70013 'Oliver Cromwell' - cylinder problem?

Wondered if anyone had any updates on 70013 after it missed its duties on 'The Spitfire' and 'Hop Picker' last weekend?

On the thread for this is 'Whats Going On' someone on board what became a diesel-hauled special quotes:

"On the train we are told a FTR failure due to 10 inch crack in cylinder end casting"

Nothing on the 5305la website, but I hope it's not going to be a major problem for the 5305la boys.

 

I don't have the latest, but certainly last Saturday it was being reported as a crack in the end cover, and a replacement casting had been sourced already. So I imagine that it would need machining back at Loughborough. However i am no expert and there may have been further developments since. We may get news on the 5305la site soon or if not I should get an update at the weekend.

 

The cylinder cover was my first thought, & if it was more serious I'd have expected the grapevine to have been very active. At least if it is 'just' the cover then Ollie should be restored to health very quickly

Mark

 

This situation shows the advantage of having the BR Standard Loco Owners Group. The front cylinder cover casting was sourced from the owner of a 9F which is being restored and a drawing was promptly dispatched to 5305LA from the BRSLOG/NRM drawings archive. Teamwork at its best.

 

Other preservation groups could learn a thing or two from that I suspect, good to hear that Ollie's problem isn't too severe.

 

Agreed that the above is good to hear.

Thanks for the updates.

 

I see that, according to UK steam, Tangmere is doing Thursday's 'Dorset Coast' out and back so, presumably, Oliver is still unwell.

 

There's a Bulleid Pacifics Owners Association and it works in much the same way as the SLOG. A very good thing to have when a member group needs help.

 

Au update published today on the 5305la website:

"70013 Oliver Cromwell has not fared so well lately. It was failed at Southall on the evening of Friday 31st August with a cracked cylinder cover just as it was being prepared for the following day's Spitfire railtour to Faversham. Whilst a replacement cover has been sourced, it requires machining and fitting and these tasks could not be completed in time to prevent the 'Brit' being taken off its next two jobs, the Dorset Coast Express from London to Weymouth on the 13th September and the Royal Duchy from Bristol to Par on the 16th September. The loco should be back in service in time for its visit to Barrow Hill for the Model Rail Live weekend on the 22nd/23rd September".

 

What is it with standards and (presumably) water carry over... is there a problem here that still needs to be addressed ?

 

Who said anything about water carry over?

 

Yes, quite. As I understand it, a crack was noticed during the FTR exam, so the locomotive was, quite rightly, 'stopped' on the spot. Cause? Potentially several things, but most likely, I suspect, to be simple metal fatigue; nothing more sinister than that. That can happen to any piece of metal that is subjected to variations in thermal and/or mechanical loads. No doubt we will be told in due course, but for my own part, I think it's just 'one of those things'. Better to be found at the FTR than have a failure 'on the road'.

Mark

 

I think I am correct in saying that the cylinder covers on Cromwell are those that it had in BR days.

 

There is a picture of the "offending" cover in the latest SR. It is the LH cylinder & the crack is on the outside edge flange near the stud holes from about the 1 o'clock position to the 7 o'clock position. Doesn't seem to be any movement or distortion, so could be just a fatigue crack.
An interesting question, the outer casings are not removed during a FTR are they? Presumably a steam leak gave it away.

 

Good guess 'buseng'....it was apparently "raulking" out , and suspected fatigue although I don't think we will ever understand why it should go now, but better now than in the middle of a tour I suppose!

 

Soerted then
Calling all Brittania drivers, but im guessing crews on the GCR in particular:
Is the Multistage regulator on these locomotives of real assistance in getting away? as opposed to the more 'usual' arrangement on the 9F inparticular... ?

Thanks....