Work continues apace on this locomotive with the tender repairs virtually complete. Only the plating of the coal bunker and the side supports which are heavily rusted still need to be replaced. In the meantime the bogies have been replaced...

Following on from our last update, work continues on the tender with the interior of the coal bunker being cleaned and prepared for new supports and plating. Work has also begun in earnest on the loco itself with cleaning of the cab and running boards plus the smokebox and tubeplate. The regulator valves have also been overhauled and ground in...

Lukas Nel and his team are steaming ahead with 2654. The smokebox has been completed and painted and the boiler cladding fitted and painted as the attached photographs show...

Work has slowed slightly on the locomotive as the difficulty of obtaining spares begins to have an effect. Many existing parts are badly rusted and are being extensively cleaned such as the connecting rods and outer smoke box facing. Sadly the reverser has had to be scrapped as it is so badly rusted as to be unusable...

The shortage of spares continues to affect progress on 2654 but some copper piping and valve motion rods have been obtained and fitted after rebushing. Both return cranks have been sourced and will be fitted. This is an enormous job ahead to set them accurately...

Following on from our last report, another reverser has been obtained which has now been re-bored and overhauled. Sadly the steam brake cylinder seems to be in the same condition as the reverser so Lukas and the team will have to go through the same drill to find a replacement...

Following on from our last report, another reverser has been obtained which has now been re-bored and overhauled. Sadly the steam brake cylinder seems to be in the same condition as the reverser so Lukas and the team will have to go through the same drill to find a replacement...