News, 28 January 2022
News, 28 January 2022
The fuel tank build continues. At the far end of the photo below the dummy tank end is seen already welded to the Cl. 158 tank, at the near end the dummy tank end sits on the original (relocated) Cl. 37 bracket - as described previously. Work this week has concentrated on locating and mounting correctly the Cl.37 tank bracket. It is seen here suspended by new bolts for the first time. The bolts are too long (deliberately at this stage) and aren't secured with prevailing torque nuts, both anomalies to be corrected on final installation, also, there's a gap between the mounting face of the bracket and the underframe - a packing piece will correct this later.
How to drill upside down. Possibly, although subject to some debate, the best thing we've bought for the build to date - this mag drill. Providing the mounting surface is thick enough (magnetic attraction being proportional to mounting material thickness) this will drill holes up to about 35mm diameter in any position, these at 20mm were a doddle. With nice long swarf tales showing a good sharp drill bit, the second of eight holes breaks through the underframe.
Offered up for alignment checking at this stage, the B side fuel tank side is seen here (below) held in place by G clamps. The clamps on the end plates are only there to straighten the ends temporarily while the sides are located.
It's not all about tanks, in other areas progress has been made with the cabs too. This photo shows the identification carried for 20 years or so from the early-seventies - 37159. The loco was built as D6859 and carried 37372 when it was re-geared in the 1990's. Removal of the paint from the cab doors (as here) and from any number of other places has revealed the loco's history at various stages of the conversion.
