Tony K
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,572
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Post by Tony K on Aug 17, 2019 7:57:35 GMT
I went to my Speed Awareness Training yesterday. Pete. My course was better than I expected. I did learn something, although I can't remember what! Seems to be a haven for out-of-work driving instructors and retired policemen to work as hosts. Although not an expert myself, I was surprised at the lack of knowledge of some of the attendees. The other surprising thing was how close to the limit some of the offenders had been - 3mph at 30 in one case. Of course, there was the usual smart-a**e, who, having seen a short film through a village, noted a dustbin lorry might be around the corner, especially as the bins were untidy and therefore the lorry had passed by. Who the hell thinks of that while they are driving along listening to Tony Blackburn? Presumably the same kind of person who wears driving gloves and knows if you lose all four nuts when changing a wheel, you should use a nut off each of the other wheels and limp home - who the hell loses all four wheelnuts - and do they deserve to get home? All that said, I did think it was useful and nowhere near as boring as I had thought it would be.
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Post by simplyloco on Aug 17, 2019 8:09:43 GMT
My course was better than I expected. I did learn something, although I can't remember what!
SNIP All that said, I did think it was useful and nowhere near as boring as I had thought it would be. Agreed! Even though the offence (36mph) occured on my way to SSME on a quiet sunny Sunday morning on the main dual carriageway into Southampton in my old SL500, top down, and I'd just gone through the fixed cameras at 30 mph... John
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Post by springcrocus on Aug 17, 2019 8:19:41 GMT
Similar to John, I got picked up by a GATSO in Southampton doing 35mph on a dual carriageway with a 30mph speed limit. I was offered a driver awareness course in Southampton instead of the statutory fine but told them to shove it and paid the fine! It was cheaper than loss of working hours and two lots of ferry fares. Steve
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Post by ettingtonliam on Aug 17, 2019 9:25:57 GMT
You don't get points on the licence if you do the course though do you? And what do points mean? No, not prizes, just no licence if you get enough of them. Don't ask how I know.
A friend of mine did the Advanced Drivers course a few years ago, and working out that the presence of bins meant bin day, and untidy bins meant the bin wagon might be around the next corner was just the sort of thing they were expected to take into account.
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Post by simplyloco on Aug 17, 2019 9:37:39 GMT
You don't get points on the licence if you do the course though do you? And what do points mean? No, not prizes, just no licence if you get enough of them. SNIP Points means insurance premiums can increase too!
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Post by springcrocus on Aug 17, 2019 11:17:11 GMT
You don't get points on the licence if you do the course though do you? And what do points mean? No, not prizes, just no licence if you get enough of them. SNIP Points means insurance premiums can increase too! It didn't for me, and the points are gone after five years. Very careful around Southampton nowadays, the council use the speed cameras as a cash cow. Steve
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Post by ettingtonliam on Aug 17, 2019 12:10:51 GMT
They don't actually count after 3 years, its just that its 5 years before you can have them taken off your licence, counting from the date of conviction, not the date of the offence.
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timo
E-xcellent poster
Completing 3 1/2 Rainhill .Building 5" Railmotor and waiting to start 3 1/2" King
Posts: 234
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Post by timo on Aug 17, 2019 15:17:52 GMT
Well, have managed a little time in the workshop yesterday and today after a couple of weeks of 'life'. I had another look at the tailstock on the Myford and did some measurements. Turns out that because of wear to the base it was pointing up slightly (6 thou high at full extension). Stripped it down, cleaned it and scraped the bottom so that it was a lot flatter. Then reasassemled it and used precision shim stock (beer can) to pack between the base which slides along the bed and the main tailstock casting. Got it to within a thou now . Tried a centre drill and then a 4mm drill in an odd bit of MS and wey hey it didn't do a little dance before it drilled - I can now drill holes from the tailstoch with some confidence that they may be near the correct size rather than miles out. I also took the time to stone down the morse tapers on the centres and drill chucks. The other day I poked a reamer down the barrel so now things are working a lot better.
I also removed the cross slide and cleaned some congealed oil from one of the ways - that got rid of the sticky feeling that had crept in.
Finally did a little more reassembly on the Tauco drill - its starting to look a bit more like a drill press and less like a dead tree.
All in all a god couple of sessions and I can start back on the locos.
Tim
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2019 15:42:15 GMT
Today I've given the workshop a good clean out finding a number of items that I forgot I had. Tomorrow I'll strip down the lathe and mill, both seem to have an awful lot of play on both axis, I'm hoping it's just the leadscrew nuts that need tightening.. fingers crossed. Back to two of today's re-discoveries, first up is this very nice pressure gauge. At some point (soon) I really do need to sort out some type of testing boiler with a high enough rating for testing all of the boiler fittings I'll hopefully begin making some time end of next year, I think this gauge fitted to a nice piece of wood will do nicely, I may see if I can get it calibrated first. Next item is this tapping tool, I've never used this, perhaps because I'm not sure how it works? If anyone has one and can explain to me it's workings I'd be very happy, it's an MT2 taper, so perfect for my mill. Cheers Pete
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Post by delaplume on Aug 18, 2019 16:52:02 GMT
Hi Pete, I used these day-in, day-out at the SVR when employed as a Contractor..... Have a look at this}---------- youtu.be/r1rZ_M1Qnys
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Post by delaplume on Aug 18, 2019 17:19:46 GMT
just to give you an idea}------Black 5 tender axlebox Phos-Bronze rubbing plates to fit onto new body castings......from memory approx 24 off x M 15 countersunk screws per plate = 48 screws per single axlebox = 288 screws for tap drilling then 288 for tapping in total !!....and you are on a bonus job as well !!
As per the film once you have it set up re}--- tap torque required you can drill down and tap...if it bottoms out in a blind hole it will automatically reverse and come out.....If its' an open hole then you just stop pushing down on the drill handle and reverse and the tapper will automatically reverse the tap and you can withdraw it.......
You'll notice that the tap is held in a flexible coupling which means you don't have to be too fussy about centering......You will have put a countersink in after drilling the tapping hole so jusst visually align the tap with that countersink and press down with the autotapper doing the rest for you...........
DO MAKE SURE THE TORQUE REACTION ARM IS PRESSING AGAINST THE DRILL OR MILL MAIM VERT COLUMN AND NOT FLAPPING AROUND FREELY........
Give yours a good clean up and try practice tapping some 5mm holes in Mild Steel in blind and open holes........Tapping fluid or paste as per usual...
I had use of a main workshop Asquith radial drill and with the axlebox clapmed to the table it was a doddle to earn some bonus £££ !!!
Alan
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2019 17:24:04 GMT
Hi Pete, I used these day-in, day-out at the SVR when employed as a Contractor..... Have a look at this}---------- youtu.be/r1rZ_M1QnysThank's Alan, looks simple enough...I should have made use of this before when tapping those hundreds of holes in the frames...lol I'll have a play with it and see if it's still working properly, might need a little TLC first... Cheers Pete
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Post by cplmickey on Aug 18, 2019 18:23:09 GMT
It didn't for me, and the points are gone after five years. Very careful around Southampton nowadays, the council use the speed cameras as a cash cow. Unless Southampton are different to others then I suspect they don't see any of the money. The fines are handled by the Police or local "safety partnership" and the only money the council get will be to pay invoices for maintenance or install new cameras. And the rules are quite strict for where new cameras can be sited in order to avoid the "cash cow" allegations. Having just retired from the traffic section of a council I know just how many residents ask for speed cameras on a monthly basis and we had to say no to the majority of them because the site didn't meet the criteria. Ian
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Post by delaplume on Aug 18, 2019 19:50:22 GMT
I used to belong to The National Auto Cycle and Cyclemotor Union which specialises in ancient or pre-war peddle and pop machines of varying mechanical health...............Whilst out on club rides we would deliberately target a speed camera on a slightly down hill section such that we could pass it at 35mph and thus qualify for a Government sponsored Certificate ( Speeding Ticket ) categorically stating that our bike / bikes were faster than the manufacturers registered max of 30mph ...This was followed by an invitation to "Go to the Station"..No, not the Railway kind.........eventually all was put to rights in the best possible surroundings ( a warm Courtroom )..........Alas it never came to pass...
Average age of rider ??
65 !!!!
Heavy Metal Thunder ( For the late Peter Fonda )
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dscott
Elder Statesman
Posts: 2,437
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Post by dscott on Aug 19, 2019 1:26:43 GMT
SUNDAY. Exceeded the speed limit behind 2 Dean Goods working to the limits on the last train of the day round the Garden. Rain was forecast but we braved it and a perfect afternoon rolled on. King and Saint on the other train.
An expert on The Great Bear is needed to work out where the regulator is meant to go? We had a ponder in the Workshop! Question. "Where do you take your Wife when not visiting the local Railway Club?" Easy to other Railways and Clubs!
David and Lily.
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Post by GWR 101 on Aug 19, 2019 7:48:31 GMT
Yesterday whilst at the club we had a visitor from Australia, Sydney Live Steam Locomotive Society (S.L.S.L.S). Spent a pleasant hour discussing all things model railways, he was particularly interested in our multi gauge elevated track. Showed him round the site including a viewing of our nearly finished 7 1/4" L&B, he seemed fairly impressed. Regards Paul
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Post by delaplume on Aug 19, 2019 9:05:24 GMT
Sat. 17th August saw Joyce and I visiting the Appleby Froddingham Heritage Railway in Scunthorpe, Lincs..........which runs on the tracks of the Scunthorpe steel mill's inner distribution railway... Have a look at this}----- www.heritage-railways.com/afrps.php --- We were there to meet a good friend of mine Mr.John Dunn of John Dunn Engineering ( He does a lot of contract work for me on The Bear and others..),, Have a look at this}--- en-gb.facebook.com/johndunnengineering/The afternoon started off with us having missed the site tour afternoon departure ( Duff sat. Nav info !! ) from the Car Park platform so a cab ride in a YORKSHIRE 0-6-0 diesel shunter was arranged ........ These have a Rolls Royce diesel engine at either end and are rated at 400HP...........
This took us to the Buffet Coach where tea, coffee and food were gratefully consumed......It turned out that we had overtaken the tour train and were thus first to trough as it were !!.................Eventually the tour train arrived and whilst its' passengers enjoyed their tea etc., John gave us a personal tour of the Heritage Locomotive Workshops with various steam and Diesel locos undergoing light repairs or full 100% restoration.. Departure time saw Joyce and myself now joining the tour train and 45 mins later we were back at the Car Park platform having seen around about 75% of the internal railway and all the various parts of the steel making process.......Incidentally the train consisted of a 2-car DMU set being top and tailed by a YORKSHIRE 0-6-0 Diesel shunter at one end and a Barclay 0-6-0 at the other....... So it's a big "Thank you" to both John Dunn and also the friendly and very cheerful staff at Appleby Frodinham Steam Railway............. ---- www.afrps.co.ukAlan
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Post by delaplume on Aug 19, 2019 9:39:14 GMT
SUNDAY. Exceeded the speed limit behind 2 Dean Goods working to the limits on the last train of the day round the Garden. Rain was forecast but we braved it and a perfect afternoon rolled on. King and Saint on the other train. An expert on The Great Bear is needed to work out where the regulator is meant to go? We had a ponder in the Workshop! Question. "Where do you take your Wife when not visiting the local Railway Club?" Easy to other Railways and Clubs! David and Lily. Have a look at this}------------
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timo
E-xcellent poster
Completing 3 1/2 Rainhill .Building 5" Railmotor and waiting to start 3 1/2" King
Posts: 234
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Post by timo on Aug 19, 2019 11:06:53 GMT
Although I did this some three weeks or so ago, I have just come across the pictures on my phone and I thought the setup used may be of interest (I claim no originality ).
The set up was used on the main bar of the tramming head I constructed (previously reported on this thread). This needed 5 holes along it's length, one in the middle for the main support bar and four more, two each side, for placing the dial guages. Each of the dial gauge holes needed cross drilling and tapping for a grub screw.
The bar was set up on the milling machine on two V blocks which had been clocked square. An odd piece of angle was used as an end stop on the left hand end. Please ignore the clamping straps - over the years odd bits of MS have been drilled and pressed into service and I haven't got around to replacing them! You can see that the central hole has been drilled and that the four positions for the dial gauge holes have been roughly marked. The DRO was used for the final postioning of the holes having been zeroed at the centre. You will notice the funny bit of Aluminium on the right hand end.
In order to make sure the cross drill holes were a) the same distance from the centre as the main holes and b) actually at 90 degrees, I superglued a bit of scrap ally plate to the end of the bar. I then ran an end mill across the top and along the front creating a 90 degree reference.
In use, the main hole was drilled. The straps were then loosened and the bar rotated so that the top squared face was now at 90 degrees to the table surface using a square (no I didn't clock it as it wasn't that critical) and that the bar was still snug against the left hand end stop. The straps were then tightened and the hole drilled and tapped.
Once drilled and tapped, the reverse took place, the milling head was moved to the position of the next hole and so on. After all drilling the bar was removed and the plated knocked off - the cheap superglue obviously wasn't that super - but it saved having to cook things up.
All in all the setup worked well and will be used in the future when required, scaled appropriately.
Tim
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baldric
E-xcellent poster
Posts: 208
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Post by baldric on Aug 19, 2019 11:39:32 GMT
Have a look at this}------------ Interesting picture, a few things I noted Gauge frame shut-off handle extended to the left, was that standard at the time? I have not seen it before. Any idea what the item to the left of the bottom of the gauge frame is? What is that above the lubricator? It looks like another lubricator! I note that there is no jockey valve for the lubricator, I assume that the box above the Firehole door is associated with the lubricator, but again any ideas as to what it does? No steam heat gauge, did you rely on the guards one? Also of note how un-cluttered back-head is and the wooden cab roof, which I understand was normal for the period. Baldric.
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