The LNER Encyclopedia

The latest Gresley Observer has just arrived. No. 139 includes some news about the N2. This is being rebuilt at the Great Central Railway.

The issue actually has two news items - one is an older report from the AGM that talks about meeting the scheduled completion of July 2006. However the second news item talks about more substantial firebox problems, so I suspect completion will be a bit later.

Progress (as of January's meeting):

- High quality boring of cylinders and valve chambers, complete.
- New tanks have been delivered
- Work has started on the bunker
- To be painted in GNR Green. So far, the painted wheels look a bit "olive" and the paint manufacturers might be consulted.

- Firebox
The firebox has significant wasting of the copper tubeplate. The GCR are not equipped to fix this, and no one in the UK seems able to supply suitable copper! It has been decided to fit a steel firebox instead. The
cost of a steel firebox is about half the estimated cost of the copper & related preparation. Also the remainder of the copper firebox is probably nearing the end of its life - so a new copper tubeplate may only extend the life of the firebox by ten years or so.
The change will not be visible, and will be reversible in the future (if necessary).


Richard

Being in the electrical business I know that the price of copper has risen hugely recently. Over £400 increase per ton in a matter of days and set to rise further. How will this affect the preservation industry? Its got to the point where cable manufacturers are creating clauses where they will not honour contracts as they dont know how much copper will cost from one day to the next.

Latest news (circa. June) in the Gresley Observer, says that the steel firebox has been ordered. This is the critical outstanding item before the N2 is finished.

They now have two GNR-type buffers, and the GCR will be using these patterns to make two more. (No. 4744 previously ran in preservation with Group Sttandard buffers).

Coupled axle boxes have been metalled and bored, and the trailing truck has been re-assembled.

The piston valve liners were due to be fitted in July (along with Oliver Cromwell).

Richard

Glad to hear she'll be in GNR colours, was expecting her to be put back in BR colours!

GNR buffers. I think they're putting it in LNER green, although iirc GNR green and LNER (Doncaster) green were identical but the details and lettering would be different of course.

The news reports have included a discussion of of the Gresley Society's "tin of paint" and how it appears to be a different shade to Green Arrow's recent repaint. They think they have it right and the NRM are wrong...


Richard

would you like pictures of the N2?

Thanks Rory - yes, it would be good to have some recent preservation pictures for the N2 page.

Richard

Can't wait to see it back on track, pardon the bad joke.

hey Rory mate, have they done anything else to her since i was there i remember the tanks had been painted in primer i think, the bunker was sat near Cromwells boiler and thats all i can remember

From Mike

richard wrote:Thanks Rory - yes, it would be good to have some recent preservation pictures for the N2 page.

Richard

Its only what they have been doing with the overhaul

hey lads i have got some pictures of 4744 of her overhaul can i said them to anyone who can put them on the forum

You should be able to upload them to the forum yourself.

If you email them to me, I could put a selection of them on the main N2 page.


Richard

Hey lad here are a few pictures

Well the frames look to be in good condition. And there's some green! (on the wheels) I keep reading about the shade of green paint in the Gresley Observer!

I guess they're waiting on the new firebox to be delivered?

Richard

see what i can find on sunday!