46233 Duchess of Sutherland.

"So delighted was I with the decision that I filled in a standing order form and became a Friend of the Duchess (for as long as she remains green!). For this reason I was included in the invitation to spend half a day footplating the Duchess as she builds up her mileage accumulation on the Midland Railway Centre line - an offer I couldn't refuse, and doubtless the fee will help pay the coal bills!"



Hi

Glad to see that you had a good day. I was just wondering how you got invited? I have been a patron of the trust for 10 years and havent heard anything!!!

Jon

 

Hi Jon,

Please see your PMs for my reply

Peter

 

Thanks for the photos.

The regulator on all 3 as well as many others is in the same position. That answers that question
Looking even more closely at the area around the Fireboxes it does look like there are some minor differences in terms of the placement of the other back end components.

The Pipes inside Sutherland's cab copper/metal(?).

For me it looks very interesting.

 

The majority of British locos had a regulator rod runnnig internally above the firebox with the regulator handle operating in a quadrant across the backhead, but there were plenty of exceptions. For example, GNR locos had a push-pull regulator and Gresley improved on this with his pull handle style of regulator. This was perpetuated in the later LNER pacifics and the Bulleids and BR standards were similar but with external linkages. Plenty of variations on both basic themes,though.

Cab layouts tended to vary from designer to designer, especially with backheads. Designers had their preferred arrangements and you can often identify a designer of a loco from a photo of the backhead without further information. UK practise is generally to pipe in copper, unless it involves superheated steam. Always exceptions to this rule, of course.

 

I think GWR cab layouts virtually did not change from Churchward to Hawkesworth, basically spanning half a century. The main change I think was lever & screw reversers. Even retained right hand drive until the end.

 

I have a similar problem up here in Canada -- I was brought up on regulators for steam loco s -- so when I mention them here for loco s such as 2860 , I am politely advised that they are throttles in North America -go figure.............

 

Did anything ever change on GWR locos?

 

Just to clarify Steve's informative post, as I read it incorrectly

 

Standardisation at its very best my friend.

 

Sutherland Boiler Certificate has passed obviously and Shall be good through 2021. Uksteam.info - Mainline steam locos scroll down

 

Whatever you think of the poll last year, that locomotive is such a credit to railway preservation. It looks magnificent. That they've turned around this locomotive from withdrawal to a return to the mainline imminent in a little over a year is an incredible achievement. More needs to be made of that.

 

Magnificent is certainly the word, I hope to see it soon.

 

A real sight for sore eyes.

 

Beautiful :clap2:. Well done to all involved.

 

Utterly, utterly gorgeous. Well done all

 

She does look great much better with the deflectors on. Great work to overhaul her in just over a year is fantastic and a credit to the way she was looked after during her last ticket. Such a shame the liviery poll dampened things during the work but at least she's running again.

 

Stunning ... simply stunning. Never thought I see one like this again - happy old (ish) boy here !