George started out by cleaning the engine up and making small repairs but when it came to putting in a new fire box, the first problem he encountered was getting the old one out "it was a tremendous job" George recalls. It involved drilling out 300 holes which George completed with a hand drill, "It took me on average, about 20 minutes each hole." George admits he is as happy working on his engine as he is driving it but although the past 40 years has been time well spent to him it's been a cause for concern to his family.

In fact, when George married Fay, in 1972, the engine had to take second place: "The wife put me on rations - twice a week was enough. If I was good, I was allowed to spend time with my engine three times a week."

Fay Tribe knew about the engine when she married George although she had her doubts about it ever being pieced back together. She has never been that interested in her husband's hobby but she 'tolerates' it. "I've no desire to go on the engine at all, it's too dirty, too smelly and too oily." Fay has also resigned herself to being second best in George's life, and apparently she's not the only one, "His mother used to say the same, that she had to come second, after the engine."