Heritage - Rail - News

Not your usual day Flugel

1st  August 2007

Not usual? Well, we had smoke from the loco shed blowing in all day. We were to provide a very special steam hauled train later in the day, hence the light up and of course the wind was in off the sea wasn't it! Some of that timber they use for lighting up is none to friendly to the nostrils either. Anyway, we were in steam by the end of the day as we shall see.............

Here we have a pile of leg spindles for the seats in 'A222' I presume. (I haven't actually asked!)

Mike and I spent most of the day doing battle with the compressor for 'F13'. This is how it was at the beginning of the day and I didn't take one at the end.

At the end of the steam cylinder there is a rod that goes down a long drilled hole in the piston rod The depth of the hole is slightly less than the length of the stroke. Therefore the rod gets moved a measured amount at the end of each stroke. On the end of the rod is a valve that admits steam to alternate ends of a shuttle valve, which normally sits with balanced pressure at either end. With the admission of steam from the valve, to one end of the shuttle, the balance is upset and the valve moves one way or the other. In the middle of the valve is a slide valve that operates over steam ports in much the same way as we have seen with 'F13' cylinders, thus sending steam to alternate ends of the piston and driving the compressor piston below it either up or down. That is an oversimplified account, but it will serve. Here you see the steam valve sitting on the rod with the port faces uppermost. The very near end of the rod is carried on a bronze guide hole in the cylinderhead casting. For the clever ones amongst us who already know, you will see that we have arranged the piston to carry the rod in the piston by rotating it to have the exit hole at the top, thus allowing us to run the pump in the horizontal position.

Close up of the valve portface showing the bleed holes to relieve pressure during travel. Again for the smart cookies, the valve has yet to be cleaned and oiled before assembly!



Swing to the right and we see Bob the builder trial glazing one end of the 'L' wagon. (Glazing? Stops the engine smuts getting on m'ladys clothing!)

Where's Roger? Doing the new paling fence seen here. This scene is really coming together well. That workmans hut is really looking the part now.

Now back to the assertion in the beginning and late in the day, that special steam run. Here's 'W192', asthmatically wheezing forward ever so quietly, having been awakened from her (?) slumbers and like Snow White, still very drowsy after a long sleep. Steam oozes from her many joints as she begins to warm through. (Please excuse the prosaic licence!)

An unusual view of Moorhouse Station, with Dave Hansen and Sir Colin (guard for the occasion) having a chat as they await a run past with the 'W'. See that baggage trolley on the left?

Complete with period luggage even.

Now for the trial run. 'W192' working hard as it gathers in its skirts. (More nonsense!)

Seconds later and the fire has been emptied out the stack and the brakes will arrest the progress as the throttle is closed. Excellent viewing and listening.  Why such a short run? That level crossing is not yet finished as we saw! Cheers,  'K'.