At the other end of the loco, the cab floor repair work has been completed. The corrosion at this end was far worse than at no. 1 end and new floor plates have almost completely replaced the original metalwork. The plates without the slots have been let into the existing floor to completely replace the old steel and the slotted plates have been added over the top of the existing steel. The reason for the different treatment is stress; the locos, not ours. The area beneath the slotted plate is immediately adjacent to the centre pivot / bogie mounting and we didn't want to risk any distortion by removing existing platework - however badly corroded it was. The new steel has been fully welded (hence the reason for the slots) onto the original plate and now forms a super-strong shear arrangement across the centre-pivot.

The original handbrake lever slot and multi-way cabling egress slot have also been blanked with new plate. The handbrake screw mountings remain and the new handbrake screw arrangement will go on here.

The rectangular hole surrounded by bolts holes used to carry a duct for cooling air to the traction motor, whilst this isn't going to be used for air it is being retained for access for now - when the time comes a new plate will close the hole.

The third photo in the sequence is a different view of the driver's side plates and shows the exit point for the new handbrake lever, complete with stiffening shroud.

Finally for this update, the loco has been out in the sun for the first time in ages. It was moved onto the fuel road at Barrow Hill for the underframes to be steam cleaned. It is seen below drying off before being shunted back inside the roundhouse.