Mention was made earlier about the datum wires which have been set up at each cylinder bore centre line from the front of each cylinder to behind the rear coupled axle location. In addition ground steel datum bars have been set up at each coupled axle centre line on mounting blocks carried between each pair of horn blocks. These datum bars have enabled checks to be made to ensure that the coupled axles will be located square to the frame plates at the correct distances behind the cylinder centres and from one another. They have also enabled checks to be made that the cylinder centre lines are 2 ½” above the coupled axle centres. (This is a design peculiarity of Churchward locomotives).

 The design heights of the coupled axles within the horns had previously been stamped on each frame plate during assembly. In the photo. above the square has been mounted at a datum point (circled in chalk) to enable the cylinder centre line height to be confirmed.

 With confirmation that all key dimensions have been achieved the remaining fitted bolt holes can be reamed and the bolts made and fitted. The datum wires and bars will remain in position as a basis for horn cheek grinding to designed sizes and the subsequent machining and fitting of the 6 coupled axleboxes.

As a next step a start has been made on making up the new cladding sheets for the cylinders. The photo. shows the main wrapper plate on the LH cylinder cut to size and shaped to fit the cylinder casting held in place with setbolts screwed into the front and back flanges. Ultimately this plate will encase the cylinder insulation when fitted.

Work has started on preparing the axleboxes for further use. They had bronze liner plates screwed to each horn face which were fitted to make up for past wear and tear. These in turn have become badly worn and require to be replaced. In the example shown the liner has been removed and revealed that apart from the stubs of the fixing screws yet to be removed there is also another set of unused screw holes. These are the correct 3/8” BSW thread form whereas the screws used appear to have a 12 mm Metric thread. A common standard will be adopted for the fitting of the 6 new sets of liners.