One of the rear pony truck axle boxes having its various internal oilways cleaned out and the threaded holes re-tapped.
Photo: Laurence Armstrong

The internal oilway is drilled in three dimensions, X, Y and Z. 'X' and 'Y' can be cleaned from the outside, however the 'Z' axis that joins them internally is a blind passageway only accessible from a blanked-off drilling hole on the outside of the casting. We had to remove this blanking and the picture shows the entrance after cleaning the oilway and re-tapping. It is now ready to be blanked off again.
Photo: Laurence Armstrong

One Axlebox refitted.
Photo: Laurence Armstrong

Cleaning out the 'Z' oilway on the other axle box after removing the blanking stud.
Photo: Laurence Armstrong

Fitting the second cleaned axle box to the rear pony truck.
Photo: Laurence Armstrong

Working on the axle boxes for the front pony truck.
Photo: Laurence Armstrong

The rear pony truck with the two axle boxes and both straps in place.
Photo: Laurence Armstrong

The Automatic Vacuum By-pass Valve. This is the newly lapped seating face.
Photo: Laurence Armstrong

The other Automatic Vacuum By-pass Valve after valve lapping.
Photo: Laurence Armstrong

Both Automatic Vacuum By-pass Valves cleaned, lapped and ready for refitting. Yes they are odd, probably to go with our odd cylinder castings as a result of damage sustained after the loco had reputedly been on its side!
Photo: Laurence Armstrong

This is how our new front drag-box coupling will likely look using the new system that has been developed for coaches. This one is partly assembled on a new FR coach.
Photo: Laurence Armstrong