BR Standard class 6 No. 72010 'Hengist' and Clan Discussion Thread

An interesting post Northernsteam, I doubt that the Bagnall's roller bearings will need replacing, but, do you know if they have ever been replaced anytime during it's life?

Cheers,

Alan

 

My family has a Garrett steam wagon from 1926; it has Timken taper roller bearings on the axles, crankshaft and countershaft. The only roller bearing on the wagon that needed replacing during restoration was one on the crankshaft that was exposed to the elements. The rest are still good and tight, and it's fair to say they were not well cared for (including a period where the chassis was used as a trailer in a market garden). They are also very low maintenance - a squirt of grease occasionally and they are fine.

 

Exactly. I don't know who started this hare running, but IMHO I just can't understand the logic of why anyone would spend millions on building a new main line loco and yet hamstring it with old fashioned bearing technology. Main line failures due to bearings running hot are not exactly unusual, be it sitting down in section, or more often being failed at a stop and not completing the duty. Either way, it's delay and annoyance to the pax and other rail users etc. In 100,000 miles there's one loco which hasn't suffered a single axle bearing related failure in service, and that's Tornado. The P2 will be similarly equipped. The Clan Project should talk to Timken (and the A1 team) if they really have fears in this regard. If they do decide to go plain bearings, they'll lose credibility and my support.

 

There are pros and cons for both types. The main advantage of roller bearings is that they run high mileages without needing attention. In BR days this was a significant factor, but today's mandatory withdrawal at seven / ten years does a lot to negate this. I recall that problems were found with those fitted to the A1 when it underwent an Intermediate repair a few years ago. But problems with roller bearings if they arise are not so easily tackled as are those to plain bearings, which can also be examined without a major strip down.

Personally, I would go for roller bearings, but plain bearings served the railways well for many years.

 

Having read that link carefully, it seems to me that there are other much more likely causes of failure in the bearings so I hope that 'Clan' stick with the original design of new bearings built and fitted to the most extreme care and standards required by VAB's nowadays. Plain bearings at this stage? That would raise so many ??? over the future running of the engine, 'Ah but, if it had had roller bearings fitted...? No, it can't be an option.

 

The bearing issue on Tornado was down to an issue with corrosion linked to the lubrication regime which was resolved with input from the supplier and is thought most unlikely to re-occur. All part of the learning process. I really hope that the Clan team aren't having a 'wobble' regarding the design improvements that will enable the Clan to perform reliably and economically on the main line.

 

Great update! Frame assembly has commenced!
https://www.theclanproject.org/news

 

Great news!

A very good friend of mine was a supporter of this project but sadly, he passed away recently. How he'd have loved to have seen even this.

 

Sorry for your loss

 

Thank you. He appreciated the engineering aspects so well.

 

Indeed. Strategic snow ploughs still need to be moved regularly on the network for same reason. Didn't know the exact terminology but do now, thanks

 

He definitely would've loved to seen this.
Sorry to hear about his passing, though.

 

More Bits of Metal...
https://www.theclanproject.org/news

 

Latest SR has a 'full' page item about this frame build. It is an excellent reminder to folk of the progress, albeit slow, of this project. Nice one team!
Have also procured a copy of February's 'Steam World' mag. which has a 6 page (2 are a double page photo of 72005) 'Appreciation of the 'Clans'', again excellent publicity except they make no mention of the project

 

After a slow start ... now gathering pace nicely. There seems to be an indefinable but definite tipping point after which a project's credibility climbs rapidly. "Hengist" now looks set to be the cusp of that gear change. A fine turn around from the low point of just a few years back and a real credit to the "Clan".

 

You're right. More news to come over the next few weeks. Keep looking at both this forum and Steam Railway, etc., not to mention our website https://www.theclanproject.org/ for the latest information.

 

Can only agree there with regards to reaching the tipping point in the life of a project. The Clan project was always the poster-boy for the 'forever a container of rusting bits and bobs' but now seems to have come alive and joined the big boys club. Well done!

 

Here we have a few of the other frame parts waiting their turn to be assembled. The next few months
are going to be interesting. More assembly shots as they come available.

 

@'Clan' Hengist ...... excellent photo. Do please feel free to keep 'em coming Bob!

 

Most impressed with the tidy organized storage, definitely a decent engineering firm