With the Christmas break now a dim and distant memory, work has resumed on the restoration of Welsh Pony to working order.
The wheelsets have been tested for cracks through Non Destructive Testing – this involves the use of colourful dyes to determine any cracks that may have penetrated the metal. This results in the pink effect seen here.
The driving wheelset includes the eccentric straps that drive the valve gear – these are assembled back on the axle.
The new frames and new cylinders are now assembled. The metalwork hanging off the side of the frame is the motion bracket which has been recovered from the old frameset for resuse.
The current focus below is on the axlebox horns which have also been recovered from the old frames for reuse along with the old axleboxes.
Some £135,000 of the initial target of £150,000 has been raised to date, a fantastic achievement.