25083 Generator lift

Thanks to Ross McGregor for supplying the photographs

The Load regulator, turbocharger and intercooler have been removed from the top of the generator in preparation for lifting. Also removed are the fitted bolts, which are made specifically for each generator, to allow a tight fit in the bush which then reduces sideways movement of the generator when the engine is running. To give you an idea of how 'fitted' these bolts were, when the nuts were removed from the underside, a 5 tonne jack didn't have enough force to dislodge the bolts! Two of the bolts had to have their heads cut off and were pushed out of the hole with the use of a punch and huge hammer. These were re-manufactured on the lathe in Brechin Shed, and are just as tight as the originals! 

The generator has negotiated it's way out of the loco between the engine and the part of the roof which is still in place.

When the generator is removed from dual braked class 25's, the air frame (which sits just in front of the generator) is usually removed to allow enough space for the generator to be safely lifted past it. As 25083 is vacuum only, and the air frame has much less components on it, and so ours did not have to be removed. Here the generator has been lifted out of the loco, and the crane has straightened up it's jib, ready to take the generator to the blocks of wood laid out in the carpark.