Construction

Early February update

Astounding progress continues to be made with the tender, axlebox and other tender castings have been produced by William Cook Cast Products, the frames are being assembled by ID Howitt at Crofton, the tender tank construction is well under way by North View Engineering Solutions Ltd, Darlington (NVES) and the tender wheelsets assembled by South Devon Railway Engineering have been returned to Darlington Locomotive Works (DLW).  All photos by Daniela Filová

You can find out more about The Tender Club and how to join it here.

The tender ‘manhole’ cover, considerably larger than the filler fitted to No. 2001

The tender tank at North View Engineering (NVE) with the beading in place

The tender tank top showing the flush-fitting top

NVE are also assembling the Kylchap blastpipe tops

January boiler update

On 16th January, a team from Darlington Locomotive Works comprising Graeme Bunker-James, David Elliott and Daniela Filová visited DB Meiningen to view progress on the boilers. All photos by Daniela Filová

Graeme Bunker-James, Udo Drees, David Elliott, Achim Decker and Christoph Wörfel looking at boiler-components.

David Elliott, Achim Decker and Udo Drees at the design review.

Firebox tube plates.

Firehole pressings.

Superheater element assembly.

Superheater ball ends.

Bent superheater elements.

Late December update

A flurry of activity during December has seen forgings made, parts machined and components fitted to No. 2007.

Robert Stephensons forged the coupling rods – Robert Stephenson Ltd.

The combined stays and spring hanger brackets were trial fitted – Daniela Filova

The Cartazzi planks were machined – Daniela Filova

…as were the axle-driven alternator components – Daniela Filova

…and the pony truck cannon box was delivered – Daniela Filova

Tender tank progress

The pre-fitting of the tender tank baseplate to the tender frames was completed at Ian Howitt’s works at Crofton near Wakefield where a total of 96 blind nuts were welded to the baseplate. The baseplate was then returned to North View Engineering Solutions in Darlington where the erection of the tender tank is proceeding rapidly.  With the main components in place, Ian Matthews bent up the complex beading for the front edges and tank sides and started fitting it in place.  Photos by Leigh Taylor and David Elliott.

Why not support The Tender Club and help fund the rapid assembly of this critical part on Prince of Wales? You can join The Tender Club by making a single donation. This form confirms your personal data and your £1,500 donation – please DOWNLOAD, print out, complete and return it to us with a cheque for £1,500 made payable to “A1 SLT – P2 Construction Fund” at the address shown. To pay by credit card, please contact the office on 01325 460163 or email .

Or you can support The Tender Club by making multiple donations by Standing Order. This first form confirms your personal data and the amount that you would like to donate – please DOWNLOAD, print out, complete and return it to us at the address shown. This second form confirms your bank details, please DOWNLOAD, complete in full and return it along with the monthly donation form, we will then forward it to your bank.

Early September update

As ever, a lot of small jobs need to be done to keep the larger work online so here a few photos by Daniela Filová of work in progress at Darlington Locomotive Works:

Terry Graham and James Heginbottom drilling BR1 brake blocks.

Steve Wood performing an hydraulic test on the cylinder drain cock castings prior to machining.

Ian Matthews machining off weld on the handrail end.

The left hand Slide bar bracket ready to be inspected.

Tender construction special!

The tender base plate has been advanced to the point where it has been delivered to Crofton for Ian Howitt to pre-fit to the frames. It should be there for a fortnight after which it will return to North View to have the tank built up on it. Find out how to join The Tender Club here.

The tender frames start to come together at Ian Howitt’s Crofton Works – Nigel Facer

Although conditions are cramped Ian Howitt managed to build Tornado’s tender in the same space – Nigel Facer

Details of the spring hangers and tender tank brackets – Nigel Facer

Brake components ready for fitting to the tender chassis – Nigel Facer

The tender tank base plate at North View Engineering – Daniela Filova

One of the splashers built-in to the base plate – Daniela Filova

With the sump fabricated (in the space occupied by the water-scoop on No. 2001’s tender) the base plate was delivered to Crofton for trial-fitting to the frames at Ian Howitt’s works – Daniela Filova

Early July progress

Work continued this week with the manufacture of the locomotive’s steam heating pipe – here we see Ian Matthews installing the front two sections on the locomotive.

Following on from the arrival of the new stainless-steel handrail knobs, the first section of new handrail was fitted to the cab.  Work will continue over the coming weeks to make, polish and fit the rest of the handrails.

This is the first section of handrail being polished in the lathe.

We also saw the arrival of the new castings for the cylinder drain cocks.  This week our volunteer team has started to machine the faces of the castings to prepare them for hydraulic testing.  Only once they have passed a hydraulic test will they be fully machined.

The patterns for the new locomotive and tender spring boxes have arrived (locomotive pattern pictured).  We are now in the process of seeking quotes for the castings.

All photos by Richard Pearson.

Late June construction update

The new 1” BSW x 2” long nuts for the Superheater header ‘T’ bolts have arrived and passed inspection.  The ‘T’ bolts themselves aren’t expected for another few weeks – when they arrive, we will be able to carry out the hydraulic test on the header.

The new patterns for the locomotive and tender spring boxes have also arrived.  We’ve also been preparing a number of items for shot blasting – the new cab seat cubicles, the driving wheel balance weights plates, and the guard irons.

Our volunteers have turned their attention to polishing the tyres on the driving wheels.  The photo below shows the mirror finish achieved on the left leading driving wheel.

All photos by Richard Pearson