Friends of the Rail Forum

For years we've been battling whenever we've had to remove heavy objects such as vacuum cylinders or pistons from our coaches and locomotives. Five or six blokes crouched in uncomfortable positions balancing awkardly-shaped chunks of heavy metal on long pry bars is not only hard work but could scarcely be called a safe working practice.

Why did it take us so long to purchase a lifting tool? These photos show its maiden outing on Saturday 29th September 2007 as we remove a vacuum cylinder from coach 5919 to replace the roller ring. John, Steve and Tom are working while Nathan hangs around taking photos. Oh alright, he did join in and help with the heavy bits...

And today we reassembled the vacuum cylinder and put it back onto coach 5919

However the magic tool works a lot better on flat concrete than it does on dirt and rails...