LMS Patriot Project Updates

Ah, at last another LMS 3 cyl. loco,the BIG bonus is its a 'Pate', absolutely brilliant news Gav, congratulations to all involved. Can't wait to get to Llan. to see her.
Andy

 

Today's latest photo of 45551 says it all really: what a superb project. Thank you to the Patriot team.

 

Great new build. Really looking to forward to seeing her on the mainline in 2018!!!

 

TUBEPLATE PROGRESS
Submitted by Kevin West on 5 March, 2015 - 18:27
Progress continues on the construction of the boiler for The Unknown Warrior.

Latest work has included drilling the Firebox Tubeplate as seen here in this picture.



Picture - Oakwood Visuals

 

And more big news later this week. I wont say what yet..... ill let the pictures do the talking.....

 

Patriot still flying along, BRILLIANT !!!

 

Well its been a good week this week. The first section of the barrel has been rolled at deepdale engineering in Dudley. The second barrel will be rolled tomorrow.

 

Fantastic news! Being a parallel boiler should make the job simpler than with a tapered one. Out of curiosity, what tube sizes are being used? Are the tubeplates being drilled to the same dimensions as the original Patriots, or have the tube sizes been modified in light of the thinking that the original sizes were not quite right to give the best A/S ratio?

Richard.

 

Heck yes, great progress!

 

Engineering Update - February 2015
Submitted by Kevin West on 13 March, 2015 - 16:34
Locomotive Frame Assembly
Work continues on a number of fronts on the construction of The Unknown Warrior.



The Unknown Warrior is a 3 cylinder locomotive after the fitting of the right hand cylinder at outside Llangollen shed. 23rd January 2015

Photo – Kevin West

The biggest news this month is the fitting of the right hand cylinder to the locomotive frame assembly on 23rd January, making the locomotive a 3 cylinder engine.

This was followed by fitting the right hand Motion Bracket and lining up as described for the left hand side in last months report.

The volunteer painting gang continues work on the the locomotive frames and Driving Wheels.



Right Hand cylinder being lifted into position. The Motion Bracket lies on the floor ready to be lifted into position. Photo – Kevin West



Right Hand cylinder being lifted into position. Photo – Kevin West

Castings for the Front Cylinder Covers and both Front and Hind Valve Covers have been delivered to Harco Engineering for quotation for machining. Patterns and castings for the Pistons will follow shortly.



Castings for Front Cylinder Covers, Front and Hind Valve Covers, Bolster Cups and Drain Cock operating gear brackets.



Castings for Hind Valve Cover Guides.



Castings for Bolster Domes and Inside Expansion Link Trunnions..


Photos – Kevin West



Design work is continuing on the remaining Valve Gear parts required.

Pistons, Valves and Motion
Machining of the Motion Girders has been completed at Harco Engineering. These have now been delivered to Llangollen for fitting to the Frame Assembly.

Also now at Llangollen after machining are the 6 new Slide Bars and the Bogie Centre Pin and associated Nut and Washers.



Motion Girders and Slide Bars (wrapped on the pallet) at Llangollen. Photo Jordan Leeds

The valve heads are at Tyseley Locomotive Works for machining. Tyseley will also be supplying the Pistons and Piston Rods, drawings for these have been completed and a pattern for the Piston casting will be ordered soon.

Manufacture of the Coupling Rod Bushes and Brasses is expected to start soon at Llangollen.

Bogie
Detailed discussions continue with Tyseley Locomotives Works regarding assembly of the Bogie and with our Vehicle Acceptance Body (VAB) and South Devon Engineering over the assembly of the new Bogie Wheelset, to ensure it complies with the new RISAS standards.

Assembly of the Bogie is due to start at Tyseley in the next couple of weeks.

Boiler
A major step in the construction of the Boiler took place at Deepdale Engineering in Brierley Hill on 12th March 2015, with the rolling of the two Boiler Barrel Rings. The 18mm thick plates were rolled to the required diameter and the seam then welded to produce the barrel sections. The welded seams are a requirement of our insurance company and reflect current practice. The Barrel sections will still be riveted together and to the Front Tubeplate and flanged Throateplate as in the original design.



After the first stages of rollng the barrel ring the ends are dressed ready for welding.



The barrel takes shape as the rolling progresses.

.

The finished ring after rolling.



Welding the internal side of the seam. The action is taking place under the bead of powder flux.

Pictures – Kevin West

Work continues on the forming blocks for the outer firebox Steel Flanged plates at Tyseley Locomotive Works.

At LNWR Crewe, the Inner Firebox flanged Throatplate is formed and has now been drilling for the tube holes. Work on joining the Firebox Sidesheets and Crown to complete the Firebox Wrapper is about to start. The Wrapper, Doorplate and Throatplate can then be assembled to complete the Inner Firebox.



The Inner Firebox Throatplate being drilled March 2015

Photos – Oakwood Visuals

The new drawings required for the design changes to the boiler have been submitted to the insurance company for their approval.

Tender
Work on the refurbishment on the Tender Frames continues at Rowlescourt Engineering.

The design for the new tender tank has been progressing when time allows.

 

Brilliant news congratulations to all involved

 

The tube sizes and arrangement are as on the original boilers. They were never said to be lacking in their steaming abilities and to change would involve a lot of additional effort and paperwork for maybe little benefit. The insurance company has given the original design the go ahead with a few small changes to bring into line with up to date work practices, but nothing major.

Kevn West
Chief Engineer
LMS Patriot Project

 

Good to hear, rather grand to think actually that as far as I can tell, this new build project barely changed that much to the original design. Though of course there's slight adjustments for the realities of the modern world, but still it's fundamentally the exact same machine of the past.

I'd say that's a great testament to the ruggedness of their design, and indeed the designer himself, Fowler. The timeless words "if it ain't broke don't fix it" spring to mind on this project.

 

Many Thanks for your reply Kev, I was just asking purely out of interest having read various things in the past. If the original design was satisfactory then that's good enough for me! Congratulations to all involved in the building of 45551 on the rate of work being achieved!

Best Regards,

Richard.

 

Sorry stupid engineering question - why is the middle cylinder off-centre or assymetrical?

 

JMJR1000 said: "I'd say that's a great testament to the ruggedness of their design, and indeed the designer himself, Fowler."

Who is said to have admitted to never having designed a locomotive in his life!

Dave

 

Really? Then who did he supposedly say was the REAL designer then, the tea lady lady...?

 

The centre cylinder looks central to me, it's the valve chest that's off-set, which I would think will be to accommodate the necessary steam passages (which there would be little room for between the frames if they were directly above the cylinder), without having unduly constricted passageways. Also, the centre valvegear would have to be driven offset from the crank web of the centre crank-throw, necessitating off-centre eccentrics. I stand to be corrected though...

Richard.

 

That's what I really like about the Patriot too... A project I'm proud to be supporting!

Richard.