Select. Clean. Paint. Repeat...

As the signal box rebuild comes on apace, the time nears when the lever frame is required! As you will no doubt have seen, the rear section of the floor is going in, but that leaves a gaping hole to the front. Where the frame sits, and supports the rest of the floor.

Along with various other components we require (Central Division signal parts, rodding connections, cranks, LNER ground signals...), we have been cleaning up parts of the lever frame and painting them.

There are 4 (vertical) stanchions, with 3 large horizontal castings that fasten them together at the base. These 3 large castings support the lever pivots, which in turn hold the levers themselves...

The work sees wire brushing, sanding and wiping down with degreaser (not necessarily in that order) prior to painting in primer, and then a grey enamel finish. This is for all the items below the floor level, and allows everything to be kept clean easily. A lighter colour also makes the most of the light available, to make it easier to see what's going on!

We are stockpiling the items, ready for the moment we're allowed in!

Central Division spectacles heading towards their second coat of black gloss.

Frame stanchion cleaned up and in primer.

Frame stanchion now in grey enamel.

One of the block shelf brackets in its first undercoat.
Until such a time as the final colour is agreed, this is as far as it will get...

The 22 levers for the frame are now in their new location for cleaning and painting.
These have been stored undercover for most of their time since removal from Pesspool

A quick run over the lever handle with a wire brush revealed
it to be in very good condition!

The stampings on the lever reveal this to have been No.13,
and the "FI&Co BEST" presumably refers to the steel grade
and supplier. Suggestions on a postcard, please!

The CD arm weights / centres heading towards black gloss via a grey undercoat.

A selection of parts drying off. Lever quadrants (undersides in grey),
frame bracing / floor supports, point machine lock stretcher, pivot support castings.

CD signal components after machining, but before painting.
Along with new, very shiny spindles, machined by Tom Ireland

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