6023

That's fair enough. I may be wrong here, but did you see and hear 6023 on any of its SVR test runs? I saw three of the runs up Eardington bank and the loco sounded quite loud to me. Surely if it was really opened out it would have a very loud bark? I guess these are early days and more will be revealed regarding 6023's audio levels with time. Cheers.

 

Agree with this, except to point out that the train heating and a leaking whistle valve will have no effect upon the mass flow through the blastpipe what so ever....

 

Surely Jos's point was that there was plenty of draft to burn the coal to make the steam even though not all that steam was contributing to the blast.

 

If you want a loud bark, you'd better go to Germany and witness an ex-DR 50.35 on a Sonderfahrt! And if you travel, you can drop the windows, and lean out to your heart's desire. (And the prices are very reasonable.)

 

On a 4 cyl loco a bark may be a sign that both the exh ports are opening at the same time.

On any loco it may be a sign that the piston valves are designed to give a rapid opening in area (with valves sealed with rings the valve starts to open when the ring passes the port, but the valve is not fully open until the valve head has passed the port - so there is a limited area and no bark - whereas on a GW semi-plug the valve head controls the valve events)

Neither is a sign of excess backpressure.

 

Interesting, and yet the multi-ring valve heads I've worked on have had the head diameter reduced and shaped outside of the outer rings to ensure a clear passage for the steam as soon as the ring opened the port, and the locos still haven't been particularly loud; which rather trips up your explanation.
Still, if you really believe an earth shattering roar is a sign of efficiency, then I'm not going to bother arguing with you.

 

Its been often observed that the "bark" of GWR locomotives has a distinctive quality. It does seem probably this is down to detailed design. I strongly suspect that the causes and characteristics of the sound is a complex subject, little studied (since silencing has never been a requirement). One would expect that the detail design of ports, valves and all the rest had a significant effect on the quality of the sound.

 

All details apart, the most important question for me is whether the majority of you have understood how this works.
Basically double chimneys doubled again, however within a single envelope!
Kind regards
Jos

 

Maybe it's just me, but I think the Kings look wrong with reduced height fittings. I know it's only a couple of inches, but the squat chimney and safety valve bonnet look quite out of proportion on such a large boiler.

I'm disappointed that 6023 will not be operating on the main line, but I hope we'll be able to see her operating with full height and fittings on preserved lines.

 

Would you keep the four orifice blastpipe if a full height chimney is refitted?

 

Surely this would then change the draughting again?

 

The restauration crew have already said they can miss the work like a sore thumb! Moreover, the full height bonnet is lost.

 

I don't think it looks so bad on 6023, however 6024 always looks like someone has sat on it?

If its working leave it as it is, does anyone have any idea of the plans post SVR is she off back to Didcot or elsewhere on her travels, with the ball ache of getting her in and out of Didcot (especially as the DBC trip moving option seems to have ceased) it would make more sense if they are trying to make a few quid back to have the next hire lined up and move her direct from the SCVR to wherever?

 

Gloucestershire warwickshire after that. Then nothing announced I believe.

Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk

 

This is all hypothetical, however I suspect that the GWS will start working closely with VT as an operator, as WC won't really be viable geographically and I am not sure if IoS are going to operate Vac, as I cannot see the GWS going to air unless they really have to? Plus there is some symmetry in USP between VT and GWS? There is still the issue of getting stuff in and out of Didcot, and it did suggest in the last Echo that in order to address this they were considering setting up as their own TOC just for the short trips to West Yard?

 

No idea. I just want it to look nice!

 

I think the eye becomes accustomed to changes in the locomotive's appearance. 6023 looks just fine to me with the lower profile. The chimney shape is quite elegant. In fact, 6023 looks more powerful and bigger, more like a "super King". I've always felt that the copper cap on 6024's lower double chimney looks a little too "flared out" which doesn't help it's appearance from certain angles, although I guess that couldn't be avoided.

 

I wonder whether @JJG Koopmans will be invited to look at the draughting of 6024 after the 6023 success?

 

Does 6024 need anything doing to it though?