There was a lot of banging and hammering in the RHEC Erecting Shop today – the RHEC being the Regional Heritage Engineering Centre (we pronounce it ‘wreck’).  Dave and apprentice Matt were riveting the right hand bunker for Samson – the rivets being small enough that they can be done in-house.  Volunteer John was also continuing the dismantling of the B&P roller.  In and aroudn this activity the work on repainting and re-upholstering the B-Type bus continues, with the advertising panels glossed and ready for sign-writing.  It will also have some period destination boards made to suit, not having carried these at Beamish previously.

Below: We start with the little furnace used for heating up the rivets…

Below: This is a slightly clearer view showing the rivets glowing red hot.  They are very small though and do not retain their heat for long, nothing more than a few hammer blows as it happens.

Below: A rivet is removed from the furnace and placed into its hole, note the red-oxide painted stand – this is the ‘dolly’ and has a rivet shaped indentation machined into the top.  The bunker is being held by the overhead gantry.

Below: With the rivet in place it is aligned with the dolly – which of course acts as a heat-sink so work must be carried out quickly.

Below: A very blurry action shot of the upper side of the rivet being hammered over inside the bunker – clearance is something of an issue here!

Below: Later in the day the gantry was again used to place the bunkers into the frames to check their clearance with the frame extensions – fortunately they fit!  The left hand side bunker remains to be riveted.  Note the growing collection of enamel signs adorning the wall in the background – to add to the museum workshop atmosphere!

Below: The first fittings – the handbrake column and handle are trial fitted to enable their locating holes to be drilled.  The handle itself remains to be bent upwards to final shape.

Below: A couple of views showing progress during the day.  Its coming along rather nicely and the boiler barrel is due any day now – this will enable further components, such as the smokebox supporting brackets to be made to fit before the engine unit is constructed on top of the boiler.  Hopefully next year work to turn the shell into a pressure vessel will be carried out.

Below: With the cylinder head removed, the side valve nature of the Albion engine is made very obvious as John contemplates the next move – as work continues towards removal of the engine from the frames.

Below: Work is also underway on dismantling the gearbox.  I hope we might be able to get both R025 and Samson’s frames shot-blasted at the same time.

Below: Another view of the engine, with nice smooth cylinder bores evident.

Below: As I type this I can hear Brian banging (and singing!) as he reassembles the Daimler bus, following delivery of the replacement clutch components.  I fully anticipate that it will shortly roar into life for testing this afternoon.