At last! Almost four years after the project first started, the restoration to as-built condition (almost!) of our 139 year old Coffee Pot No.1 has been completed, the engine delivered to Beamish and as of 16:30 it has passed its final steam test!
Here is how the day unfolded...
Below: 11am and the engine arrives. It is empty of water so the boiler is filled and the tank given something to steam with.
Below: Unloading - made fairly easy using a BRIMEC lorry with sliding back.
Below: First fire at Beamish (though about the fourth in total!) - Dave Young and I light it and place it onto the dry wood, after the usual checks are performed. Always an interesting time on a new engine!
Below: The draft is very good and the fire burns brightly right from the start - the view shows the smoke, unaided by the blower at this stage.
Below: One of the many test runs! Here David Young takes the engine up the track. The engine sounds brilliant - thanks to the 3:1 gearing it sounds very fast, but is very controllable.
Below: Recreating the 1870s view of the engine new at Betchworth - the three protagonists - Vincent Allen (stood to left), David Young (stood to right) and me, Paul Jarman, stood on the footplate.
Below: A 30 second film of Coffee Pot in action. A very proud moment for all concerned!
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