Brighton Atlantic: 32424 Beachy Head

Thanks, I knew that I'd seen it somewhere.

 

I note that just after 20 minutes in that 34059 has still got one of those 'dodgy' cross-head pins with the nut securing split pin horizontal rather than being fitted vertically........

 

32424 has a pair of Standard 10x injectors, well matched to the boiler and common spares.

 

Good spot Eightpot. There was a full RAIB report on the "Tangmere" incident and that highlighted their concern.

 

Thanks. By 'standard' I'm assuming you mean BR standard ones.

 

Originally made by Swindon for their GWR locos. I seem to recall that Swindon made them under licence from either Gresham & Craven or Davies & Metcalfe.

 

I’m fairly certain that they are of Davies & Metcalfe origin as they have a hinged flap combining cone, which was a D&M patent.

 

I am thinking of the incident in the RAIB Rail Accident Report 13/2014 of the Locomotive failure near Winchfield on 23 November 2013. This involved Bullied Pacific 34067 'Tangmere' when the right-hand side cross-head pin came out and the conn-rod dropped onto the electric conductor rail. Had that not been there, and the conn-rod striking a sleeper, or even going into the ballast, there would certainly have been the possibility of the loco becoming derailed at least.

Interestingly the dangers from this situation must have happened in Germany, and been recognised by the mid-1920s at least, and appropriate measures taken. This resulted in the simple solution of a couple of bars attached to the far end of the slidebars and hanging down either side of the conn-rod with a spacer at the bottom. This photo shows the arrangement on a DR 01.5 Pacific at Meiningen Works.

 

According to Richard Metcalfe's book the GWR had a licence to make Davies & Metcalfe live steam injectors dating back to the 1920s at least. Can't give an exact date at this moment as his book is not to hand. These were used on the BR Standard locos. However, the BR Pacifics and Class 5 4-6-0s were fitted with Davies & Metcalfe exhaust steam injectors.

 

BR Pacifics and Class 5 were fitted with an exhaust steam injector and a live steam 11X injector.

 

I presume that 11X refers to the delivery cone being 11 mm I diameter.

 

I wouldn't have thought so in an era where "imperial" units were dominant in the UK.

 

As the injector was invented by a Frenchman, as far as I am aware the delivery cone size (which governs the feed water capacity or rate) the delivery cones are measured in metric dimensions.

As a comparison, the pneumatic tyre was invented by a British subject, John Boyd Dunlop, the rim sizes and internal diameter of tyres are the world over in Imperial units.

 

In times past, injectors were the only metric thing on a steam loco! The number refers to the diameter of the throat of the delivery cone so a No.10 injector would have a 10mm throat and injectors were usually referred to as 8mm, 10mm, etc. I think the reason goes back to the inventor, Henri Giffard, who used this description and has been continued ever since by other manufacturers.

 

Got a ride behind her today. She sounds magnificent.

 

The launch video, again with thanks to the MHR film unit.



Tom

 

What’s the significance of The Rocket headboard? An in house joke perhaps?

 

My photo of the original 'Beachy Head' (the only Brighton Atlantic I ever saw) taken at Norwood Junction shed with a cheap Kodak plastic camera using 127-size roll-film on Easter Saturday 1958 just before doing its last run a couple of days later.

 

Ultimately it is the crew prerogative. I was running foreman on Thursday, so do know the conversation at least - the fireman wanted to go with 'The Edwardian' headboard, but we couldn't find it. So he picked out 'The Rocket'. I guess he had his own reasons, but if so, I don't know what they are. I did say to him "I can't find 'The Edwardian', but there are four or five 'Santa Specials' you could have", but it fell on deaf ears ...

As I recall, 'The Rocket' was one of the pre-packed dining options that was marketed in the immediate come back from Covid in the summer of 2020 and the headboard was from then.

Tom

 

So the pre-packed dining option included a particular salad item?...


Steve B