Build Diary entries for April 2023

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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Smokebox Door
03/04/2023
	We dismantled the smokebox door a while ago as there were a number of issues to be resolved. One problem was the hinge pin which had seized in the hinges due to its time outdoors at the Great Central Railway in Quorn. As a result we had to cut it out. A new hinge pin has been manufactured so we wanted to refit the door in time for our Open Day in 2 weeks time. Here Mike gets ready to fit the hinge pin while Ian operates the overhead crane controls.
Frame Relocation
04/04/2023
	Does anyone know the last time that a set of Pacific locomotive frames were moved by 2 overhead cranes? CTL Seal needed to reorganise the assembly shop so Hengist's frames have been moved to a new location in the shop. Here all of the supports are being positioned before the frames are lowered.
Open Day preparations
11/04/2023
	The smoke deflectors have now been properly attached to the smokebox. In preparation for the Open Day, the smokebox assembly was installed on the frames. Photo by Alan Marshall.
Bogie Wheelsets arrive in Sheffield
12/04/2023
	Just in time for our Open Day on Saturday, the bogie wheelsets arrived back at CTL Seal yesterday. The wheelsets were assembled by South Devon Railway in Buckfastleigh. Photo by Chris Jones
Bogie Spring Cradles
13/04/2023
	The bogie spring cradles have been assembled by Heritage rail traction in North Manchester; today they were delivered to CTL Seal. The cradles run fore and aft alongside the outside of the bogie frames with the ends of the cradles locating in the cannon axle boxes. A single leaf spring (as the bogie suspension spring) sits inside the cradle. We have an enquiry out for the springs at the moment. Photo by Geoff Turner.
Painting Wheelsets
17/04/2023
	Most of today was spent in tidying up after the very successful Open Day. Well over 500 people came through the door. After that it was time to get on with the work. Ashley applies a coat of primer to surfaces on the axleboxes that were still bare metal.
Bogie Spring Cradles
17/04/2023
	The bogie spring cradles came back from Heritage Rail Traction last week, just in time for the Open Day. Now we need to get a coat of paint on them. Before that Mike got to work applying a 1/16 of an inch radius on all the edges. By applying a radius this reduces stress concentrations at the edge.
Bolts for Bogie Pivot Stretcher
24/04/2023
	Today's episode is connected with installing the bolts for the bogie pivot stretcher. The bolts are unusual in that they have cone heads; they are also heavy drive bolts (i.e. they are a tight fit). The bolt head is on the inside - inside the bogie pivot stretcher . It's impossible you get a good blow with a hammer as the smokebox saddle and the pivot stretcher get in the way. So we are using a fine pitch threaded bar with nuts and adapters at each end that are designed to fit the cone head bolts. Adding to the problem to be resolved is the fact that the bolt holes are very c;lose to the weld in the stretcher - as you can see in the photo. The bolt head has had a flat machined on one side so that it does not contact the weld and allows the rest of the bolt head to seat against the frame plate. The problem then is to prevent the bolt from turning. Last week, we found that the adapter was turning, in turn turning the bolt. So during the week, we had flats machined on the adapter for a 41mm spanner. The photo was taken after loosely inserting the bolt to check that the flat was in the right position. We did find that the bolts are still a bit too tight so we will need to remove a bit more material from the shank next week.