D9016 / 55016 Gordon

In happier times. Sadly now Gordon is struggling to survive and with the disastrous quill shaft failure on RSG I think any available funds will be allocated to RSG and Gordon will have to wait a bit longer..

 

oh the indignity

 

You said it yourself. I'm a Deltic fan, but it's indoors and it's not going to be cut up. It's not the end of the world, just a delay. Calm down.

 

Exactly, how many years did you wait to see one back on the mainline? This is nothing to flap about.

 

While I'm an advocate of the motto "if something has been made by one human being it can be made by another human being" the situation with Deltic power units is not good long term. I have had several conversations with Murray Brown on this subject and the long term prospects are not good. The DPS has begun to recommission one of their spare engines but there is no guarantee that all of their stored engines will be usable and obviously they know what Martin has been through.

In a nutshell rebuilding a Deltic power unit is an engineering challenge as big if not bigger than building Tornado.

Sawdust.

 

I'm just wondering what the situation is like with Maybach power units? Are we going to be looking at something similar in a few years time?

 

Calm down ?? Nothing to flap about ??............I think it's more the case of an enthusiast (me) being concerned about the future prospects. Martin Walker struggles to attract funds at the best of times to keep 55022 running ON ONE GOOD ENGINE , I don't know the state of Gordons engines, the DPS are helping as and where they can, the supply of Napier Deltic engines WORLDWIDE is non existent, nobody in their wildest dreams can see a new one being built. I think there is concern for the future of the breed.

 

Hmm, replica of DP2 in the near future?

 

You said 'struggling to survive' in such oh so emotive language, as if Deltic 16 is on its way to EMR and they have the gas axes warmed up and ready. Which of course it isn't.

It seems what you actually meant was 'it's going to be increasingly difficult to maintain Deltics in operational condition', so why didn't you say that? That and 'struggling to survive' are two VERY different things.

 

I remember visiting the Deltic place at Barrow Hill and they had got a load of replacement Engines from the Norwegian Navy. The Engine was originally developed post war as the Royal Navy wanted a Diesel Engine to power fast boats. The German E boats in WW2 were powered with Diesels and this meant they were less prone to catch fire if hit whereas the British ones were Petrol powered, so after the war the Deltic Engine was developed to power boats. (only later did they decide it could be used for rail too). Other Navies also used it and the Norwegians had stopped recently so they were able to get the Engines left which did have some differences but were almost the same.

 

Given six out of twenty-two survive, that's not as hare-brained scheme as it sounds - and I say that as a Deltic fan of many years...

 

Martin Walker tried this early in his tenure with Deltic 22, after one of the original power units conrod's escaped.

Think the problem was leaking liners again, and to get to the bottom of the problem once and for all, a full rebuild is necessary.

They successfully altered a marine unit for rail operation, a not insignificant project.

In recent times, the only power unit completely overhauled is in Deltic 16, and is condition unknown, some say it leaks, others are unsure.

Deltic 2, also has a leaking liner, thought to be split, looking around the number of u/s power units is worrying, and the ones at Barrow Hill, some have not been used yet in preservation.

However, wish all of the people looking to keep these magnificent machines in operation every success, and will find some £££ soon to help out.

 

You interpret it any way you want, I really don't care. I think what I said was a reasonable and valid comment and I stand by what I said, IMO your interpretation and my comment amount to the same thing. Over and out.

 

The Royal Navy are still using Deltic engines in their Hunt Class Minesweepers. They are replacing them with Caterpillar engines - two are being done at the moment but not sure how far they are through the others - at least a couple have been done. HMS Chiddingford is currently making the 6,000 mile journey back from the Gulf after 3 years out there, and appears (at least from Wikipedia) to still be Deltic powered. I presume that the Navy still have spares and maintenance ability, although a lot of both may be in Bahrain!

4 Hunts serve in foreign navies, I presume still using Deltics.

(The newer Sandown Class went the same way as the ECML - Paxman Valenta engines!)

Steven

 

In which case, if I'm any judge of things, the MOD probably have at least a half dozen complete engines and half a century's worth of spares sitting in a warehouse just outside Lichfield, this being the UK town furthest from the sea!

 

In which case, could/would, they try and rebuild a unit, as a training exercise????

 

And how pray tell how Frankenmonstering GORDON into DP2 is any better than using a scrap 27 into an NBL Type 2?
ITS even WORSE!

 

Why not? Military input in the form of training exercises has been with us since someone on Ken Marrian's team managed to obtain Army assistance enabling much needed improvements on the Talyllyn back in the 50's. Many lines continue the same symbiotic relationship to this day.

 

You wonder if it has been tried, I am sure somebody somewhere would be able to make contact, and see what could be possible.

And if they are successful with one, and before the expertise is lost, pass on the knowledge.

 

Have just asked the question on Martin's FB page, as to whether the MOD option has been thought about???

I am sure he will advise, and I will pass on the info.