34046 Braunton

IR drove back from Fort William to Polmont at the end of October, on 45407, so behind the lead loco and therefore didn't need to sign the road.

 

Understood, so not passed to drive except in those limited circumstances presumably with traction type restrictions as well.

 

34046 on the Soggy Santas at the ELR on 20th. December;

Braunton Returns - ELR - 20.12.12 - YouTube

 

Well done Austin - my effort here:

34046 Braunton and 80080 on East Lancs Santa Specials - 20/12/2012 - YouTube

Chris

 

That was wonderful Austin, thanks for sharing.

James at SVN

 

Thanks Chris and a fine video from yourself too in that dreadful weather

Thanks James, great to see her back despite the conditions

 

Brilliant video Austin. Well done for braving the elements. Really can't wait to see her up close and personal tomorrow now.

 

Absolutely cracking videos in awful conditions. If Braunton is still at the ELR for the Mince Pie special I may have to pop over.

I have a question so humour me please Apart from the lack of casing what are the main differences between & re-built & a non-rebuilt, as Braunton sounds just the same & seems to chuck out just as much smoke as Tangmere, which is a good thing

 

Great video Chris. Wonderful to see Braunton back in traffic. Thanks for sharing.

 

About 90% is the same.

The original engines had the valves operated by chain driven miniature valve gear, which was moved by a steam powered reverser. The engines were clad in an "air-smoothed" casing, supposedly designed to be able to be cleaned by the carrriage washing plants. The tenders had high sides, though they were later cut down even on otherwise "unrebuilt" engines. The fireboxes had no dampers. The firehole door was operated by steam, activated by a pedal, though I think that feature also went on the unrebuilt locos.

When rebuilt, the air-smoothed casing went, replaced by conventional boiler cladding. The miniature valve gear went, replaced by three sets of conventional Walschaerts gear, operated by a screw reverser. The centre cylinder was replaced. The firebox was fitted with dampers so that the fireman had a bit more control, and the boiler pressure was reduced from 280psi to 250psi.

The pistons, valves, blastpipe etc were all basically unchanged (except the inside cylinder) so the sound of the locos shouldn't really have changed much.

Several drivers of my acquaintance reckon that the rebuilt engines are not so free running - for example, they don't accelerate as quickly when left to roll down a gradient - but on the positive side, the valve gear is a bit more controllable. That is actually less to do with the miniaturisation and chain drive, and more to do with changing to a screw reverser from the Eastleigh steam reverser (which was rotten; Bulleid should have used the Ashford one). The preferred driving method of the originals was often to let the reverser find a spot that sounded comfortable and then control the power on the regulator; whereas most modern locos (with efficient valve gear) are best driven with the regulator wide open and the power controlled on the reverser.

I think that is a quick overview of the top of my head - Spamcan81 can probably give detailed chapter and verse.

Tom

 

A couple of pics from a quick pop in to see 34046 this afternoon - Ramsbottom - Zenfolio | TODAYS RAILWAY SCENE by Phil Metcalfe | Preserved Railways 2012 | 34046 departs from Ramsbottom on 20.12.12 with the ELR Santa Specials.
Depart Rammy - Zenfolio | TODAYS RAILWAY SCENE by Phil Metcalfe | Preserved Railways 2012 | 34046 departs from Ramsbottom on 20.12.12 with the ELR Santa Specials.

 

Thanks for the kind comment - hope we get a chance to see her stretching her legs on the mainline before she presumably disappears down south.

Chris

 

Thank you. I hope the weathers better for your visit

 

Thank you Tom, that's just what I wanted

I too hope that she gets a chance to stretch her legs unrestricted with less traffic to get in her way on the WCML, preferably over the next couple of weeks so I can see her

 

As the light almost disappeared, a panned shot at Burrs of 34046 at the rear of a Santa Special.

34046_Braunton_Burrs_21-12-12 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

Footage of 34046 on Friday 21st on The East Lancashire Railway.

[video=youtube;AU_TDJ4LY6E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU_TDJ4LY6E[/video]

Hope you enjoy.

 

Interesting. Under normal circumstances, if a driver did not have a particular route signed, he would have a route conductor and, if the route conductor did not sign the traction, he would drive. Is the West Highland somehow different in this respect?

 

[video=youtube;eIWm77q6RF8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIWm77q6RF8[/video]
34046 'Braunton' at Irwell Vale | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

34046 'Braunton', 80080, D1501 and 33109 at work on the Santa Specials today

 

with 34046 done, does 35027 start next or has work already started ?, hasnt it also been at Bury for a year or so ?