As previously reported we had the desire to have a new roof section fabricated which covers the electrical cubicle end due to the original one found to be in very poor condition. This section also housed the redundant old silencer box which now served no purpose in being there. A new roof section would also have the benefit to increase the headroom in the engine room. Martin Staniforth, our contracted welder, made a start on the new roof section towards the end of July and continued into August until it was finished.
The start of it is the outline structure of the roof section, which was definitely a job not to be rushed and required much careful measuring time and time again.
The rib support structure was coming together here (above) and being welded into place. Again meticulous measuring was required. Finally the roof is fitted with a new outer cladding, seen below, clamped and ready for welding into place.
It was temporarily welded pending a trial fit to make sure all was well. Thankfully and very pleasing that the final measurements were spot on, so a very well done to Martin.
Finally a coat of red oxide primer is applied before top coating. Toby applied this for us over a weekend whilst I was away thus enabling the top coat to be applied before final fitting. Below the new roof has received the all important Red Oxide Primer to both the inside and outside surfaces. This will be followed by a top coat of light grey to the inside to match the engine room painting (mixed from old paint in stock).
The outside will have the new top coat applied to match the rest of the roof and cab roofs.
Finally the top coat was applied and it had dried in time prior to a second coat being applied.
Ian Kennett and Mike Thorne are seen here fitting the refurbished air vents, which look like new & again many thanks to Simon. These are actually now no longer required for ventilation, which was mainly for the Field Diverts. Due to the space created by the new roof section, they are now only cosmetic and of course less likely to allow water ingress.
The roof was then fitted and bolted down with a small bit of fine fettling to get all the holes lined up and proved to be leak free when we got some rain. A well worth project which has created so much space in the engine room and removed some unnecessary weight too.
