I figured the shay frame is as good a place as any to start. I cut steel C-channels to length and stitch-welded them back-to-back to create the two main I-beam frame rails.
It didn’t take long to realize how long this locomotive was going to be!
The next step was to mount the frame rails in the mill, square up the ends and get them to exactly 76 inches in length. Then the arduous task of drilling the 96 holes called for in the plans began. Lots of measuring and triple checking here. Thank goodness for the accurate DRO system!
The engine mount reinforcement plate was then welded in place inside the right frame rail.