6023

Far away from 6023, but I see that Scots Guardsman had to run up to Blaenau Ffestiniog because the 8F had gauging issues. You couldn't make it up.

 

John please don't turn into Richard Littlejohn!

 

Would it be safe to assume that 6023 will be remaining in Didcot as the main power on museum trains?


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Surely a thorough load testing of 6023 on a suitable preserved railway must be due to happen soon?

 

Probably, until the end of August.

 

Thank you


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saw her in 'action' today. Never quite understood why people don't like animals in zoo's until I saw the king today trundling up and down the demonstration line. She needs to be freed from captivity and that bark heard around our countryside!

Given the current shortage of steam she could have picked up quite a bit of work. Now beginning to think we'll see 24 back out before 23 gets anywhere near the mainline!

 

Race 'oss pulling a milk cart spring to mind?

 

I'm guessing they needed 6023 at Didcot for the summer steamings season. Surely she'll be going somewhere for load testing on a preserved line soon?

 

What exactly is wrong with 4144? It's only operated for about a year hasn't it?

 

From the last Echo (Summer 16) they are assessing the new draughting and blast pipe whilst she is in service mid week (which apparently are when they are busiest in the summer holidays), whilst using the time whilst she is out of service at the weekends to fit the AWS, TPWS, OTMR and spark arresting equipment - I am sure they would be delighted for any extra pairs of hands which would help the process along.

 

Again from the last Echo (Summer 16) initially valves had to be rebored and subsequently boiler work.

Looks like 1340 is likely to be fast track restored to provide a 'small loco' and the branch curve is also to be re-laid over winter to reduce tyre wear.

I would strongly recommend joining the GWS as the ever great Echo nearly always has the answers one desires....

 

Recent update from 6023's website:
http://www.6023.co.uk/news/news.htm
"17.10.2016
We really are almost there for main line running. All that is needed now is some work to site the GSM-R portable radio, some wiring, spark guards, firebox water sprinkler and sundry small(ish) jobs to finish the King off. On Saturday the 15th of October, the King was used for a Railway Experience Day on the DRC demonstration line. The new four-jet blastpipe gives a crisp sound, but not the original loud bark we had with the plain blastpipe and taller chimney used on the MNR and GCR."

 

That loud bark was caused by the 5 inch orifice previously used, it has now an equivalent of 6 inches.

 

Believe me, 6023 BARKS when you open the main valve but, 1/. with only a load of two it takes off like a rocket and we'd end up in Cholsey the hard way and 2/. the finger wagging brigade start accusing us of needless thrashing. So therefore we don't do it as there 's no need (inside the DRC confines).
Spark arrester is now fitted as are the ash pan spark guards. Most of the TPWS / OTMR gear is fitted in its final position and is in the process of being wired before testing & accreditation.
There's still loads to do if anyone wants to help. Simple things such as, where the front TPWS antenna has to be located is directly beneath where the inside snifting valves drip all over it, so a cover has to be made to prevent water ingress!
The list of jobs is diminishing slowly and once complete the final buffer heights will be set and weights adjusted.
Keep an eye on the DRC / 6023 websites as next year should prove interesting and once again, the more that help, the quicker 6023 appears the other side of the DRC fence!

 

One of these days I'll wriggle free of some of my other obligations (i.e. when the kids grow up a bit etc) and come and help - even if its only to make tea for the ones that know which end of the hammer to hold!

 

It is quite an interesting subject why Churchward and post Churchward GWR locos have that distinctive 'square' chonky exhaust 'bark'.

The double chimneyed Kings have it, as do the double chimneyed Castles, as well as the single chimneyed Castles, and the 2 cylindered Halls etc.

None of these had streamlined passages for the exhaust, and the double chimneyed Castles were distinctly non streamlined at the base of the blast pipes.

My conclusion is that this 'sound' was due to the valve gear settings and design, which was always carefully worked out at Swindon. I cannot draw any other conclusion when you compare a single chimneyed Castle to a double chimneyed Castle, as I submit the sound is the same, despite the double chimneyed version having a much freer exhaust and less back pressure - which would usually result in a softer 'bark'.

Most of my 'soundings' have been from starting from Newport South Wales station in the mid 1980s when Newport regularly experienced GWR mainline specials. There was a certain echo at Newport on one side especially if the trains left eastwards from platform 3, which they usually did.

The sound of a GWR loco exhausting is no real assessment as to whether the loco has a good smokebox draughting arrangement. Other factors determine this which are of far greater interest for those who have to pay for the coal and the fireman who has to shovel it.

Cheers,
Julian

 

Do you mean, it sounds as if the majority of the energy is disappearing up the chimney.... well maybe !

 

Noise is just a form of energy; wasted energy. The more noise, the more waste.