Llangollen shed newsy news

Right now i know what your thinking "He's at it again, why won't he stop already!" but if you'll look at the pictures you'll have your answer as to why i'm doing this one.

Right the big bit of news from up shed today is that a certain cylinder has arrived for a certain small prairie that is under restoration.


Also Desmond had it's smokebox lifted today and Jennifer had it's new and shiny one put in place what fitted like a glove. She's according to a person i talked to meant to me back up and running by June this year so any of you industrial lovers won't have to wait long to see her in action. Picture below.


On another note it was a wonderfully sunny day at Llangollen but since i was in pit cleaning out the Black 5's ash pan i wouldn't know anything about it. This makes only the second that i have cleaned out (The other being 5199) and my new experience of the day was cleaning the smokebox out, what i hadn't done before.

 

Broomhalla thanks for the update.

 

cheers for the update!

 

Cheers - I take it the certain small prairie is 5539?

 

Is Jennifer going 'on tour' after she has been run in? I'd assume she is a bit underpowered for regular LR services?

 

Underpowered! Pah! 17in cylinders and a bigger firebox than an Austerity. Think she'd surprise a few. I reckon she'd at least give the 64xx a run for its money!

Look forward to seeing her running, never seen one of her class of Hudswell's in steam, theres only three the others being at KWVR and of course Tanfield.

As for 'Jennifer' I heard a rumour she's coming back as a proper Samuel Fox loco without the fake name (no offence to Mr Binns or his wife), is that the case?

 

I think it's just that, a rumour. Everyone in the shed calls her Jennifer but till her boiler is steam tested liveries ain't the shed biggest concern. It's pipe test fitting then the tanks will come off and she'll be steam tested, already been hydraulic tested. I think the idea is to send her out and about but she will be run in on the Llan. I also can't wait to see her finished as a lot of work has been put into her. Does anyone know what livery she was in since all I've ever seen her in is red oxide primmer. Like i said before about June time she'll be ready but don't hold me to that since the famous preservation comment comes in "It'll be ready when it's ready and not a moment before"

 

She's certainly not underpowered, and would be able to cope with 4 coaches quite easily I'd say. However for the crews its a hard day, indutrials weren't built for branchline trains and so you are tired when you come off. However it does give us something different I suppose.

 

True but they did pull loads of coal, steel etc.

 

Broomhalla:

Do you happen to know who actually cast the Prairie cylinder block?

46118

 

Indeed!, that looks like a very fine casting.

 

If you think Jennifer is going to be underpowered may i suggest you pay a visit to see her sister 140 at Embsay that will prove she is going to be more than capable of hauling most things thrown at her.

 

jennifer is a bigger engine it has 17" cylinders and a larger boiler than the PLA type that 140 is.

 

lil bear wrote:

Industrials are fun, yes they are often harder on the crew than ex mainline engines but that's all part of it. A good many of us cut our teeth on industrials in the earlier days. I wish we still had an industrial at Swanage for a bit of variety.

 

Industrials are fun, yes they are often harder on the crew than ex mainline engines but that's all part of it. A good many of us cut our teeth on industrials in the earlier days. I wish we still had an industrial at Swanage for a bit of variety.[/quote:k6ogoqz9]

I have had a couple of good turns on industrials and enjoyed myself quite a bit, albeit they were on Thomas shuttles up/down platform 2 of Llangollen stn 8-[ . They are very powerful beasts though push comes to shove I'd choose one of our ex-mainliners anyday.

 

lil Bear wrote:

No sense of adventure lil Bear!!!!!!! Get a good number of turns under your belt and you'll soon get bored with ex mainline engines, they make the job too easy.......

 

well you do have norman at SSL, it may be one of 2 surviving J94's but its still an industrial

 

no its not. L2 or 68078 is at selindge not an sll machine

 

ah right, i was gettin my southern locos mixed up

 

A few bits of info

I have been informed that Jenifer will appear in Apple Green

I think Jenifer is off to the Colne valley whan finished

The cylinder block was cast at Shentons..... Mr Riley

Off to Llan in the morning to do a bit more on 5199 in preperation for a long stay down south