6023

To be fair whilst the costs fall on the owner, a more efficient loco would be more attractive to hire and might command a slightly higher fee. Even without a higher fee, if the loco is out on hire more because lines like have a cheap to run, free steaming loco then that sort of price could quickly be recovered. Its also possible that in time environmental pressures will make this even more attractive - its no longer inconceivable for example that use of coal for major fuelling sites could entirely cease - we're running down the coal fired power stations, Port Talbot steelworks is being talked about conversion to electric heat. OK so not going to happen soon but its no longer "never". If the market for importing coal diminishes then getting it for other fringe uses may increase in price as well.

 

I think if there was an over supply of locos in the heritage railway sector, your argument may have merit but where there is a shortage, it's a case of "beggars can't be choosers".

 

Surely heritage railways (in addition to owners if main line locos) will be watching rhe performance of 6023 with interest. Hopefully another loco will receive a Jos Koopmans blast pipe soon.

 

As I posted earlier, some locos have already had blast pipe modifications made. The 56xx on the Moors has a Lempor now I believe, the KWVR S160 has as well. I'n sure there are others but can't think of any off the top of my head.

 

Why should I do that, given that sales is not really my forte!!
Kind regards
Jos Koopmans

 

Don't forget the Flying Scotsman issue though folks. Some of the woes of that locomotive have been blamed on uprating the locomotive so that stresses on the chassis exceeded its capacity.

The King is really a special case. Here, AIUI, the revised front end is fundamentally intended to return the front end performance to what it would have been if they didn't have the cut down loading gauge to cope with. Isn't that a situation that's only really going to apply to ex GWR locomotives cut down to run on the modern mainline? Which basically means possibly the other King, the County, the 4700 and maybe the Castles?

Isn't upgrading the front end so that performance is increased something that will be be looked at with some caution in the light of the Flying Scotsman report?

 

Think of the billions millions thousands couple of free beers you might make from licensing and patent fees...

Supposedly, after Churchward saw Holcroft's wooden model of his 3 cylinder valve gear, Churchward said to him something on the lines of "Now young man, all you need to do is to work out a way of having one set of valve gear on a two cylinder locomotive and your fortune's made."

 

Yeah, right now I am a teetotaller by medication and am sitting in the sun enjoying my pension, what extra incentives do I need?
Kind regards
Jos

 

What I don't quite get is are we to treat this as a loco just coming off overhaul or one that's been ready for 3-4 years and its boiler ticket is ticking down.

 

Will she be running on the gala on the may bank holiday?

 

The coming May Day weekend - yes I understand it will be.

 

From what I've seen, she's in pretty good condition, no doubt owing to the fact that she's not been steamed a great deal. I reckon she'll be able to get an extension on her boiler ticket. If that's not the case, the most I can imagine happening is a re-tube.

 

Well lets hope if it does attend SPM open day then it doesnt break too much being lorried there if thats the plan, unless its axles have been tested for a mainline drag

 

If you want people to adopt your blast pipe arrangements then you have to convince them that it's worth doing.

 

6023 isn't going to the St Philips Marsh open day. She's supposed to be in steam at Didcot on that day.

 

The other side of the coin is "same performance but with better fuel/water consumption." Given the loads and speeds at which heritage railways operate, that's the most likely scenario.

 

Surly any celebrations of successes for the new draughting can only happen once the loco has hauled a full load at mainline speeds up a steep grade.

 

The proof of the pudding will most definitely be in the eating. Will be interesting to see how she performs.

 

Or a Double Koopmans

 

Maybe "Dutch frontend/blastcap" tastes better!
Let's wait for further tests first!
Kind regards
Jos Koopmans