We, start where finished last....

 

 

The top second-mans side window has now been fabricated and welded into place as well as the internal steelwork in this area, the cabling has also been encased in copex to protect it, these are the cables for the second mans switch panel and the brake indicator panel. More steel has been removed further up due to distortion that was being hidden by filler. Also as can be seen a steel plate has been welded on the second mans side.

 

 

Another view of the steel plate welded to the secondmans side.

 

 

The dome portion that was removed has been fully repaired and strengthened as well as the corner splayed outwards, although it will be some time before its re-fitted, it has been filled and flatted and finished in blue undercoat.

 

 

Back inside the cab the secondmans desk is in an extremely poor state and will be removed as its beyond salvaging, you can see that the entire front of the desk has lost almost an inch of metal from corrosion, likely caused by leaking windscreen seal. the holes are for the wiper control and windscreen washer button, the second mans panel has long been removed for repainting and repairs. The pipe unions on the left supply the horns from the secondmans desk.

 

 

A new desk has been fabricated from fresh steel and this will be fitted in due course.

 

 

Back to the front the buffer beam has been rubbed down and given a coat of primer and the first bit of new steel is attached, at this point tack welded.

 

 

going back to the side of the loco the second-mans panel has been primed and new steel welded in place for the lower portion of the second-mans window, the secondmans door awaits removal for attention to the frame, as this was a poorly fitting door the water ingress and corrosion is substantial in this area, around the door pillars, this will need to be corrected before the new doors are fitted.

 

 

to keep welds to a minimum and try to avoid distortion of the metal the next sheet was ordered specifically to size and is seen here in the process of being fitted and awaiting welding.

 

 

the sheet is now welded into position and welded also to the new internal braces.

 

 

The original panel has had the tail light removed and awaits the circular recess to be cut out, as this would be very complicated to reproduce correctly, one it has been cut off it will go for shotblasting and be welded in to the sheet we have just attached above, in the marked area. Once removed this steel like all the steel cut from 043 will go for recycling.

 

 

The final sections of steel are welded into place now virtually completing the lower front of the locomotive, attention (after the corners are welded will turn to above the drivers side panel which has suffered quite severely with rust jacking, this will be cut to the line with the 22 on the underlying issues with water ingress resolved and replaced with fresh steel. The drivers windscreen will then be removed in order to resolve the issues alone the bottom of the seal.

 

 

A view of the completed front from the other side.

 

 

the second-mans side corner is now welded in place 

 

 

And finally the whole area is given a coat of primer, steam loco 3850 (sporting its freshly overhauled and recently delivered boiler can be seen in the background)

 

At this point we ran out of welding wire so that has curtailed welding until after Christmas.

 

 

elsewhere work continues in No2 cab refitting the panels and painting the pipe and refitting in this case the heaters, along with brand new conduit as most of the original conduit was life expired and new conduit has to be made here we have a simple piece waiting to be sprayed in the correct orange.

 

Thats it for this side of christmas, work will carry on, on the 27th.

Merry christmas all.