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L 508 Restoration
Latest Update The locomotive that railfans forgot? Hopefully not so. The Shantytown Railway was the successful purchaser of this little loco in 1998. 1998 L 508 came from the now defunct Tauranga Historic Village. It was transported south from the Port of Tauranga on the Milburn Carrier II to Westport, the Milburn Carrier II, is a cement carrier based in Westport, and owned by the Milburn Cement company which is a major employer in Westport. The L was carried as deck cargo in a partly dismantled state. The loco was then put onto road transport for the journey to its new home at Shantytown, arriving on 21 December 1998. 1999 The first job undertaken was to tidy the L up for the summer season at Shantytown. In the middle of 1999 work was started on the L, the first task being to remove all the tubes from the boiler. This was to see what state the boiler barrel and fireboxes were in. during this the boiler inspector notified the Engineering Manager that the inner firebox would need to be replaced, this was the first of many components that needed this treatment. The boiler was duly removed from the frame so the inner firebox could be removed. The local engineering firm of Dispatch & Garlick made a new inner firebox wrapper, making use of the original end plates. While the boiler was off the frame the opportunity was taken to check all of the running gear. It was found that the springs would need to be replaced. New springs have now been manufactured by an engineering firm and these have been installed. The wheels were taken out for re-profiling. During this it was found that the rear driving axle was cracked. A new axle was made from an old railway one and the wheels refitted. When the wheels returned they were refitted to the cleaned and painted chassis. All of the axle boxes have been re-metalled. This was done during the time that the wheels were away for profiling. Attention was now turned to the valve gear and coupling rods. New pistons were manufactured off site and were installed accordingly to the cleaned and resurfaced piston boxes. The valves also received similar treatment. 2000 During 2000 the sheet metal structures had attention; these had been removed and stored. It was decided to have new side tanks made for the L, to a similar design to the originals. Modifications were made to these in early 2002 to provide more room for the driver, and better access for visitors entering the cab. Along with the side tanks the bunker and cab have received attention. The bunker was sent to an engineering firm for remedial work to be carried out on it before installation. Early in 2002 the bunker was refitted. The cab received only some attention as it was in fairly good order, the front of the cab has been patched and new holes made for the altered pipe work. Late in 2001 the cab floor was been completely renewed. 2001 During 2001 work on smaller components was carried out. It was found that the cow catcher needed replacing, during this time it was also decided to remove the foot boards from the rear, this was a remnant from the days when it was operated by Portland Cement. The new cowcatchers are to a similar design to NZR ones. Staff from the Shantytown Railways Engineering team made these. A drop grate has been fitted, to facilitate the removal of clinker and accumulated ash on the fire bars. Along with the drop grate a new ash pan has been made with associated dampers. The ash pan was test fitted to make sure everything worked and it was found that it needed minor adjustments. The dome has received work on it, mainly the resurfacing of the mounting faces, a new dome cover top has been made and test fitted along with refurbished Ross Pop safety valves. The resurfacing work being carried out in early 2002. 2002 The splashers around the main drivers and the front truck. It had been decided that to alleviate the problems encountered with sand boxes, sand pipes would be used. These pipes use the same sand boxes the only difference being that the pipe holds the sand. It has been found that these work well on our other locomotive Kaitangata. The check valves mountings have been resurfaced by hand, also the clack valves themselves have been overhauled. The manifold mounting has been resurfaced in the same manner as the check valves. A new manifold was constructed by an engineering firm. The original manual blow-down valve was removed with a new one being installed. The regulator valve has been re-faced and overhauled, along with the slide face. The dry pipe has been replaced and is due to be installed in the near future. In order for the L to operate on the Shantytown Railway it is necessary to fit air brakes. Air receivers were made by a local engineering firm, these have been test fitted so as some pipe work could be made. The old steam brake equipment has been put aside for another restoration project. Along with the air brake system the Westinghouse air pump has been fully overhauled, the governor on the air pump has also been overhauled. The brake stand in the cab was test fitted to make sure that all components would fit correctly. The side tanks have been refitted and pipe work is being tested. 2003 JANUARY Work had started on stripping down and painting the smoke box, funnel, sand boxed and other components this should be finished by the end on January. The cow catchers have been in under coat for some time, these will shortly be repainted in high gloss black, along with the smoke box & funnel. The inner firebox has been test fitted with the foundation ring, these will be shortly be re-united with the rest of the boiler so a start can be made on caulking. But before this can happen the Inner & Outer fireboxes must be attached to the foundation ring, this is done by way of rivets. FEBRUARY Much time was spent on getting the inner firebox fitting right. Also work has been carried out on the regulator, refitting it to see how it fits. Inner and outer fireboxes have been reunited with the foundation ring. Currently waiting on rivets. Circle for between the Inner and Outer fireboxes has been made, and awaits installation after riveting. MARCH Air Pump fitted and tested, cylinder exhausts fitted to smoke box, as well as blower connector and air pump exhaust. Drains have been fitted to the air pump. Cab arrived after being sand blasted and painted inside and out. APRIL Injectors pulled apart to see what they are like inside. And refitting of sight glass mountings. Air pump plumbing has been fitted. Sanders installed and tested, and brake rigging fitted. MAY Boiler riveted 7 & 8 May, inner and outer fireboxes to foundation ring. JUNE Stays cut and drilled for inner firebox.The side tanks were removed for painting. JULY Boiler taken off site to Dispatch for welding of stays and insertion of boiler tubes. Air compressor painted, and smoke box door fitted. The boiler tubes were all cut to length and anealed within 1 week. AUGUST The boiler of L508 arrived back on site on the 18 - 19 August 2003, work done at the Dispatch Foundry included fitting all of the tubes, and welding them in on the firebox end, as well as this all of the stays were fitted, the whole pthing took about 3 weeks to complete. As well as the boiler arriving back the side tanks came back from the painters, as with the cab they are finished in Emerald green, and will have their lining applied within the next few weeks. With the main component back on site its now a matter of fitting it all back together, once the boiler has been tested. All going well the boiler shouldn't need any further work on it. SEPTEMBER As with all the best intentions, some of them fail. The boiler of L508 required a little bit of work after returning to the workshop. The issues found have been rectified, with the boiler being hydraucially tested a few times to make sure all is well. OCTOBER The boiler of L508 was officially passed at 200psi with a Hydraulic test on the 8th. Next up is fitting the boiler to the frame, and another hydraulic test to make sure all the boiler mounts are steam tight. Fire hole door outer ring manufactured and fitter, with door test fitted. Bunker sent away for painting, returned by end of the month. NOVEMBER The boiler of L508 passed its second official hydraulic test at 160psi on the 6th. Lagging and cladding have been installed and attached. Cladding, cylinder cladding and sand boxes painted green on the 21st, with a second coat being applied on the 22nd. Cow catcher painted shiny black along with air pump. Brake rigging being installed. Tanks fitted 28/11/2003, bunker fitted 30/11/2003. Headstocks, number plates, and builders plate painted red. Pressure guage board made and awaiting fitting to cab. Lubricator mount, lubricator and windows fitted to cab. Clack valves fitted. Injectors (28/11), plumping to be installed, sand boxes (28/11), sand piping, brake rigging (24-26/11), boiler gauges, air braking equipment (27/11-XX/12), air tanks (30/11). DECEMBER Guage glasses fitted, drivers side injector piping completed, builders plate fitted (10/12), First steaming of Gertie in 10 1/2 years, steam pressure guage pipe completed (11/12), Blower piping and firemans side Injector pipe work fitted and finished, duplex piping completed (12/12). Fisrt trial run (24/12). L508 Page |