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.
| Dragbox Machining |
| 08/01/2024 |
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Work has been proceeding a number of fronts today. First, the main faces of the new dragbox have been machined. The dragbox is sitting on the backplate with the bottom face for the centring pin on the right. The holes for the safety links, that will fit between the engine and the tender, still need to be formed in the bosses, bottom right. The next job is to fit the centring pin (to the left of the dragbox) to the dragbox with temporary bolts. The job will be to drill/ream the bolt holes for the permanent fitted bolts. |
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| Bogie Frames 1 |
| 08/01/2024 |
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A set of countersink head 1" bolts arrived today from Generic Engineering Ltd, Rotherham. These are to bolt the bogie frame plates to the central stretcher. Countersink head bolts are need to avoid a hex head bolt fouling the bogie spring cradle which sits fore and aft alongside each frame plate. Here Mike is using a hide head mallet to drive home the bolts while John assists with a socket drive on the inside. 12 bolts are needed for this per side plus one other countersink head bolt which is under the spring safety bracket - thats the one centre top (which will be bottom once the frame is put the right way up.) |
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| Bogie Frames 2 |
| 08/01/2024 |
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Once all of the bolts had been driven in on the left hand side, John went round with his fine feeler gauge to see if there were any gaps between the frame plates and the stretcher. None was found so the left hand side was signed off. Next week we aim to complete the right hand side. The other bolts on the frame (F1, F2, F3 and F4) will only be fitted once we fit the side control springs, the spindles and the brackets. |
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| Bogie Axlebox Liners |
| 08/01/2024 |
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In one of the machining stations at CTL Seal, the axlebox liners are being machined. The liner is the plate with 3 holes in it and the manganese steel surface is being machined to the correct dimension. |
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| Dragbox Machining continues |
| 22/01/2024 |
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We should now be on the home straight for the machining of the dragbox. The dragbox is sitting on its hind face with the left hand side towards the camera. The pony truck centring pin has been attached to the bottom of the dragbox and secured with temporary bolts. The final job will be to drill/ream the centring pin bolt holes to size and then procure the fitted bolts which will be the permanent fasteners. The holes for the safety links (which provide the backup connection between engine and tender) have been formed. |
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| Bogie Axlebox Liners |
| 22/01/2024 |
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The 2 items with the X grooves are 2 axlebox liners for the bogie. 8 of these are fastened to the axlebox guides. The surface with the X on it is manganese steel which has been welded to a steel section. The manganese steel faces similar manganese steel liners welded to the bogie axle cannon boxes. The hole at the centre of the X is connected to a grease nipple so that grease can be pumped in to lubricate the working faces. At the end of today, 2 more had been machined, the others to follow tomorrow. |
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| Measuring for Fitted Bolts (1) |
| 29/01/2024 |
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The holes for the fitted bots that will secure the pony truck centring pin to the bottom of the dragbox were drilled/reamed last week. Today, our job was to measure the holes so that we can order the (specially manufactured) bolts. Here, Geoff is using a telescopic internal gauge. By turning the knurled handle, the "T" ends will move in or out. Geoff will turn the handle so that the ends are bearing on each side of the hole. |
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| Measuring for Fitted Bolts (2) |
| 29/01/2024 |
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The gauge is then removed from the hole and the dimension across the ends of the "T" is then measured with a standard micrometer. By measuring the diameter of the hole vertically and then horizontally, we can determine if the hole is truly round. |
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| Bogie Axlebox Liners (1) |
| 29/01/2024 |
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A chamfer has been machined onto the ends of the manganese liners for the bogie axlebox guides. |
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| Bogie Axlebox Liners (2) |
| 29/01/2024 |
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The chamfer is formed on a machine where the bed can be set at the correct angle. |
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| Pony Truck Wheels |
| 30/01/2024 |
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SSLC are pleased to announce that an order was placed last week with Trefoil Steel Ltd in Sheffield for the casting and initial machining of the pony truck wheels. The pattern was delivered to Trefoil yesterday. With the tyre added, the wheel is 3 feet 3.5 inches diameter. The photo shows one half of the pattern. |
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