Latest News

Current news items are listed below. If the Acrobat icon is shown, then click on the icon to read the attachment. If an image is shown, you can click it for a full size image. You can find old news items in the News Archive.

Partial Bogie Dismantle
03/11/2025
	Hopefully this is the last time that we will dismantle the bogie. We need to do this so that we can machine the axlebox liners to give the correct clearance between the axlebox guides and the cannon axlebox. First job was to borrow some heavy weights from CTL Seal's stock and gently lower them onto the bogie frame just enough to compress the springs. This moves the axleboxes away from the frame keeps so we can remove them.
Partial Bogie Dismantle (2)
03/11/2025
	John has removed the temporary bolts holding the frame keeps on and has removed the keeps.
Partial Bogie Dismantle (3)
03/11/2025
	We wanted to take the load off the springs. By placing some packing pieces between the bottom of the spring and the safety bracket fitted to the bogie frame, the spring could remain in position. In order to remove the cotters on the spring links, we needed to use one of Mike's Enerpac jacks which he has donated to the project. Mike has an adapter with a pip that engages in a recessed dimple on the bottom plate of the spring. With this we could jack up the spring sufficiently to remove the bottom cotter. The concrete block was still resting on the frames so we had something to push against.
Cab Welding
27/10/2025
	We are modifying our cab to include the driver's screen that was a modification applied to some of the later BR Standards. This helps to cut down the draughts - a bit! Here Bob from Tubular Fabrications Ltd welds the bottom edge of the new panel.
Cab Work
13/10/2025
	You can read the background to this on this page. In the photo, the grey panel behind Mike's hand is the cab back panel as originally built in the early days of the project. The green panel with the brass frame is the new drivers screen panel. This will need to be welded so that it is flush with the grey panel. The edges of the back panel are protected by this beading. We needed a new piece of beading that needed a joggle inserted so that it followed the right profile (see the photo of 71000 in the above link. Bob from Tubular Fabrications Ltd, who are based at CTL Seal, quickly formed the correct profile in a piece of spare beading. Once the screen panel has been welded into the grey panel, this piece of beading can be welded into position.
Hind Cover Painting
13/10/2025
	The hind covers now need to go into store. Before storing, Ashley and roger applied some primer to the outside, non machined surfaces. All other surfaces will be coated in preservative oil.