album:September 2017

After turning the tender frames over, we had better access to complete the welding of the new front-end frame components; here Andrew welds on the bottom flange. Although the exterior appearance of this part of the tender remains as original, we have redesigned the structure and drawgear so the internals are quite different. The old design had spaces which trapped coal dust and moisture, causing severe corrosion. Hopefully our new design will reduce that problem.

Andrew welding the replacement parts of the tender frame, which is now the right way up. Behind the screen on the left is the first bogie carriage to run in the British Isles, dating back to 1871. Carriage 15's original wrought-iron frame is still in fine condition. Our steel tender frame is 117 years younger but led a hard life in China!

These bonded rubber discs will be fitted to the shanks of the safety chain eyes at the front of the tender. The design of the loco-tender safety chains is an integral part of the loco rear bufferbeam and tender frame, so we have designed and purchased the components now.

The milled slot takes a tapered tang which retains the composite brake block on the carrier. Paul milled 15 of these; 10 new ones and the 5 surviving Chinese components. The Chinese ones are of two types with slightly different geometry and the milling operation revealed that one type is cast iron while the other type is cast steel.

Making a slot in the brake block carriers, on the Bridgeport milling machine. The new components were made from curved steel strip and profile-cut sideplates welded together by Andrew. The machining operations should ensure that all three types of carrier are interchangeable.

The C2's frames in the Boston Lodge erecting shop for the first time on their own wheels. On the right is double Fairlie 'Merddin Emrys' built in this workshop in 1879. There are a few original parts left after more than a hundred years use! Since the Merddin, five more new steam locomotives have been built here, plus countless more heavy overhauls and rebuilds.

Coupled to the trusty shunty 'Moel-y-Gest', our frames are parked in the main Boston Lodge yard for a photo, with the mountains of Snowdonia in the background. The top of Snowdon itself is lost in the clouds, directly above the trailing wheelset of the loco.

Tender frames now turned the correct way up. - Andrew Nelms Sept 2017

Tender Frames outside Boston Lodge erecting shop. - Andrew Nelms Sept 2017

Part of the new loco brake block carrier production line in the welding bay. - Andrew Nelms Sept 2017