6023 King Edward 11

Well i must agree with the above post i took my daughter and fiancee to didcot yesterday and to say that she was slightly dirty was an undertstatement. All three of us thoroughly enjoyed it and had all got dirty knees and bottoms from sitting on the trucks and rails watching the two kings going past. My daughter also has learnt and kept saying king and pointing to both of them when they steamed past. But the best part of the day was seeing both kings next to each other and i got boosebumps when they were finally running together, magnificant achievement for the preservation movement! Bring on pendennis! By the way this is an image of my daughter watching 6023 simmer on shed.

 

I was there on Friday.
Well worth the trip from Australia to see two Kings in steam (especially the two from Barry).

The standard of the finish of 6023 was superb, and thanks again to the GWS for the inspired decision to restore it in the BR blue express livery - if only temporarily.

 

Some more pictures from Saturday.....










I just love Didcot, it could be the 1950's all over again.

Great Western.

 

Great Day ! Well done to Dennis Howells and the team.

Well what ever the noise was from 6024, they didnt seem too bothered. Not the vac pump I suppose?

Cant wait for a thrash to Wymondham. Role on Norfolk.

 

No, definitely not the vacuum pump (which still seems to emit a loud squeak which could be heard above the whole train!). The noise certainly seemed to come from (through?) the wheelsets, almost as if once every revolution they were rubbing against the rail head...

 

I'm no expert, but that noise did sound alarming on the videos. Would anyone connected with Didcot or 6024 care to enlighten us as to it's cause?

 

I have put my video of Didcot on YouTube now:

[video=youtube;GZHDBenk-cg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZHDBenk-cg[/video]

As well as the two Kings, it has footage of the diesel railcar and Fire Fly

Here is a pic I took of 6023 passing behind its old wheelset:

 

Sounds like the air pump.

 

That chopped wheelset is very striking, sculptural, and symbolic of the enormous challenge that is a Barry wreck restoration - would make a great 'gate guardian' or even an exhibit at the NRM!

 

Had a great day Saturday. Breathtaking to see the two "Barry" Kings in steam together at last. One highlight was 70000 passing 6024 with a lot of use of the whistles!
We heard that horrible noise from 6024. Hope there are no problems with 6024. The drain cock did seem to be stuck open all day. We left a bit earlier than last time as the heat got to my Father.

 

Hello Paul, the loud creaking noise was definitely something to do with the loco / rail interface, once every forward revolution. Certainly wasn't the vacuum pump...

 

Sounds like the vac pump "ticks" on one end of the stroke as it should but the valve on the other end of the stroke "squeeks" the air out!

Anyway back to 6023,... Well done to PG, Ted and Alex for changing the safety valve joint so quickly on a boiler that was still very hot and not far from boiling after Fridays steaming. Without them, there would have been no double headed Kings on Saturday.

 

You look at pictures 3 & 4 together, it shows how horrible the squat safety valve cover on 6024 looks.
Another question, when were the Kings fitted with sliding cab roof ventilators? I see 6023 does not have them fitted which I presume is correct for current condition it is in. In the latest Steam Railway the is a 1950 picture of 6023 at the side of Didcot Shed, underneath it there is a current picture of 6023 in exactly the same position, even the rods are in the same place! In the earlier picture 6023 does not have the ventilators either.

 

So we can conclude that a) you don't wish to see a King on the main line, and b) you'd like to the see the cab interior blackened during lighting up and the crew to sweat their nuts off in hot weather?

 

I wish you would read my posts PROPERLY before you write stupid sarcastic comments! I was just making an observation comparing the two sizes, where did I say I do not want to see a King on the main line? I was asking a perfectly logical question regarding the cab roof vents not questioning their presence. In future please keep your funny remarks to yourself, it's not the first time you have made such comments on the forum. I have reported your post.

 

Looks like the Mid Norfolk Railway are having to move the platform at Yaxham to accommodate 6023. I always wondered if the loco would fit the MNR!

Here's hoping for scratch free thrash to Wymondham! I'm sure Dennis has had his tape measure out.

 

The tone of your post was disparaging of the efforts of the 6024 team. You describe the safety valve cover as 'horrible' but we all know why it looks that way - main line compliance - not out of choice. And what are we meant infer from "when were the Kings fitted with sliding cab roof ventilators?" Presumably since 6024 group decided they'd be a good idea? Report away, buseng. As one who actually spends time and money restoring stuff I object to your post and I stand by my comments.

 

The Kings were fitted with cab roof vents in their last years or service, I was just interested when they were fitted, as I said a perfectly innocent question. Not a slur on the 6024 group or anyone else. I know the low safety valve cover is required for main line running, still does not make it any prettier though. You are making a mountain out of a mole hill. If you are that concerned about what people say about 6024, how come you do not say anything about the comments people are making about the creaking noises 6024 is supposed to be making?

 

Guys take your disagreement and PM each other, this thread is about 6023 not 6024, i'm sure there is another thread on the other king already,

Both look fantastic together, what are the chance the NRM could arrange a three kings weekend somewhere, probably have to be york?? but no stunning effort done by all i i for one cannot wait to both photograph this loco and get a run behind it

Matt

 

Can 6000 be towed on the mainline ? or at least taken to Thrall and then into Didcot for a proper line up in a proper Western shed ?

Great Western.