The South Devon Railway workshops have now all but completed the new safety valve bonnet for 5526. In the accompanying picture SDR fitter Dave Watkin is seen putting the finishing touches to the item which will have taken around 180 man hours to complete by the time it is ready to attach to the engine. Fortunately we have in stock two of the rather complex steel pressings that form the “ears” to go over the clacks. These were recovered from Barry scrapyard years ago by the Dumbleton Hall Preservation Society.

The job has proved interesting to say the least with a steep learning curve. Working with brass sheet is very different to a sheet of steel of similar thickness and reacts in a very different way when being bashed around a former or when being welded/brazed together. The bonnet is made of four separate pieces stitched together in much the same way as the originals were in years gone by at Swindon Works. No, we don’t want any orders as the time taken to complete the job is out of proportion to the size of the result. A mixture of full time staff and volunteers have meant the job could be done at a reasonable cost. But, we will gladly advise of anyone needs help and maybe lend you the formers!