Build Diary entries for October 2026

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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Axlebox Body Machining Drawing
01/10/2026
	Once the cannon axleboxes for the coupled wheels have been cast they will go for initial proof machining and non destructive testing. We need to prepare for the next phase which is final machining and the welding of manganese steel liners to the rubbing faces. These are the flat faces at the ends of the axleboxes which will move up and down in the hornguides on the frame as the suspension works. This is part of the machining drawing which is now in our checking process. The brown colours are the as cast surfaces, the grey colours are the areas that need machining.
Pony Truck Radial Arm Pattern Machining
08/10/2026
	The pattern is now in the CNC machine shop and we can see the final shape starting to emerge
Pony Truck Radial Arm Pattern
08/10/2026
	Work on the pattern continues at General Patterns in Castleford. Most of the sections have been built up now. The pattern will be going onto a CNC machine shortly to be machined to the correct shape
Pony Truck Radial Arm Pattern (2)
13/10/2026
	Another view of the radial arm pattern. The radial ram is hollow so the various protrusions you can see are casting "prints". These will form hollows in the sand mould and will support the core moulds that will form the interior air space of the radial arm.
Coupled Wheel Cannon Box
17/10/2026
	At the Annual General Meeting today, our members were able to view the first of the fettled coupled wheel cannon axleboxes. Diamond Engineering kindly arranged to be collected from Norton Cast on Friday so it could be viewed at the AGM. It will be returned to Norton on Monday 19 October and it will then be sent for proof machining. The axlebox is upside down on the stands with the spring hanger lugs at the top. The 2 oil sumps are on the top surface of the "cannon" tube with the bosses for the oil filler plug.
Pony Truck Radial Arm Pattern (3)
21/10/2026
	The Pony Truck Radial Arm pattern is now complete. The black protrusions are pattern makers "prints" - these will form recesses in the sand mould which will allow the cores to be supported. The cores will form the interior hollow sections of the radial arm.
Pony Truck Radial Arm Pattern (4)
21/10/2026
	General patterns have now started work on the core boxes for the radial arm. The core on the left is for the reins at the front of the radial arm. The other core is for one of the corners.