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GW 2800 and 2884 classes

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by arthur maunsell, May 4, 2009.

  1. arthur maunsell

    arthur maunsell Well-Known Member

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    As far as I know no 2800 was ever retrofitted with the improved cab of the 2884...was there a technical reason for this or was the cab so well built in the first place, it lasted 50 odd years without needing replacement. (probably the latter reason, they after all were GW engines built at Swindon.... :)
     
  2. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    They had a footplate fire iron tnnel on the 2884's that was not fitted to the 28XX, would that have made a difference?
     
  3. captainj0hn

    captainj0hn New Member

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    I think there were some differences in the compensating as well as a lot of 28xx's haveing inside steam pipes.
     
  4. Jimc

    Jimc Part of the furniture

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    The outside pipes were a retrofit that not all got so I don't think that's relevant...

    This got me thinking, and subject to correction I cannot think of any Churchward design that acquired a Collett style cab other than those Stars which were converted to Castles with the extra inches welded onto the frames aft... Plenty of Dean tank engines got later style cabs of course.

    I can't spot my copy of Russell. Do any of you more knowledgeable folk know if the 2884s and the Collett Moguls had frame extensions for the cabs? That would explain things...
     
  5. arthur maunsell

    arthur maunsell Well-Known Member

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    it would wouldnt it...I think you have my answer... =D>
     
  6. Kerosene Castle

    Kerosene Castle Well-Known Member

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    Not 100% sure if they did, at least as far as the 93's were concerned. Will have a look later.
     
  7. baldric

    baldric Member

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    I would guess the reason the cabs never changed is that they were not taken off the engines as there was no need, they are rivetted to the frames and do not need to come off for a heavy general.
     
  8. std tank

    std tank Part of the furniture

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    If the cab is left in position, how is the boiler lifted?
     
  9. 5967

    5967 New Member

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    Cab is bolted together and onto the frames, you just unbolt the front of the cab and the roof - boiler then is a straight lift
     
  10. baldric

    baldric Member

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    I think you will find the cab sides are riveted to the frames, the front sheet and roof are indeed bolted to them, thus no need ot remove the sides.
     
  11. Kerosene Castle

    Kerosene Castle Well-Known Member

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    Some people don't even bother removing the bolts either! :-#

    Having consulted the words, the back end of a 93xx is indeed no longer than that of a 53xx - the size of some Churchward cabs can be deceptive due to the much shorter roof. I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same for the 28xx's.
     
  12. arthur maunsell

    arthur maunsell Well-Known Member

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    would have made sense to have fitted modified font and roof to the sides wouldnt it? especially during the War...oh god Im Uncle Albert now.... #-o
     
  13. baldric

    baldric Member

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    It would have been far easier and cheaper to make the anti-glare screens (blackout screens) and send them to the shed, rather than take the engine out of service to do the work. To change the sides means taking up the floor and removing a hole host of other bits.
     
  14. LesterBrown

    LesterBrown Member

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    Curiously the Churchward locos which did get updated Collett cabs were the large 2-6-2T s (flatter eliptical roofs compared with the original higher vaulted/segmentel ones). Yet there seems no practical reason why the flatter roofs should have been substituted other than to make them look more modern.
     
  15. hassell_a

    hassell_a Member

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    The driving position is actually more awkward on the 2884's than the 2800's. This being due to the the rear cab support on the 2884's making it harder for the driver to lean out around the reverser.

    With the original Churchward cabs, you don't have this problem: http://www.2857.org.uk/images/Hereford1 ... _600px.jpg
     

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