Week One

During this week, the side lengths of top beading were straightened where necessary in the hydraulic press and then offered up and the fixing holes all drilled, the coal shovelling plate that was fitted last week was dressed back

 and the rear grab handles were bolted into place.

The never-ending welding was continued, 

the attachment holes for the coal space back plate were marked and drilled through, 

the final bit of curved beading was bent into the correct shape (and proved to be the most time-consuming piece of the lot)

and the closing panel for the coal space floor was measured and cut out.

On the 4253 boiler front, it was all crinoline work with a great many joining brackets being made and drilled.  Those for the horizontal bars on the firebox sides were carefully positioned and marked 

before being welded into place.

while other sections of banding were subjected to a degree of ‘percussive adjustment’ to achieve the right contour.

We also rolled some more bands from flat bar ready for the next section to be installed.