P2 Locomotive Company and related matters

JimC found it for Osprey so I'll recognise him at tomo's A1/P2 meeting

 

Boiler design is not straight forward. Wagner had to use rather long tubes on some of his designs so the tube i.d. is larger than one might expect in order to maintain a/s ratios. Closer to home, the Gresley K4 has tubes that are rather short for their i.d. and the a/s ratio is rather less than 1:400. The later V4 had more ideal ratios and was more efficient but it was believed that the lower resistance to gas flow would allow the boiler to recover quickly. So, the hot gases go to atmosphere more rapidly on the Mogul, more heat is wasted, but boiler pressure is just so important, particularly on a design produced for a rather arduous route. Back to the Pacifics, the 50 sq ft grate area engines, the large firebox volume coupled with 17' tube length was criticised because the superheat temperature was disappointing. Complicated these steam locomotives, very complicated.

 

I can quote A/S ratios for these pacifics too, but I doubt many are interested.

 

So could I but further detail is not worth the trouble, those that are interested already know. Others have interests that lie elsewhere.

 

I'd be interested…? Learning being the thing I find most appealing about this forum and have done since I joined. Not going to lie, I may not understand the significance straight away but I'd be happy to learn

 

Not a cat in hell chance...........

 

I'm interested and I don't know.

 

Well...a very interesting day indeed. It's amazing what goes on behind the scenes and we should all be very grateful whatever organisation you support to the dedicated folk who make things happen whatever task they undertake. I just hope I'm around to see my dream....... a P2

 

I had a look round the meeting for you based on your picture which I assume is you..........the only thing that came to mind was....was it you who addressed the room at one stage? I was going to introduce myself wrongly or rightly but you seemed to have disappeared after the meeting closed. Maybe another time........incidentally your, if it was your address, was fascinating.....

 

No, that wasn't me, I was on row 2 near the left hand side. I normally ask something, but I had to dash at the end to make a 5AT mtg in Notts which clashed. Sorry to have missed you.

 

I'm glad you enjoyed the Convention Osprey and Sheff. Thank you for the kind comments, an awful lot of work goes on at every preserved line and heritage group in the UK, with most of it done behind the scenes. It was nice in my case to get up and have a chance to speak at the convention.

 

....even if it was at a rate of a dozen words a second Andy! Superb performance, "The history of the P2 Class in 282 seconds" - a work of genius!

This video was also released at the Convention showing the casting of driving wheels at William Cook Cast Products - all the driving, carrying and tender wheels have now been cast!



Foxy

 

love to Know whats in the red bag that gets chucked into the crucible at 1.18...

 

A Philosopher's Stone?

 

Someone's ashes?

 

That's an interesting thought, I suppose you'd last a bit longer cast in a wheel of a loco rather than just being sent up the chimney of one...

 

I believe the bag lobbed in contains a cocktail of stuff to reduce the formation of slag on the surface of the crucible.

Foxy

 

Correct........