Below: Stuart has fitted the new clack valve for Coffee Pot No.1. I had three made to fit this engine plus the other Coffee Pot, No.17, and a spare. Unfortunately, as Dave Young began to machine them it was apparent that the castings were porous and might lead to problems, which they did. Coffee Pot No.1 carried first its own, then a spare clack, both ‘sweating’ badly. Another two clacks were cast and machined for Lewin, and a re-casting was made for Coffee Pot. However, Dave modified the pattern so as to shorten the clack body and enable an easier radius of pipework to connect it to the pump, as seen below. The pipework is the 2010 material, suitably modified. The pattern for the clacks was based on that fitted to Coffee Pot No.17 and copied for the purposes, it being felt that a standard pattern would be useful across our locomotive fleet at the Colliery, and handily seeming to match contemporary photographs of those carried on Lewin, as well as the Head Wrightson engines.

Below: A hole – we’re looking into it! This is one of the test pits around the site of the engine shed for Rowley Station. It has since been examined by the structural engineer and filled in.

He is now preparing designs for the inspection pit and shed footings…

Below: Meanwhile, on the surface… The track lads have removed the last of the buried turnouts (which will be re-used in the Colliery in due course) in order to clear the eastern corner of the site for marking out.

Below: I knew it was here somewhere! Lewin’s original (though how original I don’t know!) ashpan – last seen (by me) alongside the Colliery engine shed, it was feared lost in recent years.

However, here it is, half a mile away and now safe. It may even be reusable!