Tornado

Look at the date it was published on...

 

All the same it would have been a good idea -- but only for those specific locos.
Today, a good idea for any restored or new-build locos of those pre-grouping companies, but not for Tornado.

 

Tornado and friends enjoying the sunshine today at the Nene Valley (it's raining now )

 

Our paths must have crossed again today.

 

Evening everyone,

For a week now I've watched and re-watched this You Tube clip below. I've played it on a large screen TV and forwarded the frame by frame footage...



I was onboard the tour as were a lot of others who frequent this forum - but there is something about this clip that just nags at me (and the reason why I've watched it so many times) as to possibly giving some clues as to why Tornado failed. This is not an attempt to offer any technical nor mechanical advice - but please bear with me and watch the clip after having read on.
The first thing I noticed when the clip starts is something that appears to be "within the four foot" on the stretch of track that Tornado is running on. It is not clear (in fact it may be nothing other than camera distortion) as to what it is but it does appear to move with air turbulence.
You will see this object (again supposition but to me looks like a black bin bag or the like) remain in situ as loco passes over it (around 0:50 into the clip). Watch the next 20 seconds it almost looks like something has happened and there is a release of smoke (at around 1:07) from the front end pretty much at the point that I'd expect to be the middle cylinder to be situated.
Is it possible that this object has been picked up by the air turbulence and pulled into the motion and thus possibly contributed to something that ultimately lead to the failure? This was filmed at Arlesey station a few miles prior to where we finally came to a stop but from seeing clips and my own notes the brakes come on for the first time just as we passed Biggleswade station and possibly enough time to start the cause of the failure?
Is it plausible, or am I wanting to see something that contributed to what happened that is ultimately not there.
Tell me ladies and gentleman - after watching the clip what do you think - is it something or is it nothing!

Mods - was not sure which thread this (or the Ebor Flyer one) this was best aimed at so have put into both. Please amend if you see fit and remove if required.

 

I see what you mean, but what you describe as a release of smoke looks to me more like steam, it seems white and seems to have been ejected quite forcibly downwards. Maybe an expert can suggest what this might be; possibly an injector?

 

I have old eyes, but I did notice a crow, or other similar bird on the adjacent (left) track rail. Maybe that is what the other black item may be?

 

I saw the crow and wondered if the black object might have been some dead wildlife the crow was interested in, but that might be stretching imagination a little too far

 

It's very foreshortened so hard to see exactly where it comes from, but my guess for a short puff of steam like that under a loco might be one of the crew opening the tail cock on a gauge glass to "bob the water". That's perfectly routine.

Tom

 

I didn't see you, good Sir? Mind you, I got no further than the café and the car park - I had an irritating fault on the car that's distinctly anti-social so I slipped off after lunch and fixed it.

And I am too unfit to be contorting myself in car boots with a soldering iron...

 

Isn't livery froth the Nat Pres equivalent to Goodwin's law?

 

Was at Wansford for a while around the time of the second departure and again for the final departure.

 

I would suggest you pass this onto the A1ST as it appears to be a black plastic bag / bin liner which might have impeded the lubrication to the middle cylinder; given the heat at the piston area it could be that the plastic has subsequently melted beyond recognition hence not identified as a contributory factor in the ultimate failure.

 

Looks to me more like an ATC(?) ramp for the signal to the right as we view it. There's another in the opposite track in the far distance for the further signal and two in the other tracks on the left for the closer signals.

 

Sorry, but while it's a nice theory, it isn't germane.

The problem has been identified as a lack of lubrication the front middle valve head. The lubrication system to this is sealed and not influenced by outside factors unless they are solid enough to disrupt the delivery pipes, which are high up relative to the cylinder casting and fairly robust. Even if a plastic bag got there it isn't going to sheer the pipe, and if it had done it would have been discovered long before now.

 

there are 2 or 3 crows flying about AND a fluffy squirrel that crossed the lines - did you see that?

 

Good to see that someone else saw the birds, that I mentioned in post 4487 of this thread.

 

I’m just happy I don’t have to follow through on buying that pint! The theory held! Phew!

Glad to see A1 SLT have it all sussed out. She’ll be back on her feet in no time!

 

It's very heartening to see the A1 Trust being very open about this unfortunate event and not trying to 'bury' bad news as other less-professional organisations might do.

This can only be to their credit and sets a high standard of behaviour for others to follow..

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