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Steam locos with air brakes

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by 21B, Oct 1, 2015.

  1. Midland Red

    Midland Red New Member

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    John Petley's list of steam locos fitted with air brakes in preservation is really a schedule of steam locos equipped with facilities to haul air-braked stock. Not all these locos are themselves fitted with air operated brakes. 6024 is one such example and there are others.
     
  2. Miff

    Miff Part of the furniture Friend

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    Why not? I'm sure there is no doubt it will be preserved. One could argue it has never had an existence except "in preservation".
     
  3. std tank

    std tank Part of the furniture

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    Class 5 45231 should be added to the list.
     
  4. 26D_M

    26D_M Part of the furniture

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    Through piped only.
     
  5. 3855

    3855 Member

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    what about that brown austerity at Bitton is it wpr 16? Austerity 118 Brussels is also air braked from its days at Longmoor
     
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  6. std tank

    std tank Part of the furniture

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    Ah, I live and learn, ta.
     
  7. andrewtoplis

    andrewtoplis Well-Known Member

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    IOW practice was to run light engine in full release (8 o'clock) rather than in running (12) as you say, because it overcharged the brake so gave a stronger first application. I wonder if this was an IOW quirk, of which there are many, or a Brighton thing as well? I have a copy of the 1903 brake instruction manual which doesn't mention it...
     
  8. 99Z

    99Z Guest

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    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 8, 2015
  9. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

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    I was covering my back because if I included 60163 among the other locos that have been air-braked in preservation, some person would unquestionably have said, "ah, but 60163 isn't preserved as such; it's a new build." One or two people who have posted on this forum don't even appear to regard it as a "proper" steam engine. Quite personally, I don't mind what category you use to describe Tornado. None of the original 49 A1s were saved, the A1SLT have built a fine engine and filled a significant preservation gap. End of story as far as I am concerned.
     
  10. Eightpot

    Eightpot Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    A dozen or so V1 2-6-2 tanks for the GE lines were also fitted with air brake.

    During WW2 a few ex GE B12 4-6-0s allocated for hauling air-braked ambulance trains all over the country were fitted with a device in order for them to be piloted by another vacuum braked loco.
     
  11. 8126

    8126 Member

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    A dozen or so Gresley A1s for the NE area were also built with air brakes, but converted to vacuum as new stock was introduced. It seems they had a similar setup to the GE classes, with an air-braked loco and tender, but the ability to run vacuum fitted trains. This caused some issues with them not being compatible with corridor tenders, which were vacuum only.

    I hadn't heard about the device fitted to the B12s, but the Yeadon volume does briefly mention an "ambulance valve" for compatibility with the trains. I guess that was it.
     
  12. john34077

    john34077 New Member

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    73050
     
  13. Miff

    Miff Part of the furniture Friend

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    K&ESR Terrier no.3 had its air brakes removed and vacuum fitted when it was purchased from the LBSCR in 1901. It managed without air for 105 years until 2006 when it emerged from overhaul with air brakes again so I guess this counts as fitted in preservation.
     
  14. andrewtoplis

    andrewtoplis Well-Known Member

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    Why put the air back on?
     
  15. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    From the point of view of the effective handling of a main line train, air braking is preferable in my view. I know that when steam was everywhere there were drivers who were past masters at handling vacuum but my experience of what happens now when it is WCRC plus vacuum is at times a very tentative affair. By contrast some of the best DBS steam drivers use the air brake to good effect and can adjust speed quite slickly.
     
  16. fish7373

    fish7373 Member

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    Has anyone mentioned the S160 locos FISH7373
     
  17. gwr4090

    gwr4090 Part of the furniture

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    In most cases these locos are equipped to haul air braked trains, but the loco itself (which was the subject of the original question) retains its original braking system, either vacuum or steam. However there are one or two where the loco has been modified and now uses air actuated brakes. I think 46233 and 60009 may be examples ?

    David
     
  18. fish7373

    fish7373 Member

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    Is this air brake cylinder fitted locos . FISH7373
     
  19. cjbarnes5294

    cjbarnes5294 New Member

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    It might well be now, but I'm fairly sure no 9 was like no 7 in that it retained the original Davies & Metcalfe vacuum brake ejector and valve to operate vacuum brakes on the loco and tender, whilst the M8 valve braked an air fitted train and indirectly braked the loco and tender by influencing the vacuum pressure?

    I don't think there are many mainline locos that are straight air fitted, compared to the number that are capable of braking air-braked stock. DoS, Bittern, Tornado and Flying Scotsman are four, is Clan Line another?

    Kind regards,
    Chris
     
  20. fish7373

    fish7373 Member

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    Clan line is not fitted with straight air brakes FISH7373
     
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