| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Dec |
Not much progress to report over the last few months due to a combination of illness among the restoration team working day regulars, bad weather, and problems with some of the tools, in particular the CNC lathe.
Siphon
The restored doors have returned from Carriage and Wagon for re-fitting.
During October there was the usual large resource commitment to the G.W.R. Steam and Vintage Gala, and this has slowed progress on restoration.
Boiler
More stays were manufactured and fitted.
Tender
Further work has been carried out on the water feed pipes and valves ready for the water test.
Boiler
As at the end of September, 70 stays had been manufactured and fitted.
Tender
Further work has been carried out on the water feed pipes and valves.
Siphon
The siphon doors are being removed a pair at a time for refurbishment by experts in the G.W.R. Carriage and Wagon Department.
Chassis
Further parts are being manufactured to allow the motion to be re-assembled.
Boiler
Twenty more stays were manufactured and fitted.
The boiler has been surveyed by an expert boiler maker to quality assure the work carried out and to quote for work to be contracted out.
Tender
Problems with the welding machinery slowed progress but the water feed pipes have been designed.
Chassis
The slide bars were re-assembled following the valve cylinder liner fitting. The slide bars had to be removed to allow access to the valve cylinders.
Work continues on bushes and various other fittings related to the main and valve cylinders. Once the crossheads return from white metalling this work can progress further.
The chassis is nearly ready for another test move, the first move since the coupling rods were fitted. It is important to carry out this test before fitting too many more parts.
Boiler
The sixth stay has been fitted to the boiler.
Tender
The filler lid was assembled and fitted onto the filler. This is now complete.
More plates were cut ready for welding onto the tender tank.
The tank is now nearly ready for the water test, but at present there is no way to drain the water out again! So the test will have to wait until the valves controlling the supply to the engine is fitted.
Chassis
The big news on the rolling chassis was the fitting of the valve cylinder liners. See News item. This has taken up a lot of man hours in preparation and, following the fitting of the liners on 6 June, more work to put things back together!
Tender
More plating in of the water tank ready for a water test.
The filler was welded into place.
Chassis
The connecting rod blanks have been delivered to Toddington. They are big beefy lumps of metal and will require considerable machining to produce a completed pair of rods.
There was some painting and general tidying up of the front running boards.
The preparation of the piston and valve cylinders was completed ready for the liners to be fitted early in June.
Boiler
The first batch of 8 monel metal stays were produced on the C.S.P. lathe. One of these was fitted into the boiler. This is a significant milestone in the restoration of No. 2807.
Chassis
The front plates were removed to allow access to the piston and valve cylinders. The cylinders were cleaned out and prepared for the liners to be fitted soon.
The top slide bars were removed and pins were made to attach the rocking levers to the valve rods. This is also in preparation for the cylinder liner fitting.
Boiler
A 'pre-production' stay was successfully trial fitted into the boiler.
Tender
Work has continued welding in top plates. The coal chute is next on the plan.
Siphon
We are very fortunate that the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Carriage and Wagon Department have offered to renovate the siphon. They are experts at such tasks and will undoubtedly do a superb job. A pair of doors has been delivered to them as a first step in the restoration.
Chassis
New platework at the front of the loco, below the smokebox, has been cut out and just needs to be drilled, painted and fitted. Some of the plates will not be fitted yet as they would need to be removed again to allow access to fit the valve cylinder liners.
Boiler
The monel metal to make the new stays arrived during March. Its late delivery has hampered progress on the boiler.
Tender
The water gauge locking mechanism was completed.
The second water tank top plate was welded into place.
Chassis
The newly machined valve cylinder liners have been delivered and are in storage awaiting fitting. Fitting requires shrinking the liners in liquid nitrogen.
The cylinder drain cock lever has been fitted into the cab.
Boiler
The new tube plate has been delivered and put into storage. The old one will be used to promote our boiler tube sponsorship scheme.
The CNC lathe programming is being fine tuned in readiness for delivery of the monel metal. Once the monel arrives then real stays can be produced. Until some new stays can be fitted it is not possible to remove any more old stays as this could lead to setting up stresses which could damage the boiler.
Tender
Plating has been welded into place to strengthen the rear lifting rings.
The top plate drain has been completed and the first top plate is ready to fit.
Chassis
The coupling rods have received some attention to protect them from corrosion.
Work was carried out on the cylinder valve rods.
Boiler
The CNC lathe programming is being adjusted and some trial stays have been produced. Once the programming is completed it is expected that stays will be produced at a good rate.
Tender
Progress was made with the tender top plates. The drain hole is now completed and a lifting ring attached in one corner. Two more top plates have been rough cut ready for completion later.