Exciting news from the engineering team!

Holes cut in the frames

At last Saturdays working day, Matt, Ben and the crew started on the drilling and reaming of the frame plates.  the following pictures illustrate this and other works that were carried out on Saturday.  The first pictures show the drilling operations and these are followed by a few pictures of other tasks that were carried out.

Matt at the point of no return

 Matt was entrusted, following many hours of marking and checking, with the "honour" of drilling the first hole in the frames! The frames are accurately positioned on top of each other so as to be assured that the holes match on both sides. If there are any mistakes it is all on Matt's shoulders!  There is an air of great confidence in the work that Matt and the team have been doing.

The cutter passing through the frame plates for the first time

 The cutters used are somewhat different to the type of drill you may use at home.  They are cutters which have cutting edges up the helix as well as on the lead edge, they look somewhat like a milling tool.

Break through!

 The first hole has been cut!  Time now for a cup of tea and then crack on with more!


 Ben reaming out the first hole 

Following the cutting of the first hole, it was reamed out using a bridge reamer to finished size ready to have a precision machined pin inserted. This will lock the two plates together. 

The reamer passing through the cut hole

 

The hole finished to final size

 The hole was protected with fluid prior to the fitting of the machined pin.

The pin inserted

 At the front of the frames all the centre marks have been circled in chalk and the hole sizes marked to assist in the avoidance of holes being drilled in the wrong place or the wrong size.  It is also possible to see the locating pin and a temporary bolt fitted to hole the two plates firmly together.

Towards the middle of the frames a further pin and bolt were added

 

Holes at the rear of the frames

All of the holes at the rear of the frames have been drilled and are ready and waiting for the drag box assembly to be added!

Other works carried out

There was also plenty of parts painted in "bonda primer" prior to assembly. These parts are all vital in the assembly of the new frames




Larger items in the Villa main workshop



Sean has been busy with the needle gun and degreaser prior to giving the front and rear buffer beams a coat of Bonda Primer

Angles and buffer reinforcing plates in the paint shop

 Sean has also carried out a similar process on some of the numerous angles and spacer plates in preparation for the assembly of the new frames.


The work carried out by the team is first class and they are hopeful that later this year we ought to be in a position to erect the frames which will be a truly visible and historic step forward in the restoration of the loco.  However to continue the work the continued support from the myriad of followers of the project is vital.


Thank you for your support and interest in the project, we look forward to repaying your support by having the loco in steam in a few years.  



Please remember that the work can only continue with the donations, support and interest that is forthcoming from all of our supporters. 

 

If you would like to help us to continue this work with a donation, please go to our BT MyDonate page

 

 https://mydonate.bt.com/events/27

 

 or use the QR code below.