Our latest Build 11 work session was held on Tuesday through Thursday, October 6 to 8. We finally managed to bolt the crosshead guide subassembly to the guide yoke. Here we see one of several fitted bolts machined in Quentin Bethune’s home shop. These were later turned by Quentin or Earl Leavitt to fit the as-reamed hole. This is an extended process; we first match drill and ream one connection, turn the bolt diameter to a half-thousandth oversize and use a hammer to seat the bolt. Then we proceed to the next hole and so on.

Harold Downey is driving the first fitted bolt home on the engineer’s side.

And Harold is attempting to drive home a fitted bolt home on the Fireman’s side. (We were unable to find a left-handed person to help us on the awkward, to us, side.)

The guide yoke is attached to the frame with brackets designed by us. Harold match drilled the bottom (frame mounting) hole.

In these two photos Quentin and Earl are turning fitted bolts to size.

We used our large magnetic base drill to match ream the bracket and frame. A fitted bolt will make this attachment secure.

We next used our small magnetic base drill to match drill, reverse countersink and ream the yoke/bracket holes. Fitted bolts will secure these attachments.

Joe Monty helped us out by fabricating brackets to mount some of the locomotive brake components designed by Gordon Cook.

Gordon and Rick Sisson match drilled the frame to mount a pair of brake pulley brackets. Fortunately, these are attached with standard bolts.

Gordon and Rick also mounted a pair of hand brake shaft brackets.

The following photos show some of the work Earl Leavitt has on his bench. Earl has ensured that the pins and rotating joints fit with perfect clearance. Earl is now working on lubrication fittings for these components.

In the late-breaking news department: following our work session our volunteers covered a lot of ground.

Earl got the tumbler shaft and rocker boxes permanently mounted and valve gear components installed for their final test fit.

Harold was machining the crosshead gibs….

…and test fitting the crosshead and gib.

Jason Lamontagne welded up the eccentric rods that Earl prepared. Next, they and other components will be sent out for heat treating.

Meanwhile, Earl has been designing, fabricating and installing lubrication lines for various valve gear components.

And Quentin has been working on the eccentric straps in his home shop…

Really nice work, Quentin!

And, finally, Joe Lamontagne and Brian Whitney have started assembling Number 11’s tank. These pieces were water jet cut and stored in our container. These will be hot-riveted in the near future.

As you can see, we have a lot of projects underway. And on 11/10/2026 the chassis was rolled out of the shop for the first time (see yesterday’s video post on Facebook). Meanwhile our friends and followers have donated $155,284.19 towards Build 11 – far exceeding our $120,00- goal for 2026. Thank YOU for helping to put no. 11 on the rails as quickly as possible.

Please keep us “Pushing Forward” in 2026 with a contribution at www.build11.org