Hi all.

Now, with time on my hands, progress can seriously rebegin on the pannier tank!

Right, bit of background. In 2010 we bought this fully built but almost totally unpainted pannier tank from a dealer.

Really it was a bit of a catch. We had just sold our part built winson Britannia (a battle in itself!) and we always wanted a pannier, the LT connection being evident!

So we purchased it, had it on a rolling road, and apart from a few niggles, all seemed well. So, into the workshop, took tanks, cab, boiler off to get at the water pumps, and fix them, they were not pumping sufficiently, making getting water in the boiler a little difficult. While it was this far down, we took the time to investigate the valve gear. We knew we'd have to reset it a bit, but what we had was perhaps a partially set gear set with eccentrics all over the place. To be honest it was a miracle it ran at all! We also wanted to do some mods to make it to the Don Ashton/Doug hewson valve gear, which improves valve events and therefore steam efficiency. It basically went down to rolling chassis, and the mods we made. We then went to air test it, what we thought was a pin on the rocker shafts sheared and it was put on the shelf, lacking enthusiasm for about 6 months.

Until last week. With exams finished and the 4 coaches we said weren’t going to be built till after the pannier have been completed, the project was restarted!

So, with my newly found freedom, I set to work. First job, take the motion plate had to be dropped out. Now I’m sure this is true on many other locos but basically a pannier tank to the Pansy Design is a pain in the neck. Everything has to be done in a certain order, as I have found to my cost several times! The wheels have to out to get at the bracket or even the reversing gear for that matter, because the wheels are in the way! So, down to bare frames it was. We had done some modifications to the cylinder block during the last blitz, new piston rings and countersunk bolts in the covers so this could stay in. Plus it adds strength to the frame and keeps it square when the motion bracket and frame stretcher aren’t in.

The motion bracket was removed and the offending rocker was found to be only grub screwed to the shaft, no sheared pin hooray! It was also found that the previous owner had drilled for pins but never put them in, but had reassembled anyway. So, pins were made, with the holes opened out slightly, and the bracket was reassembled, both rockers being fixed. These will be Loctite-d when it comes to panting. We haven’t painted at this stage because of many potential adjustments that may be needed, but it could be done now.

All the valve gear were taken to the drawings and compared for length, and we were very pleased to find this man was a pretty good machinist! Everything dead on. It was also at this point I found out the valve gear wasn’t to the published pansy Stephenson valve gear designs (which leave a little to be desired) but to the improved designs. Oh Joyous day! So everything was assembled back together, wheels dropped back in.

Now, I expected everything to be a little tight when first running because many joints would be dry of all. But not this tight. And what was more the valve gear seemed to have developed a strange rear bias, meaning the mid position of the valve gear was quite far forwards. Back to the drawing, but everything seemed well. Pieces were assembled again, and yet again the bias is there. I must confess to still not knowing its cause yet, but that’s for a future post. All it means that mid gear has the expansion links are quite a way down on the die blocks, for those technically minded.

However the tightness was fixed when a second set of eyes entered the workshop, and noted the centre axle was in upside down! Oil pots were pointing down. Ah well. Strip down again, and turn the axle over. The strip allowed me to confirm what I thought as well, the right hand cylinder is a little stiff, hopefully will loosen with time and steam oil.

Currently I am consulting with a friend on the valve gear issue. I have a feeling it may be to do with the position of the reversing lever and the rack for it, the pansy isn’t different drawing wise to the ashton valve gear, but that to me is a likely solution, that and the lifting arm/links that we replaced.

Other than that, so far things are pretty good. While this was all going on I drilled the oil wells and channels in the top of the axleboxes on the centre axle yesterday. After reassembly it was back to square one really, today I made a start on some springs over the top of the valves in the chest below the cylinders. These stop the valves dropping off the port faces when stationary, which require a heavy hand on the regulator to shut when starting otherwise. I am still pondering this, most likely a brass strip over the buckles and a small spring or more likely phosphor bronze strip to keep everything pushed down. Sorry no photos of that.

The next job is I’m probably going to strip and paint. Other than that valve thing, I am otherwise happy with it. So its paint the last pair of wheels. Pain the frames, black on the outside, buffer beam red inside up to the frame stretcher and black all the way back from that. New coat of red on the buffers and beams. All the motion will mostly be left bright, there seems to be variations in prototype panniers, but because it’s more cramped than a full size one, it’ll probably be left oiled steel.

The coupling rods are all distinctively red (unlike to my disappointment the tyseley pannier!) with the bearings outlined in black. In case anyone is interested, the shade of red we use is Volkswagen Gambia Red from Halfords!

To other matters. The trailer is being built for the coaches, and adaption and extension of a standard Erde trailer. I haven’t any pictures, but it involves a system of using rods through all the coaches and the side of the trailer to support them, meaning they cannot go anywhere, and it should take far less time to pack away at runs! I haven’t my camera with me so I’m afraid photos will wait till it’s finished.

For the benefit of Pannier tank, few shots of one of the 3 or 4 reasonable regular 08s, this one resident at the Lindsey society track in Lincolnshire, possibly the most railway like track, and one of the smallest as well!

Finally a few more shots of echills wood event last weekend, thanks go to Mark Franklin for letting me use his pictures.

On of a pair of black 5s that day is seen on the approach to the level crossing i think...

Mike (Dinmore Manor) on the GW Hall over the station/yard level crossing.

A rather nice Blue Duchess visiting, an engine that probably for springing reasons in wet weather was a little light on its feet! I beleive Mike did several laps acting as banker for it!

A BR B1, an engine that my my grandfather (who built the T1 seen last post) is building, though in LNER Green. I tried to persuade him it had to be black but higher authorities said no!

That very nice dean goods again, alledgedly painted in Land rover green!

Finally an LNER 02, and engine i have seen plenty in 5 inch of but few in 7 1/4. And i think and German state railways Kriegslok (correct if wrong please!)

Right, I will be back next week, I am away at the moment so no pannier activity till at least Monday, hope you enjoy.

Thanks again if your still with me. Anyone with knowledge of valve gear, please chip in!

Cheers

Mark