Don Young ball and spring drain cocks

[davewoo]

I wondered if anyone who has old copies of M.E could confirm something for me, I'm trying to find a Don Young article in M.E regarding his ball and spring drain cocks, I made some years ago for my Simplex and they worked very well, but were rather near the track and were wiped out in a ground level track derailment!. I have fitted remote ones to it now hidden between the frames, but want to make a set for my latest loco (Springbok) which has lots of clearance above the track.Having searched the net and the online indexes the date I have is 21 Nov 1969, but it is contradicted by another index that states the article in that issue is on Maid of Kent valvegear mods. I've bought a few old M.E's on Ebay that I believed were the right ones, interesting reading but nothing on cyl drains!  I'd be really grateful if someone could check please, I've seen these fitted to a few engines but don't know if they were featured on the drawings of any of Dons designs. I think the article was a stand alone, seem to remember I was given a single page photocopy that they were made from, thanks. Just want to get the right copy as I'm starting to build a library of the wrong ones.

Hopeful Dave

[johan]

I can confirm there is an article "Maid of Kent revisited" by Don Young in the 21 Nov 1969 issue (number 3381) and it shows some spring loaded draincocks. However I have no idea if that is what you are looking for

[davewoo]

Thanks Johan
That would make sense I only ever had the one page so didn't realise it was in an article on M.O.K, I'll order a copy. Thinking on it would make sense as the person who copied the article for me built and ran a Maid, an absolute flier.

Thanks again
Dave

[davewoo]

Just wanted to thank Johan who emailed me a copy of the page I needed, the drawings are indeed in the ME for 21 Nov 1969 as part of an article on Maid of Kent.

Dave

[oldnorton]

Hello Dave

Glad you have found the page you wanted, but could you give a bit more information regarding how these drain valve operate please. When you say 'ball and spring' are they an automatic valve that responds to water being present, or is there an actuating system to lift the ball off its seat? Interested myself.

Thanks
Norm

[davewoo]

Hello Norm

These are not automatic, it does need an operating system, the basic idea is a small spring holds the ball against a seat and a pin pushes the ball off the seat much like a whistle valve operates. I found a couple of loco's on the net with them fitted on Station Road Steam's site there is Don Youngs LNER k1/1 which has them fitted, much clearer to see than any description that I could write! If they are of any interest PM me your email address and I can forward the drawing, it is only of the valves and a brief note on the operating bar. I found them easy to make and very reliable until they ended up broken off in the ballast! My previous attempt making taper plug cocks which these replaced was not my finest hour, either leaking or seizing, sometimes both!
Dave
I also found a few pictures of three of them fitted to each cylinder of DY's Black 5's it may be that Don specified them on his drawings, I presume the centre one is a steam chest drain.

[oldnorton]

Ha, you beat me to it with the Black 5 connection!

I am back to constructing my Don Young Black 5 and currently building the bogie. It has been a few years since I last looked at the cylinder block drawing and so after asking you here I thought that I better take a look and see what was specified for the drain cocks.

DY does show 'his' ball and spring cocks but suggests that the builder buys them from him! and gives no further detail. Made me laugh and I copy the drawing part here.

Yes, from your description and what I can see here I know I will build the same for my cylinders. Lifting a ball off a seat will be better than trying to get the 70-90 degrees rotation from a taper cock, and I like DY's idea of a spring wire push and pull inside a sheath outer. I am used to Bowden cables with motorcycles.

I have sent you a PM.

Norm

[davewoo]

Hopefully this should be the drawing for the Don Young valve bodies, there's very little description in the article, but with Norm's drawing above should give a good idea of how they are fitted and work. I found the only available from Don Young bit quite amusing too, bit of a cheek putting that on a drawing he's just sold you!

Dave

[tenor]

Neville Evans did a similar design for some of his GW designs, in Muddle Enginerr. Is it Polly models that do a lost wax casting for the bodies?
Martin