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Image: BGR's Ross Driver and David Twiss working on Invicta, Oct 03.
Invicta restoration is proceeding ahead of schedule with the locomotive completely dismantled with the frame sitting on ex-cane trucks. The boiler has been removed and is awaiting minor welding repair, the smoke box door has been removed and drawings are being done so that a new front can be cast. Side tanks are on schedule and looking every bit as the original left Leeds in 1907.
Image: Wheel sets being removed. Image: Ross Driver welding on Invicta's frame.
Image Brian Naumann during the mag particle testing of the frame for rewelding on Saturday 22nd November 2003. Image Invicta's water tanks completed 17 November 2003
"The engine is right down to the pistons and we have new bearings being made. They should be ready by Christmas to install February 2004. The bearings and pistons have put us behind a little bit... possibly a couple of months."
Image: Removing Invicta's boiler"
The pistons have been removed and look good except on one side where the rings were frozen solid. These have now been freed up by allowing them to soak in a bath of Inox for 5 days.
The cracks in the frame around the horn cheeks have been welded up, they were veed out both sides and now have full penentration welding completed on them. There are still quite a few repairs to be done on the frame.
New phosphor bronze bearings are being made by a local foundry (BMI Industries) and should be ready for fitting in the new year.
Everything is being reversed engineered and at the end of the restoration every part of the locomotive will be drawn up on Autocad to be of use to other Societies "crazy enough to restore locmotives".
January 2004: The main work on the restoration has focused around the compensating springing gear which after dismantling we found that it'stuffed'. Another job we had not counted on but there will be plenty of those along the way. (Years of experience in that conclusion).
Bob Truscott, the patron of the Society who is a model builder of steam traction engines used his workshop facilities and his engineering expertise in refurbishing the spring hangers. Fitting of the axle bearings should start end of Febthrough to April 2004.
December 2004: We are still working steadily on 'INVICTA' with the wheels and running gear being machine and refurbished plus our fitters are busy lapping valves in the steam chest (slow tedious work.) The frame has been completely rewelded, grit blasted and painted. We are aiming for late in 2007 for the finish date.
March 2005: Invicta's restoration continues with retired steam fitter Reg Simpson coming on board. He has just completed several months work lapping in the valve seats in the steam of the cylinders (very time consuming) The wheels are nearing completion as far as machining goes.
Enquiries to The Secretary, PO Box 7209, Bundaberg North, Qld 4670 Australia; or e-mail rndriver @ yahoo.com; Phone: 07 4152 6609 (10 am to 4pm Sundays or leave a message). Bundaberg Steam Tramway Preservation Society Inc (BSTPS), trading as the Australian Sugar Cane Railway (ASCR).
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