Flying Scotsman

Fair play to Ian Riley, he's not messing around is he? Just out of interest has Wansford not got a wheel drop? Would that have made things a tad easier?

 

No he isn't, no they haven't and yes it would

 

Now waiting for posts which claim that the best east coast main line steam locos were always 4-4-2s.

 

No, surely you mean 4-2-2s They were certainly the most graceful.

 

Now that AND the Caley Single double heading would be nice... (takes cover as **** hits fan...)

 

You're waiting for another big end to run hot then?

 

There's a nice clip from PSOV on YouTube about singles.

 

Impressive work from all involved. It is a bit worrying that the driving wheels have been taken away by The Suicide Squad though!!

 

Seems entirely appropriate IMO. Playing Devil's Advocate here as some of the Big Railway would - how much was spent on this loco, how soon into its service life since that overhaul has this hot box occurred, and what disruption (if any) did it cause to service trains?

(Believe me - there are enough anti-preservationists who think like this: I've encountered them. As far as they're concerned NO preserved/steam loco should be allowed to interfere with the running of the railways.)

 

Hot boxes can occur at any time and time since overhaul and expenditure thereon is not a factor. Any competent engineer would be able to explain that to any TOC, NR etc.

 

Not sure what you are getting at? Are you saying that Steam Locos should never ever develop any kind of fault? despite the fact that any form of motive power on the Railway can develop a fault at any time? Why single out Steam Locos? I speak as a former BR fitter who attended many call outs to failed Sprinters in the West Midlands.

 

Oh, I know: many, many years ago I knew a signalman who occasionally let me visit him at work and wagons with a 'hot box' were not uncommon. IIRC railway lines still have detectors for them.

What I am concerned about is this giving ammo to that faction who refer to preserved locos as "130 tons of scrap run by amateurs let loose on the network" or indeed those who may have had a hospital appointment lost because of delays by a charter service.

In response to @gwalkeriow - as I said, if you'd read my post properly, I'm playing Devil's Advocate. I have no problem with main line steam, I've booked enough tours behind them - but I am concerned that any anti-preserved trains faction will seize upon this, especially given 60103's high profile and track record (no pun intended). Besides which, I'm an engineer by profession (albeit in a very different field) and I fully understand that things break. It's just explaining this to lay people who think things should never break and especially when it impacts upon their day-to-day lives is key.

 

That would be my answer to the detractors.

 

Ever been screamed at to your face because something's broken? I have, and it's not like it was anything that caused threat to life or limb; just an inconvenience...

 

I was expecting a hot box to come in far earlier than nearly two years into her working life. She’s done a good mileage and when in service Gresley Pacifics ran hot boxes far more regularly (there were more of them, after all).

I get what you are saying about ammunition and agree it’s not fun when it happens - but it could, and has happened - to almost any engine.

 

Interesting they've taken all the rods away too.

 

Might that because there was a differential loading caused by one axle having more friction than the others and it (potentially) causing damage to the bearings within the rods? No idea if that's the case, just wondering aloud.

 

Sadly people like that do exist, they have no sense of proportion, just like the detractors

 

I'm just glad I had a chance on a very miserable day (for me) to go and see 60103 at full pelt coming down the Spalding line Even managed to record it on my phone too.