cell and swapped some poor ones out as appropriate.
37215 shunts coaching stock at Toddington - 15/5/04. Photo by Alistaire Grieve
During this year we took the opportunity to have a serious attack of our fuel bug problem. We originally considered removing the tank from the locomotive for cleaning but in the end managed to carry out the work in-situ by removing all of the inspection plates and gauge glasses and making up an adaptor piece for the end of the steam cleaner lance. It was a long, hard, dirty process but worth it in the end. The tank was washed out with degreaser a number of times over consecutive weekends and left to dry out. The tank was later refuelled and an additive put into the system to stop the algae from forming. The fuel filters were also changed. We also shortened the fuel lift pipe slightly so that it was not as close to the bottom of the tank as previously and hence less susceptible to dragging up any sediment that might collect at the bottom of the tank.
37215 leads 37324 through Bishops Cleeve during 2004. Photo by Alistaire Grieve
Routine maintenance was carried out to the brake system and we also had a lubricating oil analysis carried out by the experts in the laboratory in Doncaster. No problems were found.
We also replaced the oil pots on both vacuum exhausters with spares that we had already overhauled.
An electrical fault caused a few issues during the year and was traced to some old and worn insulation on some cables running in a conduit through the engine and radiator rooms. This was replaced successfully.