Building continues

By ter12 | 10 April 2026 |

Front end platework fitted. The top of the right side driving hornblock visible near the centre of the picture

A joint Keyte Smith/Trust team made a start on getting the platework assembled to the frames, with the front parts now refurbished, blasted clean and given a fresh coat of red oxide primer. Care was needed to get the right fasteners for each hole group, that short length took 4 different lengths of M16 bolt! After a bite of lunch the was a choice to make: fit the smokebox or make a trial fit of the driving hornblocks. Hornblocks it was, and we tried them up with that mix of excitement and trepidation that always goes with a first fit. Excitement that the long-anticipated creation is coming to fulfilment, and a fear that it may expose some calamitous error. All was well, and the two hornblocks were left in place with temporary bolts. It was then time to pack up and prepare for the Clan/CTL Seal (now Diamond Group) open day tomorrow. Apparantly the food van has cancelled, but fortunately my lunch is prepared in its box. Admittedly it was prepared for today, but got left behind on the worktop!