LE Movements, ECS and Test Runs 2018

It ran tender first from Hellifield after failing at Hellfield .

 

Footage of 35018 on her Ill fated test run .

 

Time to bite their tongue and ask the MNLPS for some guidance !

 

35018 at Clapham Moor

 

SR MN Class 4-6-2 No. 35018 'British India Line' seen east of Bentham going well before problems encountered at Hellifield, Mick Rawling driving and Frank Chippendale on the shovel

 

Cracking shot Shep, looked at that angle once and it works well !

 

Its interesting that when coasting the leak is not present, i'm assuming the driver would keep a breath of steam on to cushion the valves, what ever the problem is, clearly is not an easy one to sort out as the leak is evidently not fixed each time and can't be tested at slow speeds with in the confines of the yard i know how hard it can be to find and mix such problems, and to use the mainline must be problematical i wonder if Carnforth might be better sending it to ELR where it can be ran without smoke deflectors at heritage line speeds with some kind of camera gear to highlight where the leak is and what is causing it, then once fixed ,it can be worked back with some ecs to test it at mainline speeds ?

 

Why send it to the ELR when they could run it to Hellifield and back at heritage railway speeds?

 

I don’t think they need any special camera gear to highlight where the leak is!

As for drifting with steam on, it’s not the only way to drift/coast. Different owning groups prefer different techniques, Scotsman for example around 25% and no regulator.

 

could they rig up cameras on the running plate and around the cylinder and run it without smoke deflector on the mainline? as a means to see exactly where the leak is and stop and examine on an NR line?

 

There are only 5 trains per day in each direction in a 12.5 hour window. Plenty of space and time.

 

Do you really think the source of the leak is a mystery to them!?

I’ll give you a clue - MNs are Outside admission

 

I assume your refering to the valve spindle glands, yes i will admit they are hard to keep steam tight, and the fact that the leak goes away when the valves are closed would make you think its a gland problem, but i don't think its just the glands leaking by

 

Has Olly Cromwell departed from Norwich yet finished work about 25 past 12 tonight (24/2) heard something on the Ely-Cambridge bit of the Mainline, sounded a bit steamy, I didn't have a view of the track though, just wondered if it was a certain Brit making it's way back to Southall? Any ideas?

 

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U52252/2018/03/06/advanced

Diesel or steam turns, seems to be on all week, any ideas?

 

Driver training/route familiarisation for their traincrews maybe?

Dave B

 

The Black 8 was in steam at Carnforth when I passed this afternoon....

 

Ready for some steam shoveage on Saturday banking 45699 up Copy Pit?!

 

Getting ready for Shrewsbury trip on Wednesday?