LMS 7F 0-8-0 (Austin 7) steam brake valve

[don9f]

Hi as some of you will know, my current project is to continue the build of one of the “Austin 7” locomotives, that was started a long time ago by an unknown Model Engineer. I am nearly at the painting stage of its newly built Fowler tender and have decided to build the boiler as the next stage.
My aim is to have the backhead and its fittings giving at least a passing resemblance to the real thing....something that thus far, I have never seen a photo of. I’ve no doubt that the backhead was probably very similar to those of such locos as 4Fs, Crabs, S&D 7Fs and so on, but one difference would definitely concern the steam brake valve. The Austin 7s were not vacuum fitted, so wouldn’t have the familiar LMS type of drivers combined vacuum/steam brake valve and I have no idea what their steam brake valve would have looked like!

Any ideas anyone, or suggestions about photos, other reference material etc? Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks    Don

[mbrown]

A very interesting question!

I don't imagine the 7Fs had the old Midland style steam brake valve which was a brass wheel in the centre of the backplate below the regulator.

You would need a definitive photo or drawing to be certain, but some Black 5s and 8Fs had separate vacuum and steam brake valves rather than the usual MR/LMS combined fitting. There are a number of photos in books which show this. The 7Fs might perhaps have had a steam brake valve like those.

I am trying to find out the design of the original Orenstein and Koppel steam brake valve for 99 3462... if my researches throw up any helpful LMS information I will let you know.

Malcolm

[don9f]

Thanks Malcolm, I do have a copy of the General Arrangement drawing and although I can see that the valve is flange mounted to the auxiliary steam outlet from the LH injector steam / clack valve, it only shows a sort of side view with no real detail. It’s arranged like the carriage warming valve on the RH fitting in this photo of a 4F:-



Cheers Don