After a few weeks of doing odds and sods yesterday we had the 1^st timber delivered for the floor, all has been moved into the toad.  We cut 33 lengths to the correct length and at end of play today 6 planks were fitted.  Andy has started to machine the axle boxes ready for plating them to build the wear up.  Hopefully within the next few weeks the floor will be completed and the veranda sand boxes.

 

 

Timber after delivery for the floor

 

1^st face machined set up in the mill for other side

 

After machining

Before machining

 

Over the last few weeks we have steam bent all but one of roof hoops, the last one was steamed but snapped so we are awaiting a replacement length of ash.  The toad has now been covered in a tarpaulin so we can carry on painting the chassis inside, so far most of the veranda is in top coat.  The floor has been ordered and when arrives will be fitted ASAP.  The veranda end sanders have been bought down out of storage ready to be fitted, unfortunately as with most things on the toad the previous owner striped everything bare and lost several items, the latest two items are the cast flanges and the plug bars that when lifted release the sand down the pipe.  Thankfully we have one as a pattern and are getting 3 new ones machined at the moment, when these are finished the sanders can be fitted.  The axle boxes are presently being prepared to be machined, when this is completed we plan to plate the wear on the horn faces. 

 

Before steam bending

 

2 lengths of ash in the steam box

 

Matt undercoating the sand box pockets

 

Sand box tops while being painted, they have been fully overhauled

 

Sand box bottoms where the sand goes