The major working party of 2003 was held over a very long weekend from 4th to the 7th of June This saw the gang at Glan-y-Pwll depot for a working party to remove the old boiler and then return the engine to store.

Why was the old boiler removed now?

1. A principle requirement for the new boiler is that it should fit back in the engine.

2. The old boiler is a free steaming reliable design which is to be perpetuated but there are no full drawings for it.

So the old boiler has been sent to the boiler manufacturer as a pattern for the new boiler drawings to be produced.

Why was the work done at GyP and not Boston Lodge?

1. There were moments when we wondered that too! The logic went like this: -
2. Blanche was stored at GyP and it seemed daft to tow it 12 miles, take bits off and tow it back
3. GyP had a 5 tonne hoist & road access
4. BL was full, we would have had to pack Merddin off into store to make room

As it was every day involved at least one trip back to Boston Lodge to fetch some tool or material. On the plus side we got on with the job with little disruption. At BL with 4 drivers working and two duty supervisors on the team it is unlikely we would have got away without being distracted by operational matters.

Anyway - the story of boiler removal is told in pictures on the links below.

DAY 1-Wed June 4th	DAY 2-Thurs June 5th	DAY 3-Fri June 6th	Day 4-Sat June 7th