In the workshops of our engineering contractors Jack Thompson Engineering in Hastings, the frames for the first engine unit have undergone a trial assembly (above), and are now in the process of being assembled with fitted bolts, machined to be a tight (drive) fit in each hole.
In the photo below, the 3″ thick Gauge Widening Blocks can be seen, either side of the horizontal stretcher and the Cylinder Stretcher. These blocks add a total of 6″ to the frame spacing, allowing us to move the wheels out from the South African Railways 2′ (610mm) gauge to Puffing Billy Railways 2′ 6″ (762mm) gauge.
