Next the boiler will be removed and it will head off to the Severn Valley for riveting, whilst David and I focus on completion of the frames and painting all of the bits.Ī rolling chassis should be fairly quickly completed, so we will then await fitting of the boiler for hydraulic and steam testing (which can be carried out ‘in the frames’ given the great deal of access to the boiler possible for this process). Measurements have been taken for the gear shroud, and alignment checked with the bunkers. The rear axlebox will not be sprung, whilst the front pair will be – it is probable the original Samson was not sprung at all and the wheelbase is so short that it should give us little trouble in this regard (most narrow gauge waggons being unsprung). The boiler has been finally placed and the supporting brackets drilled and with the second shaft gear in place, its alignment to the wheel gear on the rear axle was tested, adjusted, modified and settled.

With the boiler components prepared, David has focussed on alignment of the gears – as seen in the views below. Since the arrival of Samson’s components a few weeks ago, David (and Chris) have been busy progressing the project – as was seen in the previous posting on the subject.

Little samson models