Clack Valve mould or pattern

I'm not sure whether this is the best location for this request, but here goes. The railway I am involved with has a Hunslet Austerity O-6-OST which blew one of its clack valves during a steam test a couple of years ago. Since then, we have had the valve 'repaired' by a firm in Southern England who refused to give us any paperwork for the job, and the repair has since been shown to be faulty. We are wondering whether it would be best to get the damaged valve melted down and recast. I am not a loco buff - just the Finance Director - so can't give that much detail. However, I am told that it is the 'fireman's side' valve. Does anyone know where we might be able to borrow a mould or, at least, a pattern so that a mould could be made?

If anyone can tell me, I'll contact one of our engineering guys who can then contact with more detail (he is currently working abroad, but has offered to work on this via email).

Yours

Andy Bowdler

 

Andy,

I'm fairly certain that most will know 'the firm in Southern England' that you have referred to. They are also probably the only ones who can help with a new one although there's a possibility others might have a suitable pattern. I don't think there's much mileage in getting it melted down and re-cast using the metal. It might save you a couple of quid but you'd be even less likely to get any paperwork as to material quality. Might be worth having a word with the Kent & East Sussex Railway; they have had a lot of dealings with Austerities in the past and still do.

 

The Embsay Bolton Abbey Railway run a number of Hunslet austerity engines and you never know what they may have around the workshops. The clack valves are the main feed water valves as you obviously know either side of the boiler. They are non return valves with essentially a loose lid in the valve which the slightly higher feed pressure forces to lift, allowing water to enter the boiler and as the feed press diminishes to less than the boiler press, then that pressure forces it to shut. The sound it makes is a very distinct 'clack' as the valve lid reseats and closes. I am a marine engineer and have lost count of the times the clack reassured me that the boiler feed pump was working satisfactorily. So give Embsay Bolton Abbey a try.

You can see their engines on my blog.

http://steammemories.blogspot.co.uk/

and the EBAR can be found at

http://www.embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk/