Build Diary entries for October 2026

Here are the diary entries for this month. You can use the forward and backward links to see the next or previous months. Most photos taken before 2018 are small size. From 2018 onwards, most photos you see below will have a link to a full size image by clicking on the photo.

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Axlebox Body Machining Drawing
01/10/2026
	Once the cannon axleboxes for the coupled wheels have been cast they will go for initial proof machining and non destructive testing. We need to prepare for the next phase which is final machining and the welding of manganese steel liners to the rubbing faces. These are the flat faces at the ends of the axleboxes which will move up and down in the hornguides on the frame as the suspension works. This is part of the machining drawing which is now in our checking process. The brown colours are the as cast surfaces, the grey colours are the areas that need machining.
Pony Truck Radial Arm Pattern Machining
08/10/2026
	The pattern is now in the CNC machine shop and we can see the final shape starting to emerge
Pony Truck Radial Arm Pattern
08/10/2026
	Work on the pattern continues at General Patterns in Castleford. Most of the sections have been built up now. The pattern will be going onto a CNC machine shortly to be machined to the correct shape
Pony Truck Radial Arm Pattern (2)
13/10/2026
	Another view of the radial arm pattern. The radial ram is hollow so the various protrusions you can see are casting "prints". These will form hollows in the sand mould and will support the core moulds that will form the interior air space of the radial arm.