Water Level Tanks / Tender

[GWR 101]

I was just wondering if apart from the obvious looking in the top anyone has incorporated a sight glass to monitor the water level in the tanks or tender. It may be that this is not an issue in most cases but as the tank capacity on my loco appears limited I am feeding them from the drivers trolley which will probably be higher than the engine so over fill could possibly be an issue.

Thanks in advance. Paul

[jma1009]

hi paul,

by all means add a water level (like a gauge glass) to the tank in the cab or a fold up lid if it extends a way into the cab. actually i find this isnt too much of a problem in practice... after a bit of experience driving you tend to know when the tanks or tender will need topping up same as if a mechanical lubricator is fitted and needs regular re-filling. tenders are easy re water level and a gauge is pretty useless as you cant see it from the driving position.

if you fit a gauge to the one of the side tanks, remember to stiffen locally the brass in that area or add silver soldered bushes.

cheers,
julian

[GWR 101]

As always many thanks Julian, my intention was to be able to fill the engine tanks from the drivers trolley whilst on the run. As the main reservoir would be higher than the side tanks my concern was judging the water level and not overfilling so a gauge glass in the cab would seem to be the best idea. Regards Paul

[robinw]

Sounds like a good idea to me. Though, if your water tanks were air tight with the caps on you could permanently have the water tank on the trolley connected to your side tanks when running. as the water is used more is sucked through into the side tanks. Just an entirely random thought… and maybe entirely impractical…

R.

[Deleted]

I agree with Julian you will probably get used to how much water is being used, certainly on a track that you use often and it's very easy to just lift the filler lid to see what water you have. I do have a working water gauge fitted to 4472's tender as per Don's drawings and also following the LNER prototype....and better still I will be able to read the water level while driving or should I say feel it, but to be honest looking into the filler neck will probably be my preferred method unless i'm demonstrating the various working parts of the loco which knowing me is very likely....

Pete

[smallbrother]

I think it is better/sensible to top up every chance whether needed or not.

You never know if there might be a queue or a broken tap and you have let the tank get low because it was OKish last lap according to the gauge.

Might give you a false sense of security is my take on it.

Pete.

Pete.

[NickM]

Pete,

Since passing 50 I find it sensible to apply the 'don't miss an opportunity' principle to emptying my own tank, if you get my drift!

Regards

NickM

[GWR 101]

Hi all thanks for your thoughts / suggestions. Robin although I think your idea is a novel suggestion I would have concerns regarding sealing the tanks particularly as one has access to the hand pump. There is also the problem of the main tank feeding the injector so pressure or lack of it may be an issue. However it would be an ingenious and automatic system.

Pete and Pete I will probably go with this as the right hand tank which extends into the cab has an observation lid so that the pump bypass feed can be viewed so this would serve the dual purpose.

Pete and Nick, yes "the don't miss an opportunity" is a sound principle and I recall my grandfather expounding the virtue of this when he suddenly found whilst out riding that he needed water for the tank feeding the acetylene lamp on the front of his motorbike, if you get my drift!

Regards Paul