First of all, apologies to the regular readers of this page for the delay in producing this instalment - partly due to staff holidays - but largely because we felt we could show the more interesting stages in the workshop's latest developments by holding it back to show just how much progress has been made.

The last few weeks have been particularly busy with the continuing integration of Pridham's former boiler works equipment. Planning permission was finally granted for the erection of the boiler shop in early October and the steel erectors immediately went to work followed by block layers. The cladding and roofing followed very quickly and is now nearing completion. The previous concrete floor had been left in place to facilitate ease of construction but then had to be replaced with a reinforced 9 inch thick floor substantial enough to withstand the loading imposed by heavy plant and locomotive boilers.

The former Severn Valley wheel press has been used successfully to remove one of the driving wheels from Camelot (73082 BR Standard Class 5) based on the Bluebell Railway and owned by the Camelot Locomotive Society.

Martin Harvey. This month's featured member of staff. Martin is a little embarrassed by his SDR boiler suit! He's not really quite that shape and I am sure that more tailored work wear will be provided in due course!

Martin has been with us for a year. He has brought with him a wide range of engineering abilities. He is primarily a skilled turner and fitter having served his apprenticeship in Devonport Dockyard. Naturally, he is no stranger to heavy engineering, but also is very experienced with the latest CNC technology having worked for some years in the aerospace industry. In addition to this, he has been a maintenance engineer for a printing company and was responsible for all aspects of the plant.

Martin tells me that he is very happy in his new working environment and finds the diversity of work both stimulating and satisfying.

Martin Harvey and Steve Trenouth melting off the white metal from the thrust face of an axle box from 6412. White metal is a lead alloy containing amongst other things, antimony. It is an "anti friction" metal which has a relatively low melting point. Together with oil lubrication it minimises friction, but should that lubrication fail the bearing would rapidly overheat. The white metal would at least partially melt and the axle or journal, as it sometimes called, would probably suffer damage, possibly serious. Hence the expression about locos suffering with a "hot box".

The inside of the side tanks showing the first phase of the welding process. Soon the outside of the tanks will receive primer, undercoat and the first top coat before Dennis applies the final coats and returns the locomotive to its usual immaculate appearance. Interestingly, the inside of the tanks will be prevented from rusting using cathodic protection. This involves attaching zinc discs to the inside of the tank. The zinc discs are sacrificial anodes. In reality, the zinc steel and water form a giant battery in which tiny currents flow from zinc to steel. The zinc is gradually dissolved away in the process, but prevents corrosion of the steel.

You will recall this picture of the boiler from 6412 as it was about three months ago awaiting repairs.

I am glad to report that rapid progress is now being made, as you will see in the following photograph, by our new "recruits" from Pridhams, namely Dave Gibson and Peter Bowden. At the moment, the work is being carried out in a temporary covered area adjacent to the running shed. It seems that there will be no shortage of work for the new boiler works. For example, SDR Engineering has just agreed to undertake boiler work for Buckfastleigh Spinning, a local company manufacturing carpets.
Other contract work already planned includes manufacturing superheater flue bottle ends from 5.25 inch pipe reducing to 4.75 inch diameter to fit the tubeplate and boiler repairs to 4277 on the Paignton and Dartmouth Railway. It is likely that once the new boiler works is fully established that SDR Engineering will be able to undertake smaller scale boiler work in addition to railway locomotive boilers. This might include such contracts as traction engines, steam rollers, and large scale miniature locomotive boilers.

The outer firebox wrappers and the backhead have been partially fitted with bolts. The new plate work is to be welded to the existing platework at the top of the firebox, the stay positions are to be accurately calculated from the existing inner firebox and the holes drilled. The 400 ton press has already been used to manufacture the throatplate Through my monthly interview with the workshop manager Rob Le Chevalier, I discovered that the SDR workshop boasts an archive of thousands of engineering drawings for locomotives and standard parts many of which are held as pdf files. In addition, there is also an extensive library of books detailing such subjects as limits and fits. It seems quite possible that our archive of GWR locomotive engineering details may well exceed that of the NRM. This archive has been built up by sharing resources between other heritage railways and even modellers. Whilst it would be very difficult to satisfy the requests of everyone interested in accessing this resource, Rob tells me he is anxious to maintain and establish contacts with other people working in steam restoration so that the mutual fund of knowledge can continue to be shared and expanded. Another important development is that SDR Engineering has just had a successful audit to enable it to become accredited by RISAS (Railway industry Supplier Approval Scheme) . For some time now, we have had accreditation under RT2470 for the work we do on wheels used for mainline purposes. This is now being phased out and therefore a new audit had to be made. SDRE has been able to fully satisfy the demanding requirements of the scheme which extends to such issues as health and safety, quality control, paper work, calibration and material certificates etc. No doubt this qualification will also further reinforce the confidence that our many heritage railway customers have in SDR Engineering