30075 has new grate and brick arch fitted February 2007

The Winter close down period at the East Somerset Railway is a time when maintenance can occur on the items usually in heavy use when the railway is providing passenger services the rest of the year. Over January and February 2007 it was decided to replace the old rocking grate (which was mainly still the original that came with the locomotive from the Store steel works in Slovenia in 1990) with a Standard pattern fixed grate similar to that fitted in 5637, also based at Cranmore.

The brick arch was also replaced at this time and 30075 is scheduled for service next on 14th February when she will be hauling the Valentine Evening dining service train.

The new firebars sitting on the newly fitted carriers

View from below shows carrier fitting to ash pan

New deflectors beneath grate to direct ash into the pans

Wooden formers, two deep, are set to build the arch

Barney and Paul prepare the thermal ceramic concrete

Steve Masters inside the fire box builds up the arch

Barney and Tom working in the smoke box

New concrete to seal the blast pipe and smokebox