SVR Loco Newsy News / discussions

Hagley Halls tender body was dispatched from Adam Dalgleish's works yesterday

 

Lovely day on the valley today for the Peep Behind the Scenes, with a couple of friends and my 2.5 year old daughter. Many thanks to the signalmen in Kidderminster box who allowed (under strict supervision!) my daughter to pull the lever the accept the Bewdley train into section, made her day! The SVR are more than willing to start them young!

Managed to catch 7812 to Bewdley, Deltic 19 to Kidderminster, 43106 to Highley & a sprightly but curtailed climb of Eardington by 2857 - why the 15 mph slack at the top at the moment? Hope that's gone before the gala!

Clag of the day went to the Deltic!

 

Why is that not a suprise?! I need a day home!

 

It's only a bloody box - but a nice one.........

 

There are boxes... And there are those from Vulcan Foundry (or RSH)

 

Still a box...... if it were two tone green, things might be different!

 

Can we agree to disagree?

 

Speed restriction is gonna be around till the Spring I believe. Too big of a job to fit in midweek sadly.

 

A most enjoyable "behind the scenes" event on the SVR yesterday. Thanks to all those who made it possible and spent the day talking to their visitors.

The chassis of "Bradley Manor" was being worked on at Bridgnorth, with the lads expressing determination to have the loco running for the "Manor 50" event later in the year. It requires the Bridgnorth boiler shop to produce the completed boiler on time.

Impressive kits of parts on display at Bewdley for 4150's cab, bunker and side tanks, ready for riveting when required.

The rebuilt Wrangaton signal box was open for what I think was the first time at Kidderminster Museum. Eventually this will be a "working" box with a person secreted away in the box sending and receiving bell codes to anyone operating the lever frame and block shelf. The actual simulation will be of Bersham Sidings, a box located south of Wrexham.

On the loco front, neither of the Bulleids were in use today. Apparently Taw Valley, like Sir Keith Park, has inherited the same issue of stopping on a dead centre, and being reluctant to start in the required direction.

82045 looks as impressive as ever. Fund raising for the boiler/firebox proceeds apace.

Some work was been carried out on 4930, it looked like the start of dismantling boiler fittings, presumably before admission to the works for the overhaul to begin. Up to now, work has concentrated on 4930's tender.

4566 was in use on a wedding charter special in the afternoon. Bride, groom, and guests took their champagne starters on the Kidderminster concourse before boarding what looked like an superbly presented dining train.

Overall, an excellent day on the SVR.

46118

 

That has roused my curiosity. I would have thought that with a three cylinder engine, if one cylinder was at dead centre the other two would not be, so why a reluctance to start?

Dave

 

Someone can correct me if wrong, but the way the valves and pistons are set on Bulleids means that the risk of centring remains. It was quite commonplace in BR days- some drivers put them in reverse as a matter of course before setting off.

 

I can vouch for that. It happened to me three or four times the other Sunday. In between the cursing as I had to maul the new and very stiff reverser all the way round yet again, I was wondering why. With three pistons set 120 degrees apart, I was thinking, "one of you buggas must be getting steam," and with the steam chest going up to 250psi, that's about 23.5 tons force on each piston. These things are sent to try us.

 

The best quote for all time when Bulleids head north

 

Crank Angles are 120 degrees, 125 degrees 55 minutes and 114 degrees 5 minutes.

 

I suspected they weren't simply set 120 degrees apart, and is probably why the exhaust beat isn't uniform when they are getting under way. However, looks like the steam reverser on the unrebuilt type wasn't such a bad idea after all...

 

std tank: Whilst the crank angles are fixed, might there be anything that can be done in respect of this starting reluctance by adjusting the valve timing in some way?

46118

 

That question needs to be answered by a Bulleid expert, of which, I am not.

 

We know where you live too so better keep a watch over your shoulder.
Anyway, I though that quote referred to this thing.

 

Yep. Had one of those on 34007. It was a bundle of laughs...as long as you had a good sense of humour! Seriously, it was a wonderful machine, but the reverser took some getting used to. I went into the opposite gear several times when notching up, but, I suppose, it's like everything else, you just need a bit of practice. I only had it for one day - and wanted more.

 

Now that she's now steam tight she's a completely different beast!

Shame her ticket hasn't long to go........ but then we'll have a Std 4 & Ivatt 2 plus a Urie coming on stream - never mind another variant of a Std 4 & another Spam Can in Swanage!

Sadly, I'd forgotten about last weekends behind the scenes - but then again, without a Bulleied out & about..........