Flying Scotsman

I remember seeing 60516 'Hycilla' piloting 60006 'Sir Ralph Wedgwood' from the north into the then Platform 16 at York, in the summer of 1960(?). There is a published photo of this train in the vicinity of Thirsk, which IIRC appeared in the Ian Allan 'Locospotters' Annual' (or similar) of that era.

There were also not infrequent occasions of double-headed A1s between York and Doncaster, in the late '50s/early '60s: The 08:45 Hull - K+, and the 09:15 York - K+ normally combined at Doncaster, and went up to London with the A1 which was on the latter. (The former worked Hull - Doncaster with a Dairycoates D49 or K3.) When both trains were heavily-loaded, they ran separately, and York provided an additional A1 for the ex-Hull train. To get this loco to Doncaster, it double-headed the A1 on the 09:15 from York.

 

[video]http://www.youtube.com/user/davaarx#p/u/6/3RVAV6MwUac[/video]

Probably the nearest we will see of double headed LNER Pacifics.

 

Didn't 60007 and 60532 double head over the S&C together back in the late 90's. More recently (though not on the mainline) 60163 and 4492 double headed on the MHR.

 

They did, May 1998 I think, I was on it. Southbound over the S&C, great fun. Wish I had a sound recording of the climb from Appleby.

 

During the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Preservation Trust AGM in September we had an afternoon with Dick Hardy and Peter Townend. The topic of double heading on the ECML came up. Peter told us that when he wrote his book on Top Shed he asked the civil engineering department why double headed ‘pacifics’ were banned on the route, expecting some concern about Welwyn viaduct or some other structure. After some study the answer came back that they couldn’t find any reason at all. The theory is that when the Gresely ‘pacifics’ were first introduced somebody thought they had better do something because they were so heavy and so the order was made - no double heading of pacifics. This stayed in place for the entire life of the LNER 'pacifics' on the ECML.

Peter made the comment that this curiosity saved the LNER and BR thousands and thousands of pounds, “you only had to look over the wall at St. Pancras to see the amount of money the LM wasted on double heading”.

 

And presumably because Pacifics are strong enough to haul most trains single handedly without too much of a struggle? Although that wouldn't account for why the double heading was banned...

 

HI martin and ralphw , all surface need to be cleaned in all processes of Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI) or Dye Penetrant and X-ray testing for cracks, you can use mag and etch and ultrasound as well, the cheapest one is dye pen, most commen one to use mpi all you need is magnet white spray and magnetic particle spray, we use this on the underground at our depot to test trucks for cracks when a unit goes through HO. FISH7373 SOUTHALL 81C FITTER

 

There was a long held suspicion that the roller-bearing fitted A1's were overweight. I believe that weight savings with a welded boiler brought 60163 back under, certainly she's been weighed for the mainline OK. Did the Civil Engineer turn a blind eye or did no-one tell him? :whistle:

Foxy

 

Engine & Tender 166ton 2cwt compared to 164ton 9cwt for the normal A1s.

 

.....

Those are the all up weights but what about the individual axle loadings? The *unsprung* weight was much more on the bogie wheels and driven axles because of the canon boxes, however 60163 passed its track force tests at the GCR with flying colours, better than 70013 apparently (but then a 3 cylinder engine should!).

Foxy

 

No diagram was ever issued for the roller bearing A1s, but the information I have in front of me says the axle loading on the driving axles was 22 ton 7cwt each compared with 22ton 0cwt on the normal A1s. Incidentially, is there a diagram for Tornado?

 

Good question. I've never seen a weight diagram of 60163 published but someone (Delta Rail?) must have the data. 7cwt for a canon box and the bearings... I wonder!

Foxy

 

Any more updates from Bury?

 

When and as they occur.

 

NRM have scheduled a "press day" for 7th December at Bury.

 

Probally to announce that Mr Osbourne has sold the NRM to Virgin for £1

Now on a serious note, lets hope its good news and that 4472/502/102 will be centre spread back in one piece and in steam