Record Breaking Steamup!
It might have been the lack of anything else on the telly or a desire to get out and work off the Christmas excesses, but the New Years Day steamup produced an amazing 145 visitors! Business was brisk in the tea room, Ian G was in the forge making some bits for a trailer and John T was filling the engine house with steam due to a problem with the condenser pump for the Easton & Amos.

In the meantime, work has continued around the station and -for a change- lots of engines are coming apart: Bill has removed the connecting rod on the Waller to make new bronze bearings to replace the 'temporary' wooden ones which have been used for the past year. Another Ian has been stripping down the Cameron pump in the tin shed to investigate what appears to be a slightly bent shaft while Ian G spent half a day in the tin shed with a steam cleaner blasting everything in sight. Work continues on the turbine generator and gas pressure raiser in the main hall and just awaits the threading machine to finish the exhausts.

The Bellis generating set has been given a thorough clean by John D and another new member was seen delving in the bottom of the Easton Johnson removing the custard which has been created from the lubricating oil. The ever ingenious Bill is now considering building a steam-heated oil heater to pre-heat the oil and drive off the moisture in the crankcase! After struggling to get the large Weir pump inside the engine house, Ian G has now offered to haul it out again, take it home and clean it up before we bolt it down. A large trailer and hoist were mentioned as well as a few bods to move it......

Andy

Photographs of machinery and buildings are © Westonzoyland Engine Trust 2008 Official Location Address: Westonzoyland Pumping Station, Hoopers Lane, Westonzoyland, nr. Bridgwater, Somerset TA7 0LS (Please do NOT send letters to this address, there is no letterbox!).
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