60007 (4498) Sir Nigel Gresley Overhaul

As a 'long time LIFE member of the trust since the 1970s' Fred, you should already know the answer to that question!

 

One can always dream - even at Christmas !

 

Not having had time to see her in black, is there anyway of viewing 7 in black remains?

 

Nope there's an update on the lsl group socials showing it in the paintshop at crewe sporting a baby blue undercoat , less than 2 miles from where it was shopped at the works on entering preservation . Funny how history comes around full circle

 

Great to see SNG out and about after overhaul.

Who were the drivers on this day? Has anyone educated them about use of cylinder drain cocks? This is possibly the most excessive use iv ever seen.

20mins in.

 

SNG has caught Stanier Disease off the loco in front <DARFC>

 

I think that same YouTube account has posted a video (of 70000 I think), asking if the excessive cylinder drain cock usage was deliberate. It seemed to happen with 4498 on the York trip last month, when the loco went for servicing and LSL posted a video of 61306 leaving Crewe doing likewise, so not sure if the YouTuber has a point or if there is an operational reason for it.

 

It's a rainy day and they had the sanders on.
I would assume the extended use of drain cocks was to minimise slipping. I've not driven full-size but the miniature A4's I have driven we're asbolute beasts to be tamed. Leaving the drain cocks open lowers cylinder pressure and makes starting without slipping much easier.

 

The Black 5 had the sands on. From the video we will never know whether that was the case with the A4 as the steam from the taps obscures everything. The Black 5 driver had the sense to shut his taps as soon as he could. I can't see any logical reason for the A4 driver keeping his taps open, other than to annoy the Black 5 crew. Certainly the idea of keeping them open to reduce the likelihood of slipping would be a non-starter in my eyes. Gresley is fairly sure-footed and not 'a beast needing taming'. With sands on the front two pairs of drivers, has the ability to put down all the effort that the driver wants.
The A4 doesn't appear to be doing much with the hard work being done by the Black 5. It wouldn't be the first time a driver has had a bit of fun with such antics when starting away and it won't be the last. Not saying that was the case but it is the best answer I can come up with. To get to the truth you need to talk to the driver.

 

There are plenty of videos (of various locos) on line showing drain cocks open for a long while, and plenty showing them open only very briefly. Only the respective drivers know why.

 

New Engineer's report available, always a worthwhile read.

The 'Sir Nigel Gresley' Locomotive Trust Ltd

An explanation of the issue with the drain cocks is included.

 

An interesting read. Thanks for that. It seems that the crew weren't all all happy with the drain cock's performance either!

 

Hopefully someone will be able to assist me. We’re looking for high resolution images of A4’s with King’s Cross lettering on the front. I’ve seen images with both an Iron Cross symbol and a X used for Cross. I believe the X was used with BR Blue, the BR Blue images would be of great help for us.

Many thanks,
Frankie

 

Hi Frankie,

Please see the attached photo, taken by Maurice Earley, of "Mallard" at Reading during the loco exchanges when in BR Blue I believe, with BRITISH RAILWAYS on the tender. I have the full photo if required?

Best regards,

Reg.

 

Lovely, but I think 60007 is going into express passenger blue, which may be different.

 

Nice photograph! I see someone's handywork in identifying the bogie splash guard is present too!

Richard.

 

This may help. In the excellent magazine “Mallard and the A4 Pacifics”. Note the date - 1950, which should confirm this is express blue depicted.

 

Yes, that's garter blue, rather than BR express blue. King's + was the LNER way of writing it, rather than the BR version of King's X. What @Frankie Hutchings is trying to determine is when they changed from + to X, and which would be correct for express blue.

As has been announced in HR magazine, 60007 will be spending a couple of weeks at the Nene Valley over the Easter period. It then spends the summer based at Bishops Lydeard for a series of Saphos tours to Kingswear.

https://www.sirnigelgresley.org.uk/mob-news.shtml

 

If you look at my most recent post, you will see an answer to this, I hope.

 

Thanks Simon, I started typing a reply then had to come back to it, by which time you'd posted it.