Work continues on getting the roller blinds fully operational, this has sadly required them to be slightly altered to replace ageing parts. Above is a selection of parts made up ready to be fitted. Testing Testing!!!. With the new gauges being fitted to the cab, it was time to rig the compressor up and pump some air into the loco to check that everything works ok. With the new floor section having been test fitted it was time to get it treated and painted before being bolted down into position During a recent shed shunt, 37003 is seen outside for the first time in nearly 10 months. As you can see the progress and quality of the work speaks for itself. A trial test fit of the correct roller blind box to check that everything fits as it should A rather shiny handbrake wheel being test fitted in place. With all the replacement steel works now finished on this side its over to filling and sanding before priming can be done. More new steel work added into place, this time under the No1 end second mans side The cab to nose door, stripped down and receiving its first coat of cream paint. The last two heater covers to be stripped down and painted up ready to be fitted to the No2 end cab. Caption time, Micky and Roger deep in discussion but what about?. One of the new bodyside grills being test fitted, these have been made onsite by members of the team. Once these are finished and fitted the loco will look just as new. Another view of the new grill frame being test fitted into place. The east side of the loco now having the rotten sections cut out of it, this side will receive the same treatment as the other side. Rod is seen rubbing the cab doors down, it has been decided to strip these back down to bear aluminium, to say there's fair few layers of paint on them is an understatement After a lot of swearing to try and get it to fit , we now have one replacement window fitted with some nice new rubber. The newly refurbished window wiper motor being tested after being refitted to the loco.

Part of the AWS and fire bell system on the workbench being stripped down and cleaned Sadly when the handrails where removed from the second man's side the bolts sheared off, after a lot of fighting with some heat they still wouldn't bud so in the end they had to be drilled out. As part of the cab refurbishment we've had to make new side panels for the cab interior due to the old ones being beyond repair. Here we see the second man's side panels now fitted back in have stuff like the DSD holdover and Vacuum release valve being refitted The nicely overhauled AWS Sunflower gauge now joins the main res gauge fitted back into No2 end, This is the cab to Nose area door, its been stripped down to bear metal and etched primed ready for a coat of undercoat The refurbished lighting panel being trilled refitted back in place Two very clean cab door window pane, all ready to be fitted back into the doors when they are ready The cleaned up roof vent, trial refitted back in place Various small components on the painting bench. These range from door hinges, sand box covers and window washer shields The No2 end bulkhead slowly beginning to look the part, just the area above the engine room door to do and its nearly finished A very nicely cleaned up handbrake wheel being test fitted. A small touch but it looks the part, A replica 3D printed EE badge gets a trial fit

The No1 end second mans side cab side, this area got a lick of primer but we wasn't happy with how the metal buckled under the footstep so its been cut out ready to be replaced Gavin, the group's Chairman is seen stripping down one of the tumble holme grills. The inside of one of the grill's, hard to think that this maybe the first time its been off the loco in some 60 years As part of the cab rebuild, attention has now been turned to the main cab bulkhead with it being stripped down to the best clean surface and all old holes filled a coat of primer was added The No2 end is slowly coming together now, with the new floor now being fitted its made life a lot easier to work A selection of overhauled components ready to be refitted The No2 end brake column and pipework having been given a good clean and a coat of paint, before the new floor was test fitted Now sporting a coat of BR Green the cab is slowly beginning to look the part. With the cab inner faces now back in position, it was time to refit the heaters, once all bolted home these will be tided up with a coat of paint The vacuum chamber release valve having been stripped down and primed. One of the No2 end cab floor heaters having been repaired and painted now ready for refitting New steel sections has arrived from our supplier, can you tell what some of them are for? Parts of the brake surround and boiler control panel now sporting some green undercoat. One of the most tedious but satisfying jobs to do in the cab but it has to be done Work has started on cutting the corroded metal out of the No1 end around the gangway door area, As you can see the area under the horn grill has seen better days, this whole area will be replaced. Another view of the top of the gangway doors with the top edge cut away ready to be replaced A rather bright No2 end cab desk now sporting some undercoat green, this will later be finished in BR green and then have or the instruments refitted. Some of the instrument panels for the No2 end all cleaned up and primed ready for painting. With the desk apart for painting, all the electrical systems are being checked over and tested Part of the cab roof now sports a rather tasty coat of cream paint, its certainly coming together now