D9531 - Current Project Status February 2006 D9531 is currently in Castlecroft shed at Bury in the number 1 road (nearest the running lines) At the 'A' end (Bury end) of the loco the remainder of the water and fuel pipework has been refitted and tested with just a couple of minor jobs remaining before the power unit can be reunited with the locomotive. The water and oil systems on the Power unit have been successfully pressure tested and the Paxman is now ready for fitting. The Exhausters for the Vacuum brake system (Ex-Class 47) are due to arrive and can then be fitted above the heat exchanger at the 'A' end - spare exhauster frames have already been sourced, repainted and fitted. Even with the best of intentions the areas being worked on do get quite dirty - as the majority of the pre-power unit work at the 'A' end is now complete the opportunity has been taken to have a clean up as well. The 'B' end (Rawtenstall end) of the loco has seen quite a lot of attention since the last update - with the compressor and brake frame back in position the complex job of creating all the pipework connections on the frame has been tackled by Martin Tottle - once this work of art is complete it will be taken apart again and components on the frame refurbished or replaced as necessary and the whole lot put back together permanently. The new tanks required for the Air brake system are expected shortly (Ex-Class 31) and work on housing these in the 'B' end nose roof along will then begin along with necessary strengthening of the sideframes to support the extra weight. It is hoped to have D9531 fit for test running by mid 2006 and we should see 'Ernest' back in traffic during summer/autumn 2006. Watch this space!

[ return to homepage ]