Sun is still shining!

It’s fair to say that the sun is keeping me from playing in the workshop. I really need to get an air con unit for these hot days! However, some small progress has been made. The rear end cap covers have now been slotted to accomodate the slide-bar bracket…

Work has also started on the crosshead assembly, with machining of the slippers completed…

Next job is back to the main cylinder assembly. Drilling the holes for the lagging, drain cocks, snifting valves etc before final welding. Once welding is completed, the cylinder sets should come together pretty quickly and easily (fingers crossed!)

Official research jolly

A few weeks back, I took the opportunity to visit the WHR. Glorious day, picturesque surrounding and of course a few NGG16’s for good measure. Thought I’d post a few pictures, including one at the recently opened Pont Croesor extension, only a few miles from its final destination of Porthmadog, which is rumoured to open later in the year.

138 at Dinas on the first train of the day…

138 arrives at the new Pont Croesor station…

138 rounding the final curves on the climb to Rhyd Ddu…

87 ready for departure, as 138 clears the line to Waunfawr…

Update for June 2010

A brief update to kick off June. Main endcaps and motion brackets are now one, silver soldered together and machining completed…

After investing in a cheap ball turning attachment off ebay, a sceptical purchase which has very much paid off, the other end caps were balled-off (if that’s a word!)…

A small screen cap from Turbo Cad showing how the cylinder bits fit into the jigsaw…