After the high of the wheelsets being reunited with the frame work continued on other important parts of 7097. The handbrake handle was fitted on top of the running boards on the left side of the cab and connected to the brake shaft underneath. On the last day of July the coupling rods were trial fitted and all were good. Excellent! They were removed over the weekend of 2nd/3rd August and checked - put back on for good. The two front cab sides, having been restored, were trial fitted to the angles on the cab floor. Nick drilled the holes in the angles with the smaller of the 2 Mag Drills and they fitted well. Both the cab sides and the angles will be removed and rivetted together, much easier to do away from the engine. They will then be bolted to the frame. Another big step forward in No 9's restoration in her 81st year.
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| Nick & Alan admiring the newly installed handbrake! |
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| The handbrake connected to the brake shaft. |
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| LH coupling rods put on. The "Backworth" step was removed to facilitate both the rods being connected with the pin inserted from the back, near impossible to do with the step in place. |
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| RH coupling rods on! |
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| Mag drill, supported both by magnetism and gantry, drilling holes in the angle iron. Photo Nick Thompson. |
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| Both cab sides trial fitted - will be removed along with the angles for rivetting. |
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| Nick's photo - viewed from the front of the frame. 9F 92219 in the background. |