Industrial Loco Updates

Bagnall 2746 "The Duke"

The valve chest has been opened and the slide valves extracted. The valve plates are in good order, still 3/4" thick. I am told scrapping thickness is 3/8". The valve rods are pitted, probably due to lack of lubrication, and will need to be cleaned down to bright metal for evaluation.

 

Bagnall 2746 "The Duke".

A very active weekend. We took advantage of an opportune moment to extract the pistons. This settles the much debated question as to whether you need to remove the front buffer beam to get at the pistons on an austerity. You don't. We also dismantled the brake hangers and sandboxes and made a good start on cleaning and painting the eccentric straps.

Tim

 

AB 1719

Today we started the work to re-tube Andrew Barclay 1719, 'Lady Nan'. The tubes were installed and the boiler inspected in 2006. The firebox tube ends and beading are now beginning to get a bit thin. Hopefully she should be ready for the start of the 2014 season.

 

2764 "The Duke"

We'd be getting nowhere without the expertise so generously given by members of the 48624 team. Simon spent last saturday going through the cylinder bores with a micrometer and tabulating the results for The Master of Longmoor, the eventual verdict being that the bores are slightly barrel shaped but not enough to require re-boring. The piston heads and rings will need replacing; it is likely that these are the originals and nearly 70 years old. There is no sign that this area of the locomotive has ever had or needed any maintenance attention before; it is very interesting to examine the details of the Austerity design philosphy, at first hand and have them pointed out by an expert.

Tim

 

Vulcan Update.

Item 20 on the project list (see previous postings) was initiated succesfully at 15-15 hrs today.

We lit her up. The injectors and steam brake work, the safety valves blow off at 180psi and she moves. There is still a lot to do to get the loco properly commissioned, but this has been a very good day.

Tim

 

Vulcan Update II

The locomotive passed the insurance exam today and will be in steam this weekend, on official duty for the first time since 1961.

Regards,

Tim Oaks

 

Excellent news Tim, brilliant achievement after many years.

 

Great news that after all those years and hard work that Vulcan rides again

 

Vulcan will be in steam again tomorrow and probably hauling brake van rides.

Tim

 

Vulcan should be in steam again on 19/20 October.

Tim

 

A trio of news items.
NCB 72 returns to Llangollen off hire from Pontypool this week.
The boiler from Barclay Rosyth No.1 is at Peak Rail for Steve Latham's restoration business to overhaul for the Pontypool and Blaenavon.
Jennifer at Embsay needs repairs to axleboxes before it can be used there, hence it not appearing in the gala last week. Llangollen will do the repairs as they are its custodians.

 

has the boiler gone to LNWR at Crewe?

 

No, the boiler is being overhauled by Road and Rail Steam Services based at Peak Rail.

Alex.

 

Has Steve left LNWR then?

 

No, he still works for LNWR.

 

Bagnall 2746 "The Duke"

Frames lifted off the wheels 11/10/13. Many thanks to all the guys who came along to help.

Tim

 

Hi Tim

do you know if Vulcan will be on brake van rides on 20/10

regards DSW

 

Hi DSW,

Sorry I didn't see your e-mail until just now. It's been a very busy weekend, and not all on railways. I think Vulcan was due to be on brake van rides, but that will be the last steaming for a while as there are a few details to sort out. The Deltic Preservation Society will be allowing the engine into their shed for final painting in a clean environment; a bit incongruous perhaps, an old veteran like that sharing the works with large diesel electrics......oh I forgot, they once did before in around 1958.

Manwhile, Simon spent Saturday running his micrometers over the axleboxes and horns of 2764. Maximum clearance is on the rear axle at 60 thou, the other two are a lot tighter, we think we can live with that. Start made on cleaning the crud off the springs ready for overhaul. The spring hangers and hanger pins are distinctly worn, but we expected that.

Tim

 

Bagnall 2746 "The Duke"

The axleboxes have been emoved from the axles and the remains of the Armstrong oiler pads have a type number, 2149B. The order has just been sent up to the very helpful people at the NYMR. The journals and brasses are in beautiful condition, the journals were last turned in about 1986 and that work has held up very well. The springs are stacked on pallets ready for despatch for overhaul.

Tim

 

Had a nice wee turn behind Beatrice at the E&BA R on the weekend.
A lovely wee thing, ran like a sewing machine and A really sweet and crisp and even exhaust.
Only 3 Mk 1's but it might as well have been 1. The Strange pipe and board arrangement on the running plate was a manometer for measuring Smokebox vacuum....

Does anywhen now the status of Sister engine Primrose ?