Rolling Chassis: We are pleased to announce that Somers Forge have finished forging the Crank Stub Axles, the Crank Pin and the Sweep Webs with heat treatment and initial machining. All these items have been shipped to Shildon for final machining, where the Coupled Axleboxes and Cannonboxes already reside, fully machined. These items along with the Driving Wheels will be shipped to South Devon Engineering on receipt of the two rear plain axles – the Tyre Plugs and the Timken Roller Bearings are already there.
Also, the Horn Stay material has arrived at CTL Seal and will be machined in the coming weeks, ready for the arrival of the completed Wheelsets.
Smokebox: Work has continued on the Smokebox Door assembly with the second Dart handle, the Retaining bar, its brackets and the inner smokebox Door Baffle all now available. Welding of the Smokebox Ring was been put on hold so the whole assembly could be displayed at 'The Greatest Gathering’ event at Alstom’s works at Derby on 1st - 3rd August. After the visit to the factory by the Duke of Gloucester, further fettling work has been completed on the smokebox hinge brackets. Since the smokebox has returned to Sheffield, work has continued with the fibre glass yarn in place, checking to ensure a perfect gas tight seal at the point of closure is possible and alternative glass fibre ropes are being investigated before a decision is made as to the right material to be used.
Cab: Work on the CAD drawings is proceeding on two fronts. The main contractor is close to completing the CAD of the main cab features, prior to ordering the cutting of the steel sections, whilst our own member is working on the Cab floor and parts of the footplate. One view of the Cab in CAD so far are shown here - the views are still to be finalised but rapid progress is being made. A visit was made to Ruddington in July to view the B1 stored there, to look at the seats and the mainline signalling electrics, with a view to deciding how to incorporate these into the B17 cab and the front of the tender.
Chimney: The cast chimney, which was on display at the Open Day in April, has now been shipped to Shildon, where Daniela Works Ltd. will machine it.
Cylinders: The design into fabrications and the production of the full manufacturing drawings has been completed and initial discussions were held with CTL Seal with a view to the work being offered to their Fabrication and Machining teams. Anaylsis of the drawings is currently being analysed by CTL Seal management.
