miken
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 480
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Post by miken on Nov 20, 2023 22:36:36 GMT
Quick question: What is the fitting on the backhead, left of regulator please? Thank you for the kind comments. I dont know for certain what the fitting next to the regulator is. I was just trying to copy this picture below. However, There are similar looking fittings on the end covers of the HP and LP cylinders which are lubricators and also on the top of the running board over the HP valve chests. So, i believe its a lubricator that feeds the LP valve chest that is inaccessible because it is buried in the floor of the smokebox. there must be a long pipe through the boiler to reach it. Also, The L&NWR were apparently famous for not liking spending money. Their steam turrets and injector clack valves were made from iron. You can see that I made mine from bronze and then tinned them with soft solder to dull them down. The locomotive in the old photo, although it shows a typical standard L&NWR backhead layout is not actually a Dreadnought class. It has a slightly different style of regulator handle to mine. I like the big gauge glass protector with the diagonal lines behind which I have tried to copy. Also note the push-button blow down on the sight glass. Mine is a dummy but I have fitted a remote push down blow down fitted unobtrusively to the footplate floor. Its the shiny lever under the fire door which is actually used for something else (i know not what) on the full size machine. Also, Note the wonky number "5" engine shed plate on the back of the cab roof on the old picture. I couldn't bring myself to do it like that and decided to put my one on straight.
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mbrown
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,719
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Post by mbrown on Nov 21, 2023 7:31:29 GMT
Utterly superb work. I am also sure that your Renault thread will give lots of inspiration to loco builders as well as tank enthusiasts - some fascinating techniques on view already.
I believe the lever under the firedoor on many LNWR locos was to operate the blow down valve.
Best wishes
Malcolm
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Post by ettingtonliam on Nov 21, 2023 17:37:59 GMT
I've got a book called 'Bashers Gadgets and Mourners', which is 'The Life and Times of the LNWR Coal Tanks' published by the Bahamas Locomotive Society, who are the custodians of the sole remaining LNWR 0 6 2 Coal Tank. The book contains several drawings of the doorplate and its fittings, starting in 1881. This shows the operating handle for the blowdown valve projecting just above the footplate, directly under the firehole. There is a fitting to the left of the regulator labelled as 'lubricator'. The text explains that this was for cylinder lubrication, the oil being fed, via an internal pipe to a connection on the main steam pipe in the boiler at the base of the regulator valve, and was carried to the cylinders in the oil supply when the regulator was open. They seem to have been in conjunction with other lubricators, as there are various references to lubricators on the cylinder covers, on the side of the smokebox and in the cab.
The drawings for 1891 and 1914 still show the lubricator and the blowdown valve handle.
By 1926, in LMS days, the lubricator had gone, being deemed of no benefit, the hole in the doorplate being opened up to form an additional washout plug. The blowdown valve handle is still shown.
From 1932 onwards the LNWR type blowdown valves were been removed, having been deemed 'of very little use' by the LMS, and later replaced with automatic blow down valve, mounted below the regulator. Around this time, also, Midland type displacement lubricators were fitted on the drivers side of the cab.
Anyway, in summary, late 19thC LNWR practice seems to have been a cylinder lubricator on the doorplate to the left of the regulator, and a blowdown valve operating lever just above the cab floor, under the firehole.
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weary
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 290
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Post by weary on Nov 21, 2023 18:20:26 GMT
Hello Mike,
Really impressive work and a tribute to your skills.
I'm afraid that I have a question about the two levers on your steam turret: Are they 'pull' to open, or 'push' to open, please? And what sort of angle do they move through? (I ask as I will be facing fitting similar valves sometime in the future.)
Regards,
Phil
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miken
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 480
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Post by miken on Nov 21, 2023 20:43:15 GMT
Hello Mike, Really impressive work and a tribute to your skills. I'm afraid that I have a question about the two levers on your steam turret: Are they 'pull' to open, or 'push' to open, please? And what sort of angle do they move through? (I ask as I will be facing fitting similar valves sometime in the future.) Regards, Phil Hello Phil, They are pull to open. Steam pressure holds them close. They carry a Viton O-ring 3/32" ID-7/32" OD and the lever moves about 40 deg. They were designed by a clever fellow club member who built a 5" LNWR Jumbo If you pm me I can probably send you a dimensioned drawing. They work well. The funny thing is; The photos shown here were taken about a year ago. Since then I discovered that of all the different locomotives used by the L&NWR, the "Dreadnoughts" (and possibly the "Experimental" class as well) were the only locomotives that DID NOT actually use lever injector valves. I have since replaced them with more correct wheel valves.
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Post by suctionhose on Nov 21, 2023 22:06:57 GMT
The cab reproduction is great as is the old photo! Shame about the lever valves - they were a wonderful feature in your model! Looks like a vacuum brake control (?) lurking in the shadows left of turret... Thanks for the info on lubricators.
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Post by David on Nov 26, 2023 11:26:19 GMT
That's pretty special, love it!
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