KESR USA tank No. 65

Just read in Railway Mag that the Kent & East Sussex's USA tank No. 65 has been withdrawn with firebox troubles. Anyone know if it's serious? Fingers crossed for all concerned it's not. Was hoping to see her this summer on a gallavant to Kent, have fond memories of the KESR from days as a sprog when my dad was working on the Channel Tunnel.

 

Put it this way. This is new to us at the KESR!

 

Right. I've just checked with the man in the know, to make sure that I hadn't missed something. The Yank does NOT have firebox issues. The correct position is this. We carried out some improvements to the drafting arrangements, to see if we could get better performance. The parts that we used had basically been "knocked together", rather than formally cast. The simple reason for this was that if the test didn't work, we didn't want to have spent a fortune on a failure! As it turns out, the trials were so successful that the proper castings have been made, and she has been stopped for these to be fitted.

So no panic, she's fine, and will be out this summer.

 

Sorry, didn't want to cause any upset. Glad to hear she's good though, haven't seen a real USA tank for a while. Didn't think she'd been back too long. The RM also mentions that Charwelton is being lined, hope that's right! Dare I hope that I can time a visit to catch Charwelton and 65 at the same time?!?

 

Charwelton is now all lined out and had some test running last week. I think there's a couple of minor issues to correct, then she will be available for traffic. The Gala 1-2-3 May is a good time to visit. On Sat 1st May all the current working fleet should be running plus 2 visitors,a total of 10 locos, one of which may suprise a few people when it's announced!

 

Sounds like a good do, will try and worm out of footplate turns at Marley Hill and see if I can get down.

As for the visitor, I hope it's a little engine, little engines + Tenterden Bank + vintage carriages = great experience!

 

We will also be there for the gala having a stall and meetup, and there is also a National Preservation special running.
More information later....

 

Sounds another great gala coming up, I thought last year's gala was superb and I'm not just saying that because my photo of the P & 01 double-heading was used as the front page picture for the event guide. The whole event from the recreation of the breakdown trains, 32678 on freight and mixed trains, the visit of the 01 and the programme guide was excellent. Now a nice idea for one of the visiting locos, wouldn't it be great if we could see our P class 178 double-heading with you P class 753 in matching liveries.

 

That is certainly a nice idea David but I doubt it will be let out so soon into its ticket.
I can honestly state that last years gala was my most enjoyable gala of 2009, and the line has a lot to live up to this year, but I am sure they will manage it!

 

Forgot to add, am I right in thinking that the Black Yank as our guard called it had some major work, I can't remember what, done to it before last May's event...?

 

Yes, she was coaled. That can take up to three days.....

 

lol...but seriously, he may have said firebox or something? but he did say some major work had been done and they had worked hard to get her fit to run for the gala.

 

There are no issues with the firebox. The major work was the making, fitting and testing of the new "Armstrong" type multi-jet nozzle and blastpipe with associated gubbins. It has transformed the loco from one that was sometimes shy to steam into one that you now can't stop steaming!!
Because some of the parts were fabricated they have been trashed by 9 or so months of running but now the mod has been proved a new kit of parts has been cast and fitted.

 

Ok then, I guess the guard may have been confused last may!
Thanks anyway.

 

There was some work done in the firebox. The Yank now has a sloping grate, a much bigger brick arch and a longer deflector plate

The Armstrong blast pipe was designed in house and fitted in conjunction with a petticoat pipe. As designed the blast pipe was too short, there was no petticoat pipe and the blast from the exhaust didn't touch the inside of the chimney.

To get a heavy train up Tenterden bank used to involve mortgaging the boiler. I'm led to believe that on the first test run she steamed against both injectors on the bank.

I also believe that the vacuum in the smokebox has been doubled by the new blast pipe / petticoat pipe combination.

 

will this modification fit the former eastern block usa's such as the ones at spa valley and the mid hants , or are they fitted with a different blastpipe arrangement anything that improves the steaming of an engine has to be welcomed what if any though are the problems that might be possible over the longer term with the new blastpipe and grate area?

 

Take care, some of our staff come from the home of the terminally bewildered!

 

I suppose that the old dodge of putting a fishplate over the exhaust nozzle to sharpen up the blast is frowned on thesedays?

 

All this makes me wonder why the NRM don't take note and think about fitting 4472 with a single Kylchap exhaust, instead of the double chimney version. Then it could be painted apple green without people (apart from David Wilcock, obviously) complaining too much. Hopefully it would steam better but still have a sufficiently sharp enough exhaust to not need the smoke deflectors.

 

Haven't seen or heard 65 for some time now so I assume the new exhaust arrangements make her sound a bit different to previously.