16th March 2000   Duncan Richardson prepares the dome cover for painting.

Bulleid Pacifics have a very wide short firebox. 

New rocking grate is installed and working.  (Left-hand side is shown. You can see just one 'finger' fitted on the far rocking cross-member; the completed grate has them end-to-end on each cross-member, of course.)

30th March 2000: The cladding is on, and Duncan has begun preparation of the boiler cladding for painting.  The bottom end is just about finished: all the pistons are fitted, and today Frank was fitting the pins in the valve motion (which needed the services of the Class 11 shunter to move Bodmin a foot or so this way and that).  The shed was a noisy place, with the superheater elements' binding rings being heated and tightened with air hammers.  It'll be good to fit them and regain the floorspace they've been occupying.  Barry Eden was processing about the shed with the newly chrome-plated regulator lever. It looks very fine, and was in red oxide ready for painting in the traditional signal red by the time I went home.       tw.