6023

With all due respect, all of this talk about modified exhausts is relevant. If we are to have one thread per loco class, that means a lot of backwards and forwards between threads.

 

I agree with Mr Koopmans. There isn't very much in common between the specific draughting problems of the cut down single chimney King and any requirements of Bulleids.

 

"Draughting arrangements for Bulleid Pacifics including the Giesl ejector" #122
Right now I am of the opinion that we should stick to the subject above.
A general discussion on front-ends would need a separate thread, as far as I am concerned after may 2nd (Didcot!)
Kind regards
Jos Koopmans

 

Fair enough.

 

Well 6023 has been running on the demonstration line at Didcot this weekend. Has anyone seen and in particular heard it in action? Are there any videos yet?

 

She seemed to be steaming well when I saw her yesterday. Her bark didn't sound that different, in my opinion. There are a couple of clips of her in my video:

 

Seemed to be healthy enough yesterday - not a lot of bark but very hard to tell as I suspect she was being handled pretty gently on the first service day in a while.

The prairie was being let rip a bit more from the Oxford Road end and had more bark - but of course with a smaller engine you have more scope to do that without running up against the speed limit and the need to stop safely at the other end. A King with 2 on is going to go into orbit if you give it too much! Perhaps more importantly she seemed to have enough steam if the lifting safety valves were anything to judge by.

Personally was just happy to see her back in use - was there for the launch but hadn't seen her running since.

 

Off topic, but looking at that video I see the railmotor trailer been restored now?

Dave

 

Yes - on Saturday it stayed on the branch line so when the SRM went off the auto tank ran with it (which is a bit different because unlike the normal auto trailers it has the facility to have a corridor connection). I see from videos yesterday 92 (the trailer) was on the main demo line with the one of the other auto coaches (231 I think) on the branchline with 1450. The third one was in the carriage sheds looking like it was having some work done on the body work.

 

Thanks, somehow I'd missed that. Was it completed at Llangollen or Didcot?

Dave

 

Wasn't the trailer already available for service when they ran the railmotor to Brentford in October 2014? They were going to use it then but, as I understood, withdrew it at the last minute to avoid squabbles over who could ride in which vehicle.

 

The trailer was completed at Llangollen in early 2013.

 

I wonder if we can anticipate similar steaming problems on the cut down 4709 when the time comes. Presumably they've gained a little bit by dropping the boiler pitch 2" from the original (which was the same as the King I believe).

 

Which in turn will shorten by 2" the blastpipe to chimney orifice distance, so it may be ?

 

Although the new draughting is apparently working well, I haven't seen any videos of 6023 being opened out last weekend, as it would on the mail drop at Didcot. I guess the next step will be loaded test runs on a preserved railway. Is there any further news yet?

 

First ever visit to didcot today while me and the other half are away on holiday - few snaps of the King receiving attention to the motion by the looks for things - and a few other pics for the gwr fans taken on my phone:

 

This topic seems to have been quiet recently. Is there any news regarding further testing of 6023 at Didcot or load testing on a preserved line?

 

6023 is, I believe, five years into its current boiler 'cycle'. So far it has spent two periods on trial, at the MNR and the GCR, has trundled up and down Didcot's running line a few times, and missed more main line debuts than any engine other than Royal Scot. Whilst undoubtedly a superb restoration, could it become one of the great underutilised engines?

 

So much has been achieved but it is unfortunate that time passes so quickly and a concerted effort by all at the GWS would enable the King to become a high profile ambassador for the Society and Didcot. The positive effect of such publicity from mainline use cannot be under estimated with the ensuing benefits for the multitude of on-going projects at Didcot. I was involved at the 6000 LA at Hereford, and the remarkable story of the resurrection of the GWS King should be on a parr with the glory days enjoyed back in the 1970's and 1980's. Keep up the good work and let's get the GWS King flying the flag!

 

6023 in steam at Didcot today in quite horrible weather, sitting just outside the shed with safety valves feathering. While I was there she did a Henry and retreated back under cover again!