The machined axles are made of .75″ 1144 (stress proof) steel.
One end is .25″ longer to allow the gauge to be changed from 7-1/4″ to 7-1/2″ and vice versa. The back-to-back shoulders are set for 7-1/4″ gauge.
The bearing blocks are cast bronze. I mounted them in a four jaw chuck and machined one outside face; then bored the ID for a slip fit on the axles.
I made an aluminum “spider” to sit behind the bearing when I machined the second face parallel to the first face.
I used scraps of 1/8″ thick aluminum to protect the machined faces when I finished the ends to length.
The side slots were machined in the horizontal mill. The final operation was to drill a 1/16″ oil hole with a milled oil pocket on the top.
Finished axles, bearing blocks and bolsters.
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