BR Standard class 6 No. 72010 'Hengist' and Clan Discussion Thread

We currently have many irons in many fires so watch this space!

I don't think the Clan Project can be compared to the Patriot or 6880 projects. Both of those projects are far more advanced than we are and both of the mentioned projects also use pre-existing parts whereas we are manufacturing parts from 100% new material. This is no slight at all on these two great projects just a comparison. The A1 project only really took off when they had assembled frames to show. This will be our biggest milestone.

Last weekend a meeting was held at Ian Rileys (Bury) to discuss and plan frame work and assembly. This also involved an introduction to an engineering company in Manchester who we will be meeting with next week regarding the stretcher machining and other machining work. The first of the combined frame stretchers has been delayed slightly due to the pattern needing to be altered slightly. The pattern is due back at the foundry and we are pushing them to cast and test the first stretcher ASAP. The pattern will then go back to our pattern maker for the second stretcher to be cast and so on for the 3rd frame stretcher.

We are also looking for volunteers to help with assembly and sales stand work. If you can spare a day a month, a day a weekend or even just a few hours it will all help to progress the project. Look our for us in the next edition of Steam Railway (1st March).

As always the latest news can be found on our website or on Twitter.

Dave Etheridge
IT & Website Officer and member of Engineering Committee
The Clan Project

 

I must admit, the 72010 website looks pretty good nowadays.

 

Many thanks. There's still lots more to do yet! The slideshow has grown already this week and will be updated at the weekend.

 

Engineering Achievements
Plenty of work achieved this week.

Some of the frame stretchers in store at Rileys have been shot blasted for NDT testing. No issues are expected but the paperwork is required for certification.
AMRC are chomping at the bit to start machining some of our components and converting the paper drawings held on file into AutoCAD / Solidworks equivalents. The offer to digitise the drawings alone will save us a considerable amount of time and money as most of our suppliers and contractors now require drawings or 3D models in digital format to produce quotes and machine components.

AMRC will also run a dimensional check of the frame extensions using a new laser scanner. This is the beauty of the relationship between the Clan project and AMRC. AMRC gets to test and trial new manufacturing techniques alongside training their apprentices and the project gets the exposure of working with them and machining completed for free (or cost if materials are required).

Steam Railway Article
We are featured in this months Steam Railway. Already we have had a great response both in new memberships, regular donators and continuing coverage of our progress. Many thanks to SR for a great article and welcome to everyone who has joined the project.

Battlefield Line Gala
We will be in the Goods Shed at Market Bosworth this weekend for the Battlefield Line Gala. Come and support the railway and the project, members of the Council of Management and Engineering Committee will be attending on both days.

Website
As usual the latest news can be found on the website (www.72010-hengist.org), on Twitter (@72010hengist) or via our newsletter (subscribe on the website).

 

Good stuff. !

(references to 2-8-2's have been disabled)

 

I see there is physical progress on the stretcher front and a hiccup on the frame plates.
I am really pleased that the engineering crew are taking this job very seriously and making sure that everything is checked and double checked before moving to the next step. Safety and traceability are the key to a successful new build, they are certainly making all the right moves as far as I am concerned. Yes, even if it costs more money!

 

Clan News is now available for download via the website( for a small contribution) for those who cant wait for their information...

As well as progress on new components with this project the process of removing worms from the can is well in hand. The frame plates set back is just that but it will also be a a large and positive step forward for the project as a mainline new build when replaced
They say no publicity is bad publicity but i do wonder what spin the steam mags will put on this...

On a slightly offbeat note we're any of the King arthurs given the Lemaitre treatment by Bulleid ?

 

King Arthur No.755 The Red Knight had the Lemaitre multiple-jet blastpipe and wide chimney . See The Last Steam Locomotives of British Railways
by P.Ransome Wallis ,picture on p.82.

 

Could this be code for the possibility of a Mk. II 'Clan' fitted with Lemaitre equipment? Could be an interesting refinement if so.

 

On a slightly related note: One King Arthur (783 - Sir Gillemere) was fitted with three blastpipes and three squat stovepipe chimneys arranged in a triangle. This wasn't an attempt by OVSB to improve drafting, but instead an anti-aircraft measure, an attempt to make the trail of steam less visible from the air. One reference I have describes it thus: "Result: Steam no less visible, but tunnel roofs much cleaner". The equipment was soon removed.

Photo (not mine) here, about half way down the page: http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/chimney/chimney.htm

Tom

 

For anyone with a bit of time to spare, this is a fascinating website to browse. One of my favourites is the loco with non-circular wheels although the Holman creation comes a close second
http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/polygon/polygon.htm
http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/holman/holman.htm

 

But isnt it the case that driving tyres wear unevenly in any case to a slight Oval hence the need, along with flange/ profile wear, for tyre turning. ?

As for Lemaitre on a clan... Narrow Smokebox, big fat chimney ? nah... but performance wise a King arthur/Jubilee is the baseline...that im sure Hengist improve on

 

It would be cheap, though... you'd only have to weld a dustbin to the top of the smokebox, and you're done!

 

Bugger... and we spent all that money on proper chimney....

 

I know the feeling... Hindsight is a wonderful thing!

 

We are investigating the exhaust system on the Clan. This was one of the improvements BR were looking at before they cancelled the second batch. Going for Lempor / Kylchap may not be prototypical to the first batch but they were considered as were the combined spring hanger and stretcher which we are using. The combined stretcher will provide a stronger frame and also prevent the frame cracking experienced on the Brits and 1st batch Clans.
I don't think Lemaitre will be an option though ;-)

 

Lemaitre would put the smoke deflectors to good use, but its good to see that a fresh look is being made towards addressing some of the pitfalls suffered by the original design.

 

The draughting on the Clans was wrong in the first instance was wrong, 'a try the next blast nozzle down' approach did produce improvement. but this would have done so at the expense of cylinder efficiency .
Without the benefits of a testing station the only way to make an improvent is
a) guesswork/trial and error over a protracted period, or b) recourse to 'Calculations of formidable proportions'
The latter have been applied in relation to exhaust systems for 50 odd now, via Lemaitre, KylChap, Geisl, Kylpor , Lempor without or with Kordina and now Lemprex and beyond.
These are all evoloutions of the same principle and a law of diminishing returns may apply but they represent a continuous imrovement on the original set up.

The opportunity to apply some modification at the build stage just makes good sense especially when this can be in conjunction with the an effective spark arresting system and designed to fit the existing dimensions/ appearance.

I dont think 'TurboClan' is on many peoples agenda, just that the loco is efficient, steams as well is it should have, and doesn't throw its fire up the chimney when worked hard ( which it undoubtedly will be)

 

I am a bit behind with the news, so very sorry to hear the frame plates were wrong in two areas and that replacements will be needed. It is an expensive setback to have to re-order them.

 

Thanks Presmo. It is indeed a set back but not an insurmountable problem. All engineering projects have their issues, Tornado with her frames and cylinders, Patriot with her wheels, 4472 (ok let's not go there!) etc.
It's also fortunate that the defects were found this early on in the assembly rather than later when the frames had been assembled only to find the cylinder alignment issue. We have a great engineering team who are on the ball and we are all determined to create a first class loco for mainline use (the existing frames wouldn't have even passed for 25mph heritage running) that will be reliable and most importantly SAFE!

Dave