Below: Davy is striding along with the stone crusher rebuild. The chassis is shortened and the first coat of paint has been applied. Some further work is required to make good wastage in the main frame sections, whereupon the rear axle can be refitted and final painting (green) be carried out.

Below: Shaun Kay has been progressing the living van and has made some steps to fit along with brackets on which to store them. He has managed to match the wood to the frame very well and once painted they will blend in very well with the original van itself. Paint is on order and once it arrives a start will be made on painting the van. Some have commented that it would look rather nice if it was varnished!

Below: Meanwhile David Young has been preparing more parts for the Steam Mule. He has made all of the nuts and studs, and came into Beamish to chain-drill the connecting rod. Two views show the 70+ holes being drilled in an 80 x 40 (sorry for the metric reference!) section of mild steel bar. He will then cut through to free the basic shape, which will be milled to profile. David commented that the holes are 10mm diameter and that he used a dormer drill for the work – apparently it hasn’t shown the slightest sign of blunting!
A flywheel for this job is on order and will be the last sizable item outstanding. Once it arrives David will complete the new crankshaft to suit.

And finally…

This weekend we will have up to four of the currently resident fleet of traction engines and steam rollers out and about. The weather forecast is currently very promising and so it could be a good opportunity to get some atmospheric steam shots – it is rare to see road engines out in cold sunny winter weather and the effects can be impressive! Pockerley Bank (see earlier blogs) and the climb out of the colliery yard are two particularly good spots for towering exhausts.