BR Standard class 6 No. 72010 'Hengist' and Clan Discussion Thread

It would be interesting to hear why 2 & 3 were rejected although I must admit to being a bit doubtful of suggestion 2 simply because I've never come across such a suggestion previously. Belleville washers are a well-proven alternative to coil springs.

 

Steve, are Bellevilles suitable for repeated flexing I wonder?

 

Looks like the States or South Africa might be the best options. SUHM say that they can hot wind up to 4". No contacts known here just came accross their capacities page, so it is only a vey tenuous notion. If they cannot do it they may know of a company that can. Could save great deal of time asking a question of a company working in the field. Remember the USA has historically built seriously robust stuff, including 4 wheel, 2' nominal gauge shunuters weighing in at over 40 tons.

 

I've plenty of experience of using them in this way on braking systems. They have good advantage over a coil spring in that a failure of one only has a marginal impact and need not be a show stopper. As with any such substitution of an earlier arrangement it needs properly designing, and you may not be able to get a satisfactory fit of required parameters. I would have thought it worth a bit of research, though, rather than a simple dismissal.

 

Yes, we've tried a few suppliers in the States with no luck, inclluding the ones that said they specialised in non standard springs! I do wonder whether Belleville washers would be prone to collecting grot and grime between the leaves and thus restricted the movement? This is a bit of a thing of mine as I've spent far too much time stripping filthy cars and bikes

 

Might be worth posting a question on one of the US preservation forums - Railway Preservation News being a suitable one....
http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=bf53220ed9c37ec0a397c2893056790c
- or perhaps contact somewhere like the Strasburg RR in Pennsylvania who do a lot of contract work on other peoples locos (as well as maintaining their own fleet).
They should be able to point you in the right direction, I would think.

 

I have used Bellevilles in place of springs but not with such loads or sizes as railway operations, you are right about gunge though, we had a set in an exposed place where grit got in to the pack. Cushed grit makes very effective grinding paste and our application was a high cycle one at the end of a reciprocating slide, washers ground away very quickly until somebody slit a coke tin and put that over the washers, sealing it up with gaffer tape. Not beautiful, but effective

 

Do any American locos use side control springs on the bogies? They generally use swing links or rockers.

 

Johann. Thanks for the suggestion, I 've signed up and have posted a query. Let's see if we get a response.

 

If you're a member of the Clan Project - don't forget that there is a Members Forum on Saturday 30 June at CTL Seal Ltd, Sheffield S35 9WA starting at 1330 prompt. This is an excellent opportunity to see the frames and the frame components ready for assembly. You will also get a guided tour of CTL Seal's facilities. Details in Clan News

If you are not a member and would like to come, then turn up with your registration fee and we'll make you a member on the spot! The forum is for members only

 

The cab and smoke box have now arrived at CTL, completing the movement of parts to their premises.

The next time you will be able to come and view progress will be at the AGM on 29th September - so note the date in your diaries...

 

There are two sides of me right now.

1. Fantastic I hope it is progressing and comes on.

And the other.....

2. Oh please don't tell me that you are going to hide images of progress until this date (frames coming together or the cab going on the chassis etc) and save them so that "members get to see it first".

If it's the second then please reconsider. There is always this argument when I speak to some societies about how their members should see things first, but to be honest I think if you asked a member, would you prefer to get to see an image etc first or let the project use it as quickly as possible (meaning others might see it first) but that they are doing this to gain funding quicker so that you can actually see the loco working which is the whole point of the society, the I think most would choose the latter. I dont see the P2 holding back images of progress, rather the opposite as they use as much as possible to gain momentum and keep in peoples thoughts. This isn't supposed to be a rant, more of a "I want to see this engine, please use all methods available to get it funded and working".

 

As soon as I got the pic, it went on the news section! All members of the management team can post news items. As we get the news, you'll have it

 

Just to point out. I don't want the news as such as I'm not bothered about needing to know how things are going, the point I'm trying to make is that I want the project to succeed and use every opportunity to get more donations and progress quicker.

 

Thanks for that. We're aiming to show serious progress in the next 3 months

 

Thanks Gav. Members only get to see her 'in the flesh' so to speak, but this has as more to do with health and safety protocols on a commercial site than a members only ' culture' ( and I think its fair that fee ( and its not much) paying members should have some special treats ?)

 

As we have not posted here for a while I thought that you all might like to see the latest picture from our website.
Sam from CTL Seal working on the Combined Frame Stretcher, Spring Bracket & Brake Shaft Carrier. There's a lot of work that has to go into the machining of this component and it's got to be right!
Taken on 20th July 2018.

 

Just to show that other things than the frame are happening, here is the latest CAD work on the rear Pony Truck. More things are in progress than people realise....

 

Pony truck CAD looks great.

Regarding the springs. Die springs are usually square or even oblong section. Looking on the web there seem to be quite a few manufacturers of those about. Again size may be an issue though.

 

Agreed - a superb rendering.