Signals!

This post covers progress with the NER Central Division signals.

Previously we drilled all the front bearing castings for the NER CD signals. This left the rear bearing castings to tackle, but these are slightly more complicated, as the hole needs to be drilled at an angle, so as to match the post taper.

This was achieved by marking out the centre, then carefully setting up the casting on the radial arm drilled table, clamped accordingly. A pilot hole followed, being opened out gradually until 1.1/4" diameter was reached.

Note the shimming at the two ends of the casting to get the required taper

The corner mounting holes will be marked out individually to suit the individual posts: just to take into account and variations in the drilling. Hopefully they will all end up the same...

Once the first on was completed, it was fitted to the post for No.17 (the Tebay platform starter), marking the first new CD signal assembly for well over 100 years!





The spectacles required a little more attention than anticipated, as the spacing of the holes didn't match one of the other castings: seemingly the difference was due to new patterns for some parts as opposed to being able to use the original spectacles from which to pattern: shrinkage compounded!

This was accomplished using a mag drill and clamping onto the bed of the radial arm drill, elongation the initial hole into a slot.

Spectacle, clamped down, with a plate for the mag drill also clamped to it.
This allowed precise use of a rotabroach cutter to take a crescent out of the casting.

Offered up to the main arm casting, with spindle and pin in situ.
Note the hole is not central to the boss in the casting:
this was also the case on the original, suggesting modifications
or one pattern being used to suit several variations

All drilled out, the elongated hole can be seen towards the middle:
this hole is just used to locate the spectacles and prevent rotation.
Therefore, elongating it has no impact, thankfully.
Alternative solutions were considered, and if there are any problems,
we can drill out and make a suitable bush.

in situ on the post of No.17

Next up - assembly of the ground signals!

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