This month, progress has been made on a number of fronts.
Smokebox: Welding has commenced to create the 'Face of 61673' The front reinforcing ring has been fully welded onto the back of the Ringseal. A rear reinforcing ring has been machined and welded into the wrapper at the rear - this will be finally machined when the boiler is ready to be fitted into the smokebox. After checking that the door still fits perfectly into the ringseal, the ring will be welded into the front of the wrapper. The door and the hinges will be drilled, six small spacers will be welded onto the back of the door and then used to mount the door baffle plate . At this stage the door will then be fitted into place using the hinges.
Cab: With the jig made, progress is fast on building the main structure - the first components being the two brackets that hold it in place on the chassis at the rear. Also made are the two iconic 'Gresley' curves supporting the bottom of both sides.
Heading towards a rolling chassis: With the Coupled Wheels and the Cannonboxes all fully machined, the focus is on the leading wheel, with the Coupled Axleboxes and the various Crank axle components (sweep webs, stub axles and crank pin). These are all respectively, cast and forged, and with the two Sweep webs just now complete.