S.E.L.G. Working Weekend Photographs by D.Robinson On 6th November a memo was issued as a call to arms, appealling to members and supporters alike for a work weekend on 25th & 26th November. The intention was to include repairs to the 2nd support coach, damaged by the storms in October and coolant/oil changes to the Group's operational locomotives, 33063 and 427.  The intention was to have 33065 put into undercoat, at least, by the time Winter came. However, I don't think anyone could have forseen the wettest Autumn since records began following on after a pretty damp Summer. The restrictions imposed by the frustrating weather has allowed just a few of the planned jobs. As can be seen in the above picture of 065 on 26/11, painting is limited to the sole bar and roof, having received grey undercoat. There has been some rubbing down of the cab sides. | |
 Replacement tarpaulins on Coach 2 due to damage by October's gales. This operation on Saturday 25th in driving rain and gale force winds closely resembled a kamikaze kite flying club as members struggled to remain on the ground! In the end it took the complete work party, several bricks and the ingenuity and experience of a Falklands gale veteran to ensure we completed the task successfully. All the more important given the extremely wet conditions. | |
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| 33063 on Sunday, before work began in earnest. The difficult task of removing the air tanks for testing and re-certification was also successfully undertaken. The tanks were certified for insurance purposes on Friday 1st December and subsequently refitted. The air tanks will now be tested under full pressure on 14th December to test the emergency relief valves are functioning correctly and that all controls work. If 33 063 passes this inspection it is planned to operate the locomotive along with 'Spitfire' on the Santa Specials on Saturday/Sunday 16th/17th December. |
| 33063 with engine running to warm the lubrication oil, prior to having it drained. |  |
 | 427, once again, adopted the vital suppport role in the work being carried out on 33 063 by supplying power to operate the ground pump to fill 33 063 with coolant, anti-freeze and oil, speeding up the job up by several hours! 427 is pictured doing it's bit. |
 With it's cooling system pumped with the appropriate anti-freeze, 427 takes 063 to the spur to be filled with water before firing back up. | |