Dennis,
what exactly do you mean by the steering link lock? The carriage in the photo must have a pin inserted in the drawbar which locks the steering solid. Otherwise when the cranked axle is being rotated to lower the platform to the ground, and the drawbar is getting vertical, the unlocked steering could swing to one side as the kingpins are now horizontal. In other words the steering geometry will collapse to one side. The heavy drawbar would be fatal to anyone in its path! So the steering geometry has to be securely locked before lowering. Likewise it has to be unlocked when back on the wheels as otherwise the locking pin will shear at the first corner...
After having another look at tha photo, I concluded that it is an original Mk 1 platform, only the rivets are not quite visible. The american welded platform ended with the longitudinal girders tapered at the end and welded to the upright tube that takes the levelling jack. The riveted platform, on the other hand, went around the tube as in the photo.
Hope this helps
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George Cross Island
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