Bulleid Pacifics - Past or Present

When we wieghed 34028 and 34070 earlier this year, with Colin and Chris from Rileys. Both locos weighed 90 tonnes. With the same boiler water level.

So I don't think the rebuilding process added much weight!

 

Taken from an Ian Allan ABC: -
Unrebuilt Loco 86 tons
Rebuilt Loco 90 tons 1cwt

 

NMYR calibrated weighing equipment:-

Unconverted locomotive = 90 tonnes
De-tuned locomotive = 90 tonnes

 

Axle weights as follows :
As built the weights for first series were :
bogie 15t 10c
leading coupled
18t15c
centre coupled
18t 15c
trailing coupled
18t 15c
pony
truck 14t 5c
total 86t 0c

From 34071 the weights increased to :
bogie 16t 4c
leading coupled
19t 5c
centre
coupled 19t 16c
trailing
coupled 19t 4c
pony
truck 13t 9c
total 87t 18c

As rebuilt the weights were :
bogie 17t 8c
leading coupled
19t 15c
centre coupled
20t 18c
trailing
coupled 20t 14c
pony 12t 18c
total 91t 13c

 

You are overlooking the main difference between the rebuilt and original – the valve gear!

It is not just the axle weight of a locomotive that restricts route availability – the hammer blow caused by the motion is a major consideration.

 

Answer courtesy of the SeMG as I still can't find my RCTS "greenie." From 34071 onwards the locos had a wider cab and obviously the extra sheet metal and framing added weight.
To see the different cab profiles compare 34070 to 34081. 34067 was built with a narrow cab but received a wider one when restored to running order.

 

I see that 34036 has been viewing this thread!

Travelled behind that loco a good few times, including three times in the week in July 1964 when Fred Hoare, (Salisbury mpd), and Pete Allen were the crew on the 07.49 ex Salisbury, prior to them working the down ACE with a Merchant Navy. Light trains but on all three days that loco was in charge we did Basingstoke to Waterloo in a net time of under 47½ minutes. Good stuff.

 

Just found this on Youtube, thought it might be of interest.
Please note, there is no sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_mmDGlZHO0&NR=1

 

I got one of the 50 shareholder's prints of 34053 by Richard Green in the post whilst I was away 'Clan Line' bashing on Saturday, so only found it in the garage today. Very impressive it is, too, and will look nice in a frame.

 

Wow - best bit of video I've ever seen on there - amazing that this still exists. I wonder how they filmed the valve gear - I've never seen it in motion before as it's normally covered by the oil bath cover - looks like something out of a textile mill! Thanks for posting it.

 

That clip also features on TVP production's 'Bulleids in Retrospect'. A pretty good dvd, really.

 

There's more ...

OK - not his Pacific's, but more amazing footage -this time of Leader http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDZ2NEPragA&feature=related

Take a look at the sleeve valve drive - the way all three are linked looks like a form of Gresley's conjugated gear? Seen plenty of stills of this, but only now do I understand how it worked.

 

That is an incredible piece of design work!

 

I believe the oscillating gear that rotates the sleeve valves in the clip for even spread of lubrication was a bit too complex for its time, and was dispensed with during the trials.

 

I stand to be corrected but I'm certain the oscillating gear was not dispensed with during the trials. The sleeve valves were given a full overhaul to try and make their operation more reliable but I can find no mention of the gear being modified or dispensed with.

 

You're right, looking again that's the oscilating gear you can see, to even out wear. The valve events would be from the chain drive behind etc which would move the sleeves for and aft I guess? So to ocsilate three sleves, all going in diffrent directions, by a single mechanical drive was always going to be a challenge. IIRC the lug extensions on the sleeve that picked up the ocislating gear were prone to fracture and indeed they gave up with this feature in the later trials. I'll get my books oput and confirm tonight.

 

If you're right, there's a web site or two that will need updating. Will be very interesting to learn what your books say on the subject.