Testing and Finishing.

The tests of the steel in the case of the framestay shewn in the illustration, came out as follows: —

The steel also withstood cold bending through 180° without signs of fracture. Altogether the steel was a high grade article, and met the rigorous specifications which guarantee efficiency and safety.

From the analytical data, the chemist was able to prescribe the temperature at which the casting was annealed, which was 1580° F. maintained for a period of ten hours. The annealing brings the casting to its full strength and ductility, and gives it good machining properties not possessed by unannealed steel.

After annealing the casting must be fettled and dressed ready for machining operations. This process, quite a problem in itself, involves the removal of the runners and risers, which in this case weighed 6 cwt.

The economical removal of the runners and risers is made possible by the modern invention of the oxy-acetylene flame, which cuts through the unwanted masses of steel like a spoon through custard.

The cleaning of the casting is another problem, happily and cheaply overcome by the sand blast method. An operator, protected by helmet, goggles, a strange protective uniform and high boots, and breathing from an airline from a supply of pure air, looks like an apparition from another world as he approaches the casting with a gun which shoots a stream of sand at high velocity. The casting is thus cleaned quickly and efficiently.

After the cleaning operation the casting weighed 21 cwt., and was handed over to the machinists, who perform skilful surgical operations on the casting until its size and form is perfect to the original design. The casting is then handed over to the erectors who, with every confidence, put it in its destined position on the new locomotive.

“She's a good job, that framestay,” said the men who handled it, and the inspectors who approved it.

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