NG/G16 rebuild and re-gauging at Puffing Billy

I wasn't sure if I should add this to Narrow Gauge or International so apologies if it is in the wrong place.

Has anyone been following the workshop blog at the Puffing Billy ? They don't lack enthusiasm there, that is for sure.

As well as regauging their NG/G16 to 2'6" which involves a lot of chassis and truck work as you can imagine with all those axles, they are also building new water tanks and bunkers and biggest of all they are building a completely new all welded metric Boiler. It also looks like they are incorporating a few modifications for local conditions to increase the time between rebuilds and to ensure that the loco has a long problem free operating life. They also seem to have put in thousands of hours doing some very nice CAD work of the whole Locomotive as well. Some of the best renderings are in the blog archive December section.

Worth a look via the link below, although be aware some of the workshop stories are about their other locos

www.puffingbilly.com.au/about-puffing-billy/workshop-updates/

One wonders if they will be sending a couple of their drivers to Wales to learn how to drive/maintain an NG/G16 once they get closer to completion ?

 

Doesn't sound as though there will be much left of the original! They also have Garratt G42 which has been in traffic a while, so I doubt if they need training in Wales!

 

Boston Lodge have supplied new parts for the 129 rebuild including the chimney and the top feed and check valve castings. Puffing Billy have also donated the old boiler to the Welsh Highland Railway - apparently the condition isn't bad but they preferred a new boiler for 129 built to Australian rules.