Handbrake Column
The column for the handbrake has been cast by FSE Foundry Ltd in Braintree. A CAD model was developed from the original drawing, Nr 6678 of 1885, and was used by FSE Foundry Ltd to manufacture the wood patterns prior to casting. The finished raw casting stands 3 ft 6½ inches and weighs in at a hefty 138lbs (62.6 kg). The casting now requires machining on the rear face and base to ensure that it is square and flat to be mounted to the rear cab/bunker panel.
The Great Eastern Railway Society John Gardner drawing below shows the handbrake column (in yellow) in position in the rear of the cab (note: this is the normal round cab window F4/F5 cab). The handbrake passes through the column and is threaded on the lower end, which engages in a long threaded nut, which in turn, lifts a lever on the brake cross-shaft. The cross-shaft is carried by the two mounting brackets as described in June 2024.
