On the first day in revenue service, the right hand big end ran hotduring an initial special for members of the 48624 Society and the loco was taken on shed for urgent attention.

To get at the whitemetal bearing, the return crank is first removed

The driving crankpin has four threaded studs to which to return crank is fixed.

Right hand expansion link. The eccentric rod has already been disconnected from the bottom of the link.

Having removed the gudgeon pin (which attaches the little end of the connecting rod to the crosshead) the big end of the connecting rod can be manhandled off the crankpin and the connecting rod moved backwards to allow attention to the whitemetal.

Apologies for the poor quality of this shot of a framed print of drawing DD2986 (prepared under T. F. Coleman at Derby) showing the arrangement of footplate fittings on a Stanier locomotive.

Sub-assembly of return crank and radius rod set aside.Notethe oil box formed at the end of the eccentric rod, closed with a cork.

'Scraping' the whitemetal of the big end bearing.

'Scraping' the whitemetal of the big end bearing. This was once a favourite training job for apprentices in loco works.

Little end of the connecting rod. Note the oil box formed in the end of the connecting rod, closed by a cork. Oil is fed to the top of the journal through an oil pad held in position by a spring under the hex-headed bolt.

After attention to the whitemetal, the connecting rod is offered up to the crankpin. Note the generous bearing area - two such bearings have to absorb the full output power of the locomotive.

The little end of the connecting rod is about to be offered up to the crosshead so that the gudgeon pin can be replaced

Back in traffic, Driver Jan Ford completed the first round trip in revenue service. The occasion was marked by flowers from long-term Peak Rail member Bill Berisford.

Fireman Chris Ward is, of course, a prolific railway photographer.

8624 arriving back at Rowsley with the second revenue trip.

Alen from the 48624 Society rode in the cab on the second revenue service.

8624 runs round after completing the second revenue trip.

8624 passes 'Royal Pioneer' as it arrives back at Rowsley after the third revenue round trip.

Jan chats to Mark while Dave looks on.