No.18 on test...

No.18 on test…

No.18 was in steam again today to enable Matt to test some modifications to the injector pipework to increase the amount of steam reaching the injectors.  This was successful so he was able to further explore the shy steaming of the loco (reported also to be a feature of it in the 1970s).  With a large fire and a bit of work, it has steamed better, but further changes to the blastpipe and blower arrangement are planned to improve things further (hopefully!).

Below: It is quite strange for Dave (Young) and I, who lived and breathed this engine for so many years, to hand it on, but it has become quite apparent that bringing fresh eyes and expertise to the concluding stages of No.18’s restoration has worked well, as Matt has been able to take what was becoming quite a stagnant project (due to the myriad of other pressures on us – that’s my excuse anyway!) and bring it towards its conclusion very rapidly.  It is also very heartening to see the loco working and hear it sounding very nice (see earlier post on Alan’s patient valve setting session at last year’s Power from the Past event), running in a colliery environment with chalrdon waggons in tow once again (actually just a single shunt to enable us to access the tipper and flat waggon and far easier to do with a loco in steam than using muscle power!).

Here is a single sequence filmed today (on a very battered compact camera) that shows the potential this little engine has in the Colliery, while on test, drawing the waggons into the yard and sounding very well indeed…

Below: A gallery of photos of No.18 around the Colliery while on test.  The injectors are now performing well, but work is still required on the front end (appliance of science as Matt calls it!), including fitting the multi-jet blast nozzle and a revised blower arrangement.  After that there are numerous other jobs to attend to, but more in line with running in and general enhancements. The day allowed the rear safety valve to be roughly set, and a final setting will precede the steam test for the boiler inspector.  Now that we know the engine works, this will take place, all being well, before the September Power from the Past event…

 

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