Autumn Update 2025

John Dunn is progressing well with the machining of the cylinders. What follows

is a series of images showing the remaining work on the bolting face of the

castings, starting with the holes for fixing the exhaust manifold being drilled and

tapped. This is followed by one showing all the holes drilled for bolting the

cylinder to the frames. In order to provide a suitable seat for the bolt heads on the

outer face of the casting, these locations have all been spot faced, as can be seen

in the next illustration. With the machining of both cylinders taken to this stage,

they are shown together, in readiness for setting up for the next operation, which

is the machining of the bores

Holes being drilled and tapped for attaching exhaust manifold

Drilling of frame fixing holes now also finished

Spot faced holes on the outer face of the casting for seating the bolt heads

With all the fixing holes having been drilled in the bolting face of the castings they are now shown together, before being placed on the borer table for the setting up to machine the main cylinder bores

The first photograph, which illustrates this next operation, is a general view of the

casting set up on the borer with the boring bar, which is supported at both ends, in

position through the cylinder casting. Next is a closer view of the other end of the

cylinder with the cutting tool shown in position in the boring bar, prior to the

commencement of machining. This is followed by the first cuts to the bore being

made, then a view of the finished pass to obtain the required size of the bore.

Left hand cylinder set up for boring to commence

Another view of the setup for boring

This view shows the cylinder boring underway

Cylinder now bored to size

Having completed the machining of the main cylinder bore to finished size, before

moving away from this area, the bell mouth at the end of the bore and the face for

attaching the cylinder cover were addressed. Also shown in these next views is the

machining of the bore for the valve spindle neck ring and gland, plus the face

which incorporates the studs for the valve spindle glands.

Photographs of the setup and machining of the cylinder castings have been kindly

provided by John Dunn Engineering. More of these and his other work, can be

viewed on his Facebook page, plus a short video of some of the machining

operations as detailed above.

Cylinder end face machined and counter bore for bell mouth partially finished

Valve spindle gland face machined and boring underway for neck ring and gland

One of the front cylinder covers setup for machining at our workshop

With the hole having been tapped to receive a Furness lubricator, the machining of the inside face of the first front cylinder cover is now finished

Above show two images of one of the front cylinder covers for

GOWRIE, set up in one of the lathes at our workshop. The first shows the initial

setup before the commencement of machining, whilst the second shows the

completed machining of the inside face. The intention is that these covers will be

machined, but not drilled for the fixing studs, as this process will be carried out at

John Dunn Engineering at the same time as the main castings are drilled and

tapped for the studs.

We finish this section with several photographs showing three views of progress

on the trailing bogie, which is now reaching the final stages of its construction and

assembly. In the first, the spring and equalising beam are in position, followed by

two views with the stirrups connecting the ends of the spring to the equalising

beam in place.

On the final page are two views of the current state of painting on the tanks, cab

and bunker, which have now received, as well as two coats of grey primer, two

more coats of undercoat in readiness for the top coat to be applied, but it will be

some time before this can be done, as there is still considerable work required,

which will entail the removal of these structures from the frames in order for more

items to be attached to the carrier frames. This cannot be achieved whilst the tanks

and bunker are in position.

Work progresses on the trailing bogie

Two views of the current state of the trailing bogie showing the recently manufactured stirrups connecting the spring to the equalising beam in position

Right hand tank and bunker side with second undercoat applied

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