The Loco You'd Love To Put A Match To

As Alan Peglar found when he arranged for her re-steaming. Both G.N. Atlantics' were restored to running order for the "Plant" [Doncaster Works] Centenarian celebrations.

 

Interesting link however it says nothing about a dummy header (which would do little) but it does say this:

A trial trip indicated very poor steaming on 251’s part, and ‘dummy’ superheater elements had to be inserted into the previously empty
flues in order to restore reasonable draughting conditions. The engine has not been steamed since.

Which indicates to me they positioned non connected superheater elements in the flues to ensure some of the hot gasses passed through the small tubes, not ideal but better than most of the gasses taking the easier route through the 'unfilled' flues.

 

Quite right, I misquoted.

 

The trial trip where the poor steaming was exposed, was in preparation for this event.

 

So [provided that the N.R.M. said yes] it would boil down to which would be the cheaper option to restore the boiler. A] making a pair [front and back] of tube-plates returning the boiler to none superheated form, or, B] making a new superheater header and elements. If the later you'd like as not have to move/re-arrange the placement of the chimney and blast-pipe.

 

As it now has slide valves returning the boiler to a none superheated form is probably the 'best' option?

 

Like as not. Though I wonder about restoring the superheater etc causing any great problems. As after they fitted the Dummy/Blank superheater elements she steamed like there was no tomorrow by all accounts....

 

I believe that in the past the NRM have indicated that they would be agreeable to her running again

 

All depends on the 'amount' of superheat provided, low levels would probably not harm the slide valves, higher superheat more problems may arise. Of course if it's only trundling at 25mph on a preserved railway, the superheater is unlikely to be doing much if the pundits are to be believed - although I've never seen any testing that confirms this well quoted "view".

 

Get it out, get it running, get it black, 62800!

 

In that case why not leave it with the dummy?

 

Whilst you could use the LNER 1946 number 2800. Unfortunately for the British Railways Brigade, 251/2800 had already been retired to the safety of the old Queen Street Museum at York by the LNER before they disappeared on the 1st of January in 1948. Not forgetting you'd need a new set of frames, piston valve cylinders. superheater header and elements. In order to return the loco to suitable condition to run as 2800.

 

You can have a real one in BR livery in a couple of years - I'm sure no-one would object to a number change at someone else's gala to a number beginning with a 6, if that floats your boat Comes with its own superheater and full set of elements ...

Tom

 

All depends on the resultant heating surface in the bodged form*, and of course what amount of work you wanted to do with it once steamed.

* In the form with flues and dummy elements this will have less heating surface than a boiler rebuilt with a full set of small tubes.

 

Princess. Not steamed since 1946 I think, or Livingston Thompson.

The Q1 because I like it. Gordon, Bodmin, and Hinton manor because these were in steam when I was a kid riding on the midhants,svr but seem to have been out of steam forever

 

Perhaps I should have a go:-

Calladonian 123 - as I last saw this loco in steam at Callander when I was very very small.

Wantage Tramway 0-4-0T as I like very old locomotives.(and it looks super in red rather than the drab green it used to be in)

Neither are of much practical use but I'd love to see either in steam again.

 

I like the idea of restoring Livingston Thompson, though it would be expensive as it would need a new boiler, tanks, bogies, cylinders, cab and frames. Perhaps the left over worn out bits could be reassembled for static display.......

 

maybe it could be rebuilt to a modern design with electric lights and fuel capacity to do two round trips without refuelling...

 

I have mentioned this many times before.

 

On the subject of 251 (a loco I’d dearly love to see running); I seem to recall that the Bluebell’s Atlantic project started when a pair of boilers were found; so, what happened to the other boiler?


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