album:February_2026

With snow on the mountains, The C2 was moved round to one of the few left hand curves which exist in Boston Lodge yard. - Andrew Nelms Feb 2026

Milling the top cross head slippers using the "Wanderer" milling machine. Each corner has been carefully packed with shims such that when assembled with the bottom slipper in the cross head, they will be exactly parallel to each other. - Andrew Nelms Feb 2026

The fireman's side cross head here shown assembled with the slippers machined to the final dimensions. The slip blocks are being used to accurately determine the distance between the bearing surfaces in all 4 corners. This showed the bearing surfaces to be parallel to within the tolerances that we had specified. Andrew Nelms Feb 2026

The fireman's side cross head assembled on the sidebar. It is always pleasing to see the results of a complicated machining job coming together! - Andrew Nelms Feb 2026

The fireman's side cross head slides easily up and down the cross head with the clearances machined to the correct tolerances. Andrew Nelms Feb 2026

Old and very worn screw reverser latch plate (right) and the new off cut of EN24 steel which will be used to make new. Andrew Nelms (taken) Sept 2026

Erle making the new screw reverser latch plate on the lathe. - Erle Ford Feb 2026

Cutting the EN24 steel down to a more manageable size prior to machining. Andrew Nelms Feb 2026

Driver's side return crank badly worn. Andrew Nelms Feb 2026

The Fireman's side return crank is no better. Andrew Nelms Feb 2026

The worn areas on the return cranks build up with a layer of weld ready to be machined back at a future working party. Andrew Nelms Feb 2026

Jig for measuring the reverser weighshaft crank pins relative to the expansion link bearings. Andrew Nelms Feb 2026

Driver's side cross head trial fitting! Andrew Nelms Feb 2026

A sliding fit on the Driver's side cross head. Andrew Feb 2026

New expansion link with the die block held in the mid gear position and two dowels to centre the exansion link carriers such that the pivots are exactly in line with the mid gear position. Andrew Nelms Feb 2026

Expansion link carrier centred on mid gear position of the expansion link. Andrew Nelms Feb 2026

Mounting holes in the expansion link carriers which are not very round! Andrew Nelms Feb 2026

Expansion link carries with the mounting holes drilled out to 24mm and with weld preps countersunk. Andrew Nelms Feb 2026

New 24mm plugs machined out of EN3 to give a 1 thou interference fit. Andrew Nelms Feb 2026

Plugs pressed into the expansion links ready to be welded. Andrew Nelms Feb 2026

View from Andrew's livingroom window on the first day of the February working party while eating bacon and egg sandwiches for breakfast! It's difficult to get bored of this view.