FRAME ASSEMBLY MILESTONE

We achieved our objective of completing the permanent frame assembly on 4th February.  This is quicker than we dared hope when we launched our Frame Assembly appeal in July 2024.  In a busy day we installed 199 Huckbolts, at a rate of roughly one every two minutes.  Huckbolts are a very secure fastener type, never loosen and fast to install, but as can be seen from the pictures they require a special machine.  As the machine was on hire there was an incentive to do the entire job in one hit.

Jamie Keyte instals the first Huckbolt in the joint between front and main frame plates. Tery McMenamin watching

Installed Huckbolts look just like rivets from the outside

The completed frame assembly from the mezzanine floor just above the front buffer beam

Work has now moved on to design and manufacture of cab internal splashers, the right hand coupling rod and main splasher, and refurbishment of existing running plates etc.  These will be fitted to the frames as they are completed, so it will be looking like a locomotive again by the summer.  After that we will start on the cylinders.

We owe huge thanks to all our donors who have made this possible, loyally giving even though we had relatively little to show for it.  Now we have the frames, money becomes more important as storage costs are incurred for such a large item, and of course cylinder castings are far from cheap.  So please, if you possibly can afford even £5 per month, go to the home page and click on the donate button.