Latest J72 'Joem' News

[richard]

Chris Davison has posted the latest J72 'Joem' restoration news on the LNER listserver:

Metalock have investigated the cylinder block "in-situ"; we will have to remove the block, split the castings and send them down to the Coventry works to be repaired. Has any other preservation group removed an inside cylinder block from the frames (other than the NRM "Super D")? We have started to drill out the countersunk heads of the fitted bolts holding the cylinder block in place. The nuts area so corroded that we felt the they could not be removed easily, and the curvature of the castings would prevent the bolts being driven out easily so, as with the Q6 overhaul we will drill the heads off and drive the bolt shanks inwards.

Initial investigation of the axleboxes has shown excess clearance at the journal crowns in the leading and trailing boxes, the driving axleboxes are relatively tight. The LH leading journal is also badly scored, with a raised "knurl" that has also damaged the crown face of the axlebox. Peculiarly, the general arrangement drawing for the class shows solid bronze axleboxes with "slipper" brasses, similar to the J27 whereas those fitted are steel with pressed-in brasses and bronze shims on the horn faces, similar to the K1. The side-to-side clearances for building up the wheel boss faces is yet to be determined, although we know that the driving axle side play is excessive as the faces of the crankwebs have been

The clearances on the eccentrics have yet to be checked; the eccentric straps are still assembled.

The crossheads, slidebars and the slide bar mounts have been dismantled and are being cleaned up prior to measurement, one crosshead (RH) was heavily shimmed for clearance whereas the other (LH) had no shims fitted

The wheels and axles have been cleaned down to a primer coat ready for re-painting. A ballot of the membership has overwhelmingly selected the present BR "Station Pilot" livery to continue for the duration of the next 10 years.


(reposted with permission)

[Rlangham]

Cheers for the info, looks like that's the closest the J72 will ever have been to me, even if it is a small part of it