The SDR and 5526 Project members have been seeking a safety valve bonnet for the engine for some time. Its one of those “little” things that doesn’t make the engine go any better but is absolutely unthinkable that it could run without. The snag is that bonnets don’t grow on trees and the cost of having one made is pretty large – not much change from £2500.

So, ever enthusiastic for a challenge Rob Le Chevalier, the SDR Workshop Manager, said, “Well, if we can’t summon up the courage to pay out for one to be made by an outside contractor, how about we have a go at making one ourselves?”

So, armed with a drawing, a sheet of brass, lots of wood, hammer, silver solder and bottles of gas, that’s exactly what is being tried. A steep learning curve, and one unlikely to be repeated even if successful! The beginnings of a safety valve bonnet are now emerging from amongst the hammering and banging.

Watch this space to hear if we do it. But we may keep quiet if the experiment doesn’t work. The story is that the GWR put their apprentices on the job at Swindon as a little starter job!
 

December 2nd 2002 Update

Good news here. The main brass pieces from which it is constructed have all been successfully bashed out of the flat sheet bought for the purpose.