Since returning from overhaul in September 2005, 6024 has run in excess of 6000 miles, used over 200 tons of coal and over 200,000 gallons of water.! We're still trying to figure out how many tons of eggs, bacon, sausages and mushrooms the support crew has got through..
During the last two runs it had been noticed that a blow was occuring in the steam/exhuast system and so last weekend the loco was in steam to try and locate this problem. Nothing obvious was found as so this weekend both the inside valves were removed and examined. This task was part of our planned maintenance and so would have taken place anyway. With both the outside valves being given new rings only a few weeks ago, it was now time for the inside pair to get some attention. In this picture (click here) Colin Henderson works on removing the valve covers, the associated cladding and platework having already been taken off the engine. You can see in this picture (click here) the left hand bore looks less well lubricated than the right. When we removed the valve, a cracked ring was found on the drivers side inside valve (click here). We're pretty confident that this is the source of the blow problem. In other jobs, our army of cleaners have been hard at it on both the loco and coach, which got pretty dirty after the last run.
I've now added the Performance Logs section to this website. The first entry is the return run of the Torbay Express from the 7th August. Many thanks to Sean Emmett for the log. Hopefully I'll be able to post more runs in the near future.
The gallery has been updated with Martyn Bane's panoramic shots of the loco at Bath on the 7th September.
The loco is now back in Tyseley for it's 12 monthly exam and some maintenance. Updates of what going on will appear over the coming weeks. Some confirmed railtour dates for later in the year have been added to the Tour News. I'll be working on adding more pictures to the gallery section of this website over the coming weeks and also a new "Performance Log" section..
This was our final run for the first 12 months of the loco's mainline ticket and we certainly went out in style. Some great scenery, plenty of hills, smokey tunnels and slick running. It was also the final turn for driver Tony Roseblade who was retiring after this turn. A pleasent mid afternoon departure for once away from Bristol Temple Meads saw us first up over Horsfield Bank and down through Pilning and the Severn Tunnel. Llanvihangel Bank was topped at 32mph after some very wet conditions away from the water stop at Abergavenny. After Worcester we had some great running, espcially past the Severn Valley Railway at Kidderminster. As so to a rousing finish up Old Hill Bank, we arrived at Birmingham Snow Hill some 6 minuntes early.
This was a day too long. Just when we thought the prospect of a 3am start was bad enough, we were woken at 2am in order for the support coach to be attached to the stock in Bristol Temple Meads. The run to Stratford upon Avon went very well, but delays encountered while turning the loco and some impossible timings meant we could never regain lost time on the journey home. Unfortunately, after a prolonged delay at Foxhall Jct near Didcot a Class 66 diesel was attached to front of the train for the rest of the journey in order to try and recover some time. There was no problem with the engine and 24hrs after getting up, we were all crawling back home.
No rest for the wicked as no sooner than yesterdays run was finished then work began ready for Wednesday's trip to Stratford Upon Avon. With the loco moving light engine down to Taunton very early on Wednesday morning (5am off shed), there's not going to be much sleep for those of us on the support crew. No doubt we're all looking forward to being up at 3am.!!
This season's Torbay Express's were signed off in fine fashion with another sterling performance. Plenty of excellent running in both directions, an excellent job by both the Bristol & Newport EWS crews. The climb to Churston on the outward run proved a bit of test, in some attrocious conditions, but with plenty of sand and a lot of willpower the loco made it to the top without the need of assistance. It's been a fine season and we'll be looking forward to next years.
It's a busy week for the engine and support crew with 3 runs in less that a week.! With all the background, prep & disposal work going on you can expect someone to be working on or around the loco for the next 10 days. First up is this Sunday's final Torbay Express for Past Time Rail. Wednesday we have a run to Stratford upon Avon for Pathfinder in association with the Bristol Evening Post. Then on Saturday next the loco heads back to Tyseley via the Severn Tunnel & the Welsh Marches. So, keep and eye out for some tired support crew.!!
