Quite a lot to report as we prepared for the 5th Joint Open Day on 12th April.
Cab: Much work has been done studying the original drawings over the past months which are extremely complicated and understanding them is at times very difficult. Work has now started on turning this drawing into a CAD picture, from which a metal cutting plan will be created, following which the elements of the cab will be cut and hot riveted. We are pleased that a new member has joined us in starting on the production of CAD for the Cab floor and running boards.
Smokebox: Work at DWL has continued since the March report and some elements were ready for the display at the Open Day. The Ring with the seal groove, into which the door fits and which originally would have had asbestos rope packing but these days safer materials are obviously used, and the door, were shipped to CTL Seal. Some of the fittings, expertly machined by Daniela were also displayed, including the hinge straps, the hinge pin and the two hinge pin brackets. In addition, one dart handle and the central boss were on show. These items are all intended to be kept in a polished state and not painted as is more common; these items were not uncommon polished for key LNER locomotives, including the B17 (B2) Royal Sovereign. The remaining items, the second dart handle, the dart itself and the smokebox retaining bar and the box baffle plate are being finished and will be shipped to Sheffield for assembly. The Ring will be welded in place as soon as can be scheduled by the factory.
Chimney: The pattern for the chimney has been made by William Cook Castings in Sheffield, but for the first time, for us, in resin and not wood, as previously with all the castings so far. The actual iron casting was done in Scunthorpe by Ductile Castings; Ductile are a partner to William Cook. The casting will be shipped to DWL for finish machining.