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.
| Armrests |
| 06/09/2021 |
| |
 |
| |
So far, we've counted 12,921 components that need to be manufactured and fitted to 72010 - this doesn't include nuts and bolts! The components range from the very large - like the boiler - to the very small - like a split pin. Here are a couple of the smaller ones which are the driver's and fireman's armrests. |
| |
|
| Bogie Stretcher Casting |
| 13/09/2021 |
| |
 |
| |
The bogie stretcher has been in the machine shop for quite a while but there's been a lot of work to do it. It's now going through final inspection and we hope to start a trial assembly of the frame this month. Here is Paul from CTL Seal's inspection team using the Faro Arm for the inspection |
| |
|
| Bogie Stretcher Casting (2) |
| 13/09/2021 |
| |
 |
| |
Paul and John Hind - SSLC's Quality Director - discuss the final inspection report |
| |
|
| Brake Hanger Brackets |
| 13/09/2021 |
| |
 |
| |
As a trial fit, and in preparation for the AGM, we've fitted the brake hanger brackets on a trial basis. Starting on 14 September, CTL Seal are aiming to complete the first stage of drilling/.reaming the holes that will be used to fix the frame extensions (just visible on the left of the photo) to the main frames.Once the holes have been reamed, we will need to turn each bolt so that they are a heavy drive fit. The aim is to install the bolts that fix the frames/frame extensions only first and then ensure that the front firebox support stretcher (between the end of the main frames) is bearing tightly against the frame plates. Then the bolts that go through the frames/frame extensions/firebox support will be fitted. |
| |
|
| Front Firebox Support Stretcher |
| 13/09/2021 |
| |
 |
| |
On the inside of the frames, a packing plate has to be fitted at both sides of the front firebox support stretcher between the stretcher and the main frames. The packing plate is nominally 1 inch thick but will need to be machined to the dimensions of the gap. Here John is is using a slip gauge (or a gauge block) to measure the gap so that he can create a drawing which we will pass to the machinist. This photo is taken looking down on the stretcher. 2 "Shoes" bolted to the front of the foundation ring of the firebox sit on the alloy faces you can see on the right. Lubrication grooves have been machined into the surface. The threaded bar is a temporary spacer bar. |
| |
|
| Bogie Spring Cradle (1) |
| 14/09/2021 |
| |
 |
| |
The suspension system for the bogie uses a fore and aft leaf spring on each side of the bogie sitting in a spring cradle. The spring cradle is a compensation beam as it rests on the tops of the front and rear axleboxes; this allows the weight to be more evenly distributed over the connected wheelsets as the suspension responds to irregularities of the track. The spring cradle consists of 2 plates with the leaf spring in between. The plates were originally formed by pressing over formers. The picture shows the bogie and spring cradle from 71000, Duke of Gloucester and shows how it starts of narrow towards the front and rear, widens to accommodate the spring and widens again at the centre to accommodate the spring buckle. Thanks to Michael Hughes from the BR Class 8 Steam Locomotive Trust for the reproduction of the photo |
| |
|
| Bogie Spring Cradle (2) |
| 14/09/2021 |
| |
 |
| |
Manufacturing the spring cradle plates using the original manufacturing system of pressing over formers would have been prohibitively expensive. Therefore the decision was made to machine the plates from a solid block of steel. To have machined the plates to the final profile in one step would have inevitably lead to distortion. Therefore the plates will be machined to a first stage profile which has the rough shape of the finished article. The next step will be heat treatment to stress relieve the plates before further machining to the final profile. Tyler Bros (Sutton-in-Ashfield) Ltd have taken on the contract and here is the first plate going through rough profile machining. You can see a short video here. |
| |
|
| Frame Extension Fastening (1) |
| 20/09/2021 |
| |
 |
| |
The frame extensions (on the right of the photo) need to be securely fastened to the rear end of the main frames, The 16 fitted bolts to the left and above the white dotted line will go through both the main frame plates and the frame extension plates. These will be drilled and reamed first. Here, Bob from CTL Seal is using a reamer in the magnetic drill to ream out the hole to its final size. The front firebox stretcher has been removed to make the job that bit easier. The fitted bolts that go in the holes to the right of the dotted line have to go through the main frame plates, the frame extension plates and the front firebox support stretcher. |
| |
|
| Frame Extension Fastening (2) |
| 20/09/2021 |
| |
 |
| |
Once the holes have been reamed, the Clan Project team can work out what size the the shank of the fitted bolts need to be to ensure that they are an interference (i.e. tight) fit in the hole. The bolts have gone to Generic Engineering in Rotherham for machining to size. |
| |
|
| Bogie Spring Cradle Plate Progress |
| 21/09/2021 |
| |
 |
| |
The first of the bogie spring cradle plates is now progressing through second stage processing after stress relieving. It is starting to look like the finished article. |
| |
|
| Hind Beam Trial Fit (1) |
| 27/09/2021 |
| |
 |
| |
The hind beam and associated components have been installed as a trial fit, primarily to see how we will drill and ream the final fixing holes. The hind beam is a flat beam fixed to the rear of the drag box. You can see the top of it in the photo. The cab diaphragm plate bolts to the top of the hind beam. In the centre of the beam is the intermediate rubbing block. This bears against a similar rubbing block on the tender. The solid drawbar goes through the "mouth" of the rubbing block. Manganese steel liner plates have been welded to the top and bottom of the rubbing block. Either side of the ribbing block are rubbing plates. Manganese steel liner plates will be welded to the surface of these plates - we have them in stock. The rubbing plates will be riveted to the liners resulting in a flush surface. Spring buffers on the front of the tender press against these plates. |
| |
|
| Hind Beam Trial Fit (2) |
| 27/09/2021 |
| |
 |
| |
On the rear of the hind beam and outside of the frame extensions are these massive gussets. In BR days, these would have been castings. We have fabricated them with full penetration welds. The pony truck bolsters bolt to the bottom of the gussets. A later modification introduced an oilbox for lubrication of the bolsters. The gussets will be fastened to the frame extensions with fitted bolts. |
| |
|
| Check, Check and Check Again! |
| 27/09/2021 |
| |
 |
| |
Anthony Pilkington from CTL Seal, John and Geoff discuss the dimensions for the fitting of the front firebox support. We need to carefully check the dimensions from the pony truck pivot (part of the firebox support stretcher) to the centre line of the driving axle and to the dragbox. All is looking good so we are preparing for final fixing of the firebox support. Fitted bolts now need to be machined to a drive fit. |
| |
|
