35018 British India Line

Both Jubilees are temporarily out of action, steaming issues with Leander. Overhaul of 6115 is under way but Bodmin not started as I understand it.

 

I believe the story about the slipping propensities of Bulleid Pacifics came from their unrebuilt days when leaking oil baths would spray oil all over the place including on the wheels. A ladder was needed to fill the sandboxes so presumably that vital task was sometimes 'overlooked'. I can still remember an incident from back in my early spotting days watching trains on the climb towards Elmstead Woods Tunnel, a Bulleid running at reasonable speed suddenly broke int a high speed slip as it passed me quickly corrected by the driver but is seemed to be intermittently slipping all the way into the tunnel. Was it a caused by a spray of oil from the oil bath?

 

So what's going to work the CME on 23rd?

 

Well unless the temporary incapacitation of the 5Xs reported above ends during this week, there ought to be a York 10A move at some point so the MN can flatten the fells again.

 

I think you are right that the reputation for slipping derived from the original locos. Additionally, I think the principal concern was a tendency to slip at speed, rather than on starting.

My understanding is that the issue was primarily caused by inaccessibility of the reverser on the early locos. On a steam reverser, keeping the hydraulic cylinder topped up is the most important maintenance task, as leaks will allow the gear to creep. The initial placement of the reverser on a MN was very constrained, which must have had an impact on that vital maintenance function. Both the placement and design of the reverser changed as the locos developed, which went a long way to alleviate the problem.

None of which is of relevance to a rebuilt loco, as they have a screw reverser! But it seems that a propensity to slip at speed on the early locos with a steam reverser has, over time, developed into a “Bulleid slip when starting” myth being applied uncritically to fundamentally different original and rebuilt locos!

Tom

 

...and unmodifieds don't do that (or leak oil) now that they've got neoprene seals in 'em!

 

They can and do still slip at speed though. Clan Line at 95 mph in the last weeks of steam and recently on the SWT main line.

 

If so I will be there this time

 

I’m not saying they don’t: I’m saying that the early locos has a particular issue that was to a large extent ameliorated by design changes. Ultimately, given the right conditions, all locos will sometimes slip: didn’t Tornado slip at high speed while on the “Top Gear” run, yet no-one criticises the Peppercorn A1 as a design unable to fight its way out of a paper bag, as is frequently alleged about Bulleid Pacifics!

Tom

 

It's a Pacific, of course it'll slip... add in modern flange lubrication...

 

If Leander is just a steaming issue it's just a matter of finding the cause which shouldn't be that difficult, I'm not sure what the issue is with the Red Peril

 

No.

The oil slick left by original Bulleid Pacifics is axlebox oil. Oil from the top feed crowns runs round the axle, overflows the underkeep and runs down the inside of the wheels onto the track.
Some of the oil pools in the pockets of the BFB wheels, which gets flung up into the boiler lagging.
Most Spam Cans these days have steel sheeting on the underside of the barrel lagging to prevent the lagging being soaked in oil.

 

Just as well as there have been cases of the oil deposits under the cladding catching fire. A humorous account of an incident was given in one of Peter Smith's books.

 

Aside from the circumstantial evidence of 5690 being helped home last week, is there actually reported issues with either of them or is it speculation?

 

As far as I know Danny 45699 is in fine fettle but I assume 45690 would’ve been sorted by now . Only my opinion on 45690 though.

 

Don't forget 6201....assuming work on her is in progress, she could be back in the not too distant future?

 

That's what I think too Steve, not sure where the rumour neither fit has come from.

 

I thought 45699 failed on its last working.

 

I believe it was @RalphW reported a couple of weeks back not much doing on the 6201 front.
For what its worth, I'd heard the opposite in fact but Ralph has his ear much closer to 10A than me.

 

Can't recall being reported as such, 5690 had a problem last week on The Fellsman but the 10A fleet seems to be very free of in traffic failures these days.