Below: Meanwhile, over at Hetton, the evening was well spent rubbing down the bunker and cab sides and applying a mix of undercoat and top colour.  This will then be rubbed down in anticipation of pure colour being applied, probably three coats.

Below: An overhead view of the engine with the cab now bolted in place and work underway to fit the handrails in that area.

Below: A close up of the cab, which now that it is place is really quite spacious!  The grey painted areas will, in due course, be given a wood grain effect, something common on engines running in the north east and a rather attractive feature – this area must look impressive given how prominent and exposed it is!

So, what is left to do?  Quite a lot actually, but most of the components are made and it is now a matter of fitting them.  The pipework is relatively straightforward but remains to be made, likewise the actuating handles and rods for the sandboxes (already made, assembled and painted) and injector water valves (though Dave Young has indicated he will carry out the making of these).  The saddle tank is to fit, using kit form stands made by Hunslet which now require drilling and riveting.  Once that is in place the injectors can be fitted and then the sandboxes.  The buffer beams remain to make and we will take a lead on that from Beamish this week in order to carry out this work fairly quickly.  Then there is the painting…  Initially the engine will run in base colours, until tested and any remedial work is carried out.  Then we will make a plastic cocoon for it in the engine shed and carry out the final rubbing down, painting, lining and varnishing within as much of a dust free environment as we can create.  All in anticipation of a summer launch into service alongside the completion of the current round of Seaham chaldron works.