The major visible progress has been the delivery of the cab kit comprising laser profiles plates, rolled or pressed into curves where necessary.
The cab roof – David Elliott
The plate work for the smoke box has been ordered. Timsons Engineering at Kettering have started manufacturing the smoke box door frame – a complex shape being made by CNC machining from a piece of 90mm thick boiler plate. North View Engineering Solutions at Darlington have completed machining of the front boiler support and the pony truck top centre castings.
Back at Darlington Locomotive Works progress continues with permanent assembly of the frame stays and brackets, and on forming and fitting the footplating. As sections of the footplating are finished, they are dismantled, grit blasted and primed prior to bolting on permanently. Gritblasting removes mill scale from the steel work which saves many hours later when the paint finish is applied.
Progress with the footplating – Bob Hughes
Steve Wood has completed machining the buffer casings which are trial fitted to the front buffer beam.
Buffer casings in place – Bob Hughes
He has since turned the engine draw bar pin.
The engine draw bar pin – David Elliott
The first of the non-ferrous fitting castings have arrived at DLW, being injector valve bodies and handwheels and Cartazzi top wedges.
The first non-ferrous castings – David Elliott
Quotations have been received for the machining of all the engine axle and cannon boxes with their roller bearing spacers and thrust rings. An order for this work will be placed shortly.