In the Workshop at Woodford

[ge_rik]

Hey Aaron, don't lose the instructions to put all that back together!
Grant.

Just what I was thinking. Even with the numbering of the parts, it's a bit like a jigsaw without the final image.
I'll now view restored locos with a heck of a lot more respect. And this is just the cab that's being rebuilt.......!!

Rik

[Old Man Aaron]

Hey Aaron, don't lose the instructions to put all that back together!
Grant.

Just what I was thinking. Even with the numbering of the parts, it's a bit like a jigsaw without the final image.
I'll now view restored locos with a heck of a lot more respect. And this is just the cab that's being rebuilt.......!!

Rik

The video is the instructions - too bad I deleted the files to save a dozen gigabytes after the first video was uploaded - I forgot to keep the damn things! I'll see the panels put back right, it'll just take time..

Edited to add:
This is a perfect example of why picking up stalled, unfinished or abandoned projects pisses me off sometimes - so often, nothing was documented and parts are scattered far and wide, usually missing and have to be remade from scratch. I'm a big proponent of finishing what you start - for my swiss-cheese memory if nothing else. Besides, we get one life, better to spend it getting - and enjoying - results.

[Old Man Aaron]

Well, this is another long-overdue update..

New Year's means it's been 6½ months working on Baguley - half of that chasing my tail on the roof, but sometimes that's how you learn.
When will it be finished? First thought is 6 months, so working alone, let's call it 12. I'd love an extra set of hands, but the reality is, people have their own lives and other things to do. Maybe once a month, do I get anyone putting in an hour or two's work. A drop in an ocean, but I'll take what I can get.


30/09/25
After three months of what should've taken three weekends, I've given up on welding the roof on the ground - with the roof standing on it's side, all the flexing under it's own weight is cracking the welds once ground back to the 3mm sheet thickness.

Decided I'll hoist it into place and weld it in-situ. I just wish I didn't waste so much time getting to this point.



Much of the cab interior has been refitted. Need more acoustic (perforated) sheeting to patch over rust holes in the panels. Once painted it'll blend well enough for a cab. I've been putting off refitting the ceiling, it'll be difficult and require another person.



13/11/25
Though under the bonnet had been primed years ago, time outdoors allowed some rust to creep back in. Once treated it was returned to it's original gloss cream. I should suss out some lighting fixtures to make future maintenance more pleasant.



28/12/25
Spending most of my 2 weeks off work (including xmas day, my household barely bothers and we've just moved house) rebuilding the cab windows.
About 12 days' work in all. Also involved rebuilding the Triton saw bench in the loco shed, with a parts donor from marketplace.
Test fit is good, ready for paint. New glass soon. Sliding tracks are discontinued and hard to find, but sorted now.



30/12/2025
After so many months of work with little visible progress, I need to see something painted. Yes it's painful to strip and paint this final drive in-situ.
Fillers & pipework etc. to be picked out in black.



I also have finally finished the next Youtube instalment.
We've also acquired yet another loco/project. I'm not touching this one, besides the lettering..



While I'm enjoying the Baguley project and learning a lot, I've no intention of seeing it in the workshop by this time next year. Sometime soon, I'll need to peel our engineer away from the myriad of other work he'd rather not be doing, and get him to show me how to service the engine and overhaul the running gear..

[LNR]

It's funny how there's always plenty of people around to drive locos and such, but when it comes to the grind of restoration work less so.
Great work Aaron, I'm sure it will be appreciated.
What make is the main engine?
Grant.

[Old Man Aaron]

"Less so" is a rather polite way of putting it.
A handful of such woodwork-hiders would help our extreme running staff shortage, though. Fair weather friends are sometimes better than none..
We have had a couple of people join recently, they do odd jobs around the site so far. Nothing mechanical yet, but I really appreciate their help.

Even so, I really do enjoy the solitude most days.

Baguley's engine wears a John Deere tag, though our engineer tells me it's a Caterpillar engine - (Made by CAT for Deere?) He's hoping it won't need any parts, dealing with Hastings-Deering for Mossman's CAT engine parts has been a nightmare.

Off for another day at Woodford tomorrow..

[Lonsdaler]

I admire your dedication Aaron. Here's hoping that your progress pays dividends.

[Old Man Aaron]

The last few months have been a very busy time for me - at Woodford, and absolutely everywhere else.

I'll do my usual proper write-up soon, but for now, the next video instalment is finally ready.

[Peter Butler]

Great work Aaron. I do look forward to your videos although it's work I wouldn't like to take on myself.
The end scenes in heavy rain make me feel right at home!

[LNR]

Great video Aaron, gee! SJ No. 5 cleaned up well. Baguley's coming along too.
Grant.