General News
Those Cab Brackets
At long last we have the modified cab support brackets back. In the photo above the large cut-out in the top plate is wide enough to accomodate the full width of the driving wheel, while the plate below it has a much smaller cut-out to clear the flange. Four bright steel buttons in the vertical…
Read MoreProblem Solving
Our trailing hornblocks have been badly delayed. After casting they were heat treated to give the required strength, and unfortunately suffered some distortion. After being set back at the foundry, there is still some distortion. This afternoon I met the Foundry’s manager and the machining sub-contractor round the machine. As usual, once everyone gathers round…
Read MoreDeliveries – at Last
Today I was informed that our cab corner brackets are completed. These seem to have had a hex on them since they were first made for our display at Crewe Heritage Centre in 2023. As well as manufacturing faults, in the hurry to get the display ready we failed to give the clearance required for…
Read MoreDelivery Frustrations
It has been one of those times when getting deliveries is hard. Cast iron elbows for smokebox sides and for the front end vacuum pipe await our inspection, so at least one job is reasonably near promised schedule. The cab corner support brackets are expected back within a few days now. Our contractors purchased a…
Read MoreAGM: New Secretary Elected
The Trust is delighted to report that at its AGM yesterday it accepted Nigel Hunt’s offer to take on the office of Trust Secretary. Nigel is a retired accountant and a lifelong railway enthusiast. He is a keen modeller, has numerous 2mm scale LNWR locomotives and has made and sold kits. Thank you Nigel for…
Read MoreOpen Day
We just about got lucky with the weather on Saturday, there were only a few spots of rain. Our locomotive was wheeled out for display by about 9,30, and the tent straightened up so that those items not fitted to the locomotive could be diplayed. The LNWR Society had a stand, and the Advanced Steam…
Read MoreMaking the Swan Neck Vacuum Pipe
Boro Foundry have posted a video of their manufacture of our vacuum pipe swan neck that fits on the front buffer beam. As made by the LNWR this was an iron casting, requiring a wooden pattern and core box. By using 3D printing instead of traditional methods they saved hundreds of pounds. Keyte Smith machined…
Read MoreOpen Day Preparation
Today we put our newly repainted smokebox in place on our locomotive. As ever, there were one or two snags, temporary stiffeners needed a little bit of fettling to clear the frame plates. We anticipate at least one, and perhaps two deliveries over the next few days so we can add a little more…
Read MoreOpen Day Soon!
Our Open Day is upon us soon, Saturday 16th April 10am till 4pm at Keyte Smith Ltd, Byron Avenue, Lowmoor Road, Kirkby in Ashfield NG17 7LA. Our smokebox has been rubbed down ready for a coat of black heat-resistant paint before being mounted back on the frames. Hopefully the left side coupling rod splasher, main…
Read MoreBuilding continues
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…
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