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What's This For?

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by BigBoyFan4006, Jan 16, 2015.

  1. BigBoyFan4006

    BigBoyFan4006 New Member

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    http://www.talyllyn.co.uk/sites/default/files/imagecache/main/img/No.4.2-djm.jpg

    What are the doors on the back of the cab for? Is there not enough space to shovel in coal?
     
  2. marshall5

    marshall5 Well-Known Member

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    I'm more inclined to think that it's so you can use the fire irons and clinker shovel. The Corris engines originally had a large round hole but No 4 has since been modified. Many locos had a smaller hole higher up in the cab back for withdrawing the regulator rod. Hope this answers your question. Ray.
     
  3. Neil_Scott

    Neil_Scott Part of the furniture

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    It is useful for using the clinker shovel but not necessary. It's quite helpful to keep the cab cool on a down train as No.4 can get hot. No.7 has similar doors too.
     
  4. 61624

    61624 Part of the furniture

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    Is it for sweeping the tubes that are inaccessible at the smokebox end because the blastpipe is in the way?
     
  5. BigBoyFan4006

    BigBoyFan4006 New Member

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    That makes makes sense. (Now it seems obvious.)

    I would imagine that opening the doors would make a heck of a lot of difference for the crew. I think No. 3 also has those doors.
     
  6. BigBoyFan4006

    BigBoyFan4006 New Member

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    That could be. They may use a flexible tube cleaner.
     
  7. Neil_Scott

    Neil_Scott Part of the furniture

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    The tube cleaner is just a normal steel rod with a brush on it.
     
  8. BigBoyFan4006

    BigBoyFan4006 New Member

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    Ah, I see.
     
  9. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    As Neil has said, they are there to aid shovelling out the fire. The Corris engines ( 3 & 4) originally had circular ones with a plate that fitted over the hole on the inside. When No.3 was rebuilt in the 1960's the rectangular doors were fitted. I seem to remember fitting them but I could be wrong; it was a long time ago. No.4 followed suit at a later date. Again, as Neil said, they were handy on warm days.
     
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  10. BigBoyFan4006

    BigBoyFan4006 New Member

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    Thanks for the info!
     
  11. lostlogin

    lostlogin Member

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    It is a pet hate of mine the doors being open as I think the sight of a pair of legs through a whole in the back of a cab as an engine appears under Wharf bridge is not the best first impression to give customers. Equally I always tried to keep cab windows shut as it improved the image for the passengers. Why spend time polishing if the first thing you are going to do is open so thay are not seen?

    I reckon the doors are just a simple hangover from Corris or the early TR days before the cabs were enlarged. In those days they may been needed for crew to use a clinker shovel etc but I cannot remember in recent times seeing anybody use a clinker shovel on 3, 4 0r 7. As you will be aware most just use a the loco's own shovel.
     

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