PHOTO REPORT ON WORK ON BR STANDARD CLASS 4 No 80104 AT SWANAGE SHED - 13th January 2007
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News Item and Photo Report from Andrew P.M. Wright - dated 14th January 2007
Official photographer & press officer, Swanage Railway.
Photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright. To view a larger version of any photograph on this page, just click on the thumbnail photograph and subsequently use the Back button on your browser to return to this page. Photos on these pages are low resolution versions. Full resolution photos are available for media use

BR Standard Class 4 locomotive No. 80104 stands at Swanage coal dock and pit at Swanage engine shed on 13th January 2007. Behind can be seen classmate No. 80078 on the Swanage turntable.

Andrew P.M. Wright has supplied over 50 marvellous photos of work on 1955 Brighton-built ex-BR Standard Class 4 Tank No. 80104 whilst it was on the coal dock and pit at Swanage engine shed. The work was necessary for the removal and maintenance of the locomotive's steam brake cylinder.

Swanage Railway fitter and volunteer fireman Oliver Furnell works on removal of the steam brake from BR Standard Class 4 locomotive No. 80104 on 13th January 2007

The startling pictures show a fascinating and rare sight - and what very few people get to see on the Swanage Railway; the underside of a steam locomotive and the cramped, uncomfortable, dirty and wet conditions that operations department and locomotive fitter staff put up with during shutdown maintenance work; getting down and dirty.

Swanage Railway fitter and volunteer fireman Oliver Furnell (left) assisted by Swanage Railway volunteer driver Pete Frost (right) work on removal of the steam brake from BR Standard Class 4 locomotive No. 80104 at Swanage coal dock and pit on 13th January 2007

The photos were taken in the pouring rain on Saturday 13th January 2007, and show Swanage Railway fitter and volunteer fireman Oliver Furnell working to remove the locomotive's steam brake cylinder for maintenance work; a procedure that required an oxyacetylene torch to warm and expand the nuts on their threads, and then good old fashioned muscle power! Oliver is assisted by Swanage Railway volunteer driver Pete Frost.

Once 80104's steam brake cylinder was removed from below the locomotive by Oliver Furnell and Pete Frost, it was taken to the workshop for inspection and maintenance by Swanage Railway fitter Frank Mead.

Swanage Railway fitter Frank Mead examines 80104's steam brake cylinder, which was removed under difficult conditions by Oliver Furnell and Pete Frost

Although the conditions weren't ideal for photography, Andrew has managed to capture this event in striking detail - despite the almost non-existent depth of field due to poor lighting and the need to use shutter speeds of around one 15th of a second! (Photos on these pages are low resolution versions, and full resolution photos are available for media use

We have split the photos over two pages. Please click here for the second page of photos.

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We have split the photos over two pages. Please click here for the second page of photos.