2999: Lady of Legend

I suppose you'd have to ask a driver from the days of unfitted freight whether it was more advantageous to be able to reverse the locomotive without umpteen turns on the screw.

 

This is only really an issue when you have a slide valve engine with a pole reverser.

 

If the locomotive is fitted with piston valves, then movement of the lever is not a problem whilst 'under steam'. On locos such as 57xx pannier tanks which have slide valves, it is normal practice to shut the regulator before adjusting cut-off, as otherwise you would be fighting against the force of the steam against one side of the slide valve. On piston valves the forces are equalised, making them much easier to move than a slide valve when the regulator is open. If you have a lot of shunting to do, then a lever reverse is a godsend.

There were some hybrid reversers which had a lever that engaged in an elliptical shaped screw which could also be actuated via a hand-wheel. These combined the ease of reversing via the lever with the ability to make small adjustments to the cut-off by means of the hand-wheel.

Andy

 

I believe the North Eastern M1 class in the national collection has a combined screw and lever; the screw is barrel shaped. The RHDR locos have a combined screw and lever but this type is fitted with half nuts similar to those on a lathe leadscrew.

 

... as is a nice Stirling Steam reverser, which was already long-established tried and tested technology by Churchward’s day and has the secondary advantage of leaving the cab nicely uncluttered of bulky machinery!

Tom

 

Thanks for the info, I didn’t know there was a difference but I suppose it’s obvious on thinking about it

 

My experience of driving GW locos is limited but I found that with piston valve lever reversers you could actually hold the lever/pole where you wanted and didn't need to drop it into one of the notches so you could finesse the cut-off if you really wanted to.

That'll be the Booch(sp?) Barrel reverser

 

On the LMS 2P 4-4-0 thread

Is this true?

 

Only a GWS member so no insider info, however this does not reflect what has been said previously?

 

I am sure they've said it's not going main line, and of course getting anything in and out of Didcot is non-trivial, but it will be a great shame if it can never run anywhere else.

 

I had thought that 2999 was going to remain at GWS for it's first year and then get loaned out? Early days for 2020 so who knows if there are any plans for galas and visits planned for later in the year?

 

That was my understanding also.

 

Mine too. Iron out the glitches first, if any. Before going on tour up and down the land, save getting egg on their faces if things do go wrong. Granted they still could if the loco is let loose on a longer stretch of line....... As has also been mentioned they aren't going "mainline" as such, though do I understand have arrangements in place to allow their stock to be "tripped" to the nearest rail yard with road access, or so I believe.

 

I suspect it is more to do with ensuring that they get the income from the wow factor for the first 12 months or so as well.

DBC do the tripping to West Yard.

 

She's off to the SVR for their gala between the 16th and 19th April 2020.

First real chance to stretch her legs!

 

Be patient, the SVR appearance is just the first, I'm led to believe......

 

Perhaps but the SVR visit offers a rare (only?) chance to pair this loco with appropriate passenger stock on a heritage line.

 

Are you suggesting that GJC missed a trick?

 

I'be always said that this one would look right at home at Bewdley or Arley on a spring/summers evening with the top lights!

 

Nice I agree, but it's not a consideration that seems to bother most people most of the time!