35018 British India Line

I see BIL is out and about and looking stunning.

 

I'm off down to Leeds station shortly. I expect it to be there and in good form.

 

At least all the moaners can stop whinging about the leak now! I'm sure they'll find something else to moan about though...

 

Looking good and sounding good accelerating away from Ribblehead today. A typical day on the S&C - earlier I fell in a [peat] bog at Garsdale, where the only passengers waiting on the up platform were a red squirrel and a pheasant.

 

I can't help but feel that there are a few members of this parish (and one or two who have either walked away or been 'excommunicated') who should now be eating humble pie, apologising to the 10A people or both. I saw BIL on her first visit to York last year; she looked stunning then, and now she has proved to be a strong performer too. Great job, 10A

 

Why - all people (me included) did was point out a problem that needed fixing - 10A have done that and it looks jolly fine does it not.

I'm not one for this shutting down debate malarkey and pretending there is not a problem as that gets us nowhere although I do find it surprising the number of times we see it on NP on some of the more 'tribal' commentators, besides there are plenty places worldwide that practice such limitations on freedom of speech and I would not want to live there.


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Good to see the Steam leak issue has been sorted. The loco sounds great and hopefully now we'll have another reliable Merchant on the mainline.

 

Yep, but until some of them begin to realize that there are just a few of us on here that really do know what one end of a 1"W spanner really looks like, we'll continually see these keyboard warriors at play?

 

We’re all keyboard warriors on here. Expertise in one field doesn’t seem to stop any of us from posting on multiple other subjects where our knowledge may be lacking.

 

The important thing is that she is now fixed, and judging on yesterdays performance over the S&C ,in very good fettle keeping to time, with what looked like plenty in reserve , hopefully once the crews at carnforth get confidence in her ability , she will settle down to become a popular engine . be interesting to hear what the crew made of her , apart from being " flipping hot"

 

As you rightly point out the latest stage of the comissioning process has been successfully accomplished. The folk that matter will be satisfied, rightly so and credit where its due, but will not be complacent enough to think "job done" until a few more miles are on the clock, after some more strenuous outings. Looking good, more to come and hopefully a reliable machine for the long term.

 

I doubt many of the existing crews will remember it but Canadian Pacific did have a spell at Carnforth so its entirely its not new type for them also having a loco that's " flipping hot" is no bad thing with our variable climate round here!

Now its fixed does anyone have any insight as to where the leak was coming from?

 

I take it you've not spent a day firing a bullied pacific on a hot summer's day, the heat just doesn't go away ,
as regards the leak, ask 10 different people and you will get 10 different answers, I suspect its the flange from the steam pipe where it joins the cylinder at the top, this is a flat joint and can be problematical to get a good steam tight seal,

 

1" W? Are you working at the RHDR? Make that 2 1/2 "W and larger.

Are we having a sweepstake? My vote is for the valve cover to cylinder block joint, with the spindle seal holder to valve cover joint as my alternate.

Once had a rear valve cover to cylinder block joint which just would not seat. Turned out the steam deflector cast into the valve cover was touching the valve liner before the cover seated properly. Luckily noticed it during reassembly.

 

I was using 1"W spanners when I was a bus mechanic although everything went metric in later years.

 

Nope only rode on one a couple of times, although I have had a close look at them a few times including popping my head into the oil bath on the unimproved version!! .

As for the leak that join between the main steam pipe and the cylinders would have been my first port of call too.

 

Will BIL feature again on the GBX1? was she down to possibly haul the Grange to Crewe leg, looking back through the footage so far, the most covered day seems to be the bit from York to Carlisle, is it because of the route, or that it was BIL?

 

A mixture of both I'd say.

 

Both. What's not to be excited about, BIL on what could be seen as it's début after having the 'snagging' jobs sorted, and over a very famous and taxing route. Friday was a triumph for 10A and should be applauded by all enthusiasts.

 

Indeed, much though the engine isn't a particular type that list as a favourite - the job that Carnforth have done is very impressive. This is the second engine in their fleet that they have brought back from a state that was more than just storage, following on from 45699 Galatea. There was always going to be snagging and running in needed, with minor defects taking time to rectify. The whole saga and discussion over the steam leak has been massively blown out of proportion and some views expressed about conditions on withdrawal are ridiculous given the amount of time that has passed between the two. If anything it reinforces the view that too often people look back to the time of steam too much not realising the standards and operations today have moved on. Theres now a whole load of testing and scanning that can be done on parts that go onto the engines, and I'm sure that Carnforth have done this when checking the various parts that have gone onto BIL.

Lets also acknowledge that with standards of jobs completed like Galatea and Scots Guardsman that Carnforth have got engines working well and working reliably. That plus their increase in proficiency for standards on the mainline, means that clear that WCRC have worked hard and wanted to trace the issue so that BIL is ready for full operation as part of their continued successful future. I'm sure many will be impressed with its work and duties in the future, and that WCRC will welcome an engine with more power into their fleet portfolio. Like I said, it might not be a favourite type of mine, but I'm sure that BIL will increase the reputation of the class with its work and duties in the future, even with the occasional slip!

Meanwhile, mini-BIL just needs crests...