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35028, "Clan Line"

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by KentYeti, May 23, 2010.

  1. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    Many thanks even better then that on the Bluebell's web site.

    Trouble is, it has more than one part.

    And as I've found throughout my life, if I take apart any mechanical object with two or more parts and put it back together again, I've always got one part left over at the end.
     
  2. Wayne

    Wayne New Member

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    I have been away from my computer for a while and have tryed to keep away from this site until more info was forthcoming.
    However I have just read all nine pages posted here and decided to put a few lines forward.

    We did not have problems on the outward run compared to the return, or it did not seem that way to me from the drivers seat. Bob Conteril, who was the fireman in the morning, confermed this to me today (3rd June) when I saw him at work.

    As for not taking water at Oxford! beggers belief, yes she was topped up.
    So, no hot water in the tender then! Anyone any idea how long it would take to warm 6000 gallons of cold water up in a tender just by 'warm' not 'hot' sunshine. Not an issue here.

    A mention has been made regarding injectors and 'swopping' from one to the other as we go along.
    This is not a train on a preserved line doing 25mph, this is 610 tons at 75mph.
    There will, and was, a big fire in the loco. There will 'not' be many times when one or the other is not on.
    Also many times when both are on together, particulary when braking.
    This is not an issue, both are used constantly.

    I am not going to comment just yet on the fatefull last half hour, will leave that until I have more data myself.
    I have spoken to 'Butch' (he was the driver) at length the following day.
    He was devistated, 'the worst day of my railway career' he put it to me. He felt helpless with what was happening.

    We were together when we had the previous problem with injectors on 35028 with the VSOE to Westbury. On that occassion we survived as far as Salisbury.

    I just hope we, or should I say the Merchant navy society, can get to the root of the problem and get back to normal bussiness. The injectors on a Bullied are generally the most reliable and simplest to opperate for a crew as there can be. I know this is very puzzling for all of us who work for, or with, Clan Line.

    We are due out with her again next Wednesday, hopefully she will be fit and if I am involved will be able to get the latest with her.

    Wayne Thompson, DBS steam driver.
     
  3. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    Many thanks for that Wayne. It adds the perspective from someone who knows that loco better than almost anyone else. And who, with your colleagues, has shown time and time again what a MN can do with a very heavy train. It's the the sort of load the original MNs were designed for, but a load rarely hauled in normal steam days.

    Just got to hope that you, "Butch" and the other crews are soon back in the cab with a loco restored safely to her previous reliable self. And with the crews back to their normal confident selves as well.

    Thanks again for posting.
     
  4. gwr4090

    gwr4090 Part of the furniture

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    Thanks for the clarification. Not taking water at Oxford did seem pretty unlikely to me. But radiation from strong sunlight over many hours can raise the temperature of static steel structures quite substantially, certainly way above the ambient air temperature, although the thermal capacity of the water would moderate the increase to a fair degree. Anyway as you say, it was not an issue here.

    David
     
  5. martin butler

    martin butler Part of the furniture

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    Wayne thank you for taking the time to tell everyone your view, from the footplate as if to say, as you say the injectors are very reliable on MN's as a rule and i wasnt pointing a finger at anyone or anything, i can not even begin to guess how it must have been for you, and i also hope that the engine is now sorted out.
    Having to drop the fire is every enginemans worse nightmere and as you say butch would have been unable to do anything to prevent what happened , once the injectors decide they dont want to play, thats it, its not like you have a third option to get water into the boiler
     
  6. 45045

    45045 New Member

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    Thanks for the answer from upfront. I also understand that for the sun to heat up such a large quantity of water would take a long time. But this got me thinking slightly off topic. The large German 2-10-0s were converted to oil firing as they used so much coal. It was a heavy (high viscosity) oil, that required heating to a high temperature (around 100C comes to mind) so that it could be pumped into the burners (steam atomised). How did they get round the problem of the oil heating the water in the tender? water on the bottom? lots of lagging?
     
  7. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Systems using heavy oil that needs to be heated in order that it will atomise in the burners usually only heat the oil feed as it is being fed to the burners. Heating the whole tank would be very wastful of energy.
     
  8. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    Oh, the days of double headed three cylinder oil fired 43 class 2-10-0s on the 4,000 tonne Ore train South from Emden Docks. (drool).

    Ralph, I assume the same applied to the German 01.10 class, of which some members still operate. The Germans used oil burning for steam locos quite a lot. And could seemingly change to and from coal reasonably quickly, (and vice versa), albeit via a Works visit. I still wonder if we get into a run of long hot and dry summers in the UK if some loco owners here will effectively be forced to go in that direction to keep on the main line. A good test loco seems to be 60019! But I guess without the expertise in the UK a changeover could be a very expensive operation, unless the German expertise could be tapped into via Meiningen loco works.

    Now I'm right off topic! Sorry. I did search for an oil burning topic here recently but couldn't find one!
     
  9. 8RPH

    8RPH New Member

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    I believe the lads at Tyseley have a lot of the kit, burners etc, made up for the Great Western oil firing equipment. I believe it was looked into after one of the previous summer steam bans but the need to progress further and actually fit it hasnt arisen yet.
     
  10. class8mikado

    class8mikado Part of the furniture

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    60163 Tornado's meiningen made firebox was built in such a way that it could be readily converted to oil burning, something to do with having flat stay heads....
     
  11. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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  12. spindizzy

    spindizzy Member

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    So was there any news from the steam test last weekend?
     
  13. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Wayne

    Can I add my thanks for you for taking the time to provide some informed comments linked to this incident. We all know that without folk like yourself, Brian et al, steam wouldn't be running on the main line. And then there is the bonus of the occasional brilliant run (and Brian and yourself have given a few!) when the circumstances allow. All this incident with 28 does is remind everyone that sometimes the unusual may happen and it's that critically important build up of knowledge over time that helps everyone anticipate possible problems and deal with them.

    I, for one, think that it must help to have the same people working the same engine over the same routes. It's possibly a bit boring for the person who wants variety but it must help the crews know what to expect. It's also sometimes forgotten that without the fireman knowing when steam is needed, when it is not, what is coming up and also how to manage the fire for the engine in question, there's little the driver can do on his side of the footplate. You'll have read a reference to Jim Evans - one of the most experienced engineman on the Southern at the end of steam. He often took over the shovel himself to give his mate a chance of driving - as it was too late for him to pass as a driver in his own right - but also because he recognised the skill needed in managing fire, water and steam...and he took a pride in doing it well.

    So I hope that you and your colleagues are not deterred by this experience and that when the facts are known by those who need to know, any learning will be shared for the benefit of all.

    Best wishes
    Alan
     
  14. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    Latest on 35028 is as follows:-

    35028 underwent a successful static steam test over the weekend of 29/30th May. The next stage will be a test run, which, if successful, should hopefully see Clan Line out and about again before too long
     
  15. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

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    The test run alluded to by Bryan, above, was planned for the Surrey Hills circuit today (Sat 5th June), complete with the VSOE Pullmans. Sadly, this has been cancelled this morning because of fire risk, according to my usually reliable source. I'm afraid I don't know if/when it will be rescheduled. Maybe after tomorrow's forecast thunderstorms?

    Next booked duty for 35028 is this coming Wednesday, with the VSOE train to Westbury and, unnusually, Bristol.
     
  16. twofnine

    twofnine Member

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    Maybe somebody can help me out here, because I am confused. How come Clan Lines trip was caped, but this was allowed by Network Rail?

    Black 5


    Through Poole @ 11:59. Tender first with support coach behind.

    Cheers
    Hentis

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    IMHO, it doesnt matter if Clan Line had 1 or 12 coaches on, nor the Black 5, a Steamer is a steamer?
     
  17. belle1

    belle1 Part of the furniture Moderator

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    The test run was a loaded test with the VSOE set stated earlier by Steamage. 35028 would be working a lot harder than the black five and support coach on the light engine move so 35028 is much more likely to be throwing out hot cinders onto the dry lineside grass and foliage so a higher risk of lineside fires. A couple of weeks ago 6233 had a diesel on the back to assist to avoid this problem occuring over the lakeland fells on the climbs to Greyrigg and Shap.

    Hope this explanation helps, Neil.
     
  18. twofnine

    twofnine Member

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  19. twofnine

    twofnine Member

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    I have been advised by someone I know within the railway sector, that Stewarts Lane was inside a possession 08.00 - 18.00 yesterday which may have affected it too.
     
  20. buseng

    buseng Part of the furniture

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    I see the times are up on uksteam for the VSOE to Bristol on Wednesday, so I assume 35028 will be fit. I also see on some tours on uksteam there is a little mobile icon, his takes you to a site where I presume you can register for text updates.
    Edit, just noticed the text site is something to do with Nat-Pres?

    http://railtours.national-preservation.com/uksteam.php?tour=t0610a How do you register?
     

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