Stanier 5XP Boiler Handrail Position?

[Right Away]

Could one of the LMS aficionados say why the boiler handrails of the “Jubilees” were so positioned in respect to the higher placed handrails of the 5MT. 

There does not appear to be any engineering reason for these differing positions on the two classes. The design and introduction dates being similar, one could be forgiven for expecting such a feature to be standardised on both similarly dimensioned machines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[LMS2968]

No idea, but the 5Xs do seem to have been the odd ones out. With the exception of the Lizzies, all others were higher on the boiler.

[The Johnster]

Was it perhaps a function of the Jubilees' higher boiler pitch, 4.25 inches higher than the Black 5 because of the larger driving wheels raising the axles by that amount and the boiler having to be similarly raised to clear the top edge of the wheels and the splashers, but the handrail having for some reason the same height off the ground?

[LMS2968]

A good suggestion, Johnster, but I don't think so. The critical dimension would be from the handrail to the top of the running plate. I don't know what that dimension is, but both locos had the running plate about level with the lower face of the boiler, the 5X having splashers to accommodate its 6' 9" wheels, but the Black 'un had none over its 6' 0" wheels. But a very similar boiler was fitted to the 8Fs, and their 4' 8.5" wheels allowed the running plate to be lowered quite a bit, but the handrail wasn't lowered as in the 5X but stayed at the same height as the Black 'un.

 

One possible thing is that the 5Xs and Lizzies were designed at Derby; the 2-6-0s and Fives at Horwich while the 8Fs were from Crewe.

[Wickham Green too]

Presumably the designers deliberately avoided putting the handrails across the washout plugs - so that rather limited their choice of position.

[Wheatley]

Using the very scientific method of measuring the Bachmann Jubilee, DJH Black 5 and Bachmann Compound on the shelf in front of me, they're all about 4 feet above the running plate - about half way between shoulder and elbow. 

 

Edit after rummaging in the stock box - Duchess handrail 5' above running plate, Princess about 3'6". Oh well, so much for that idea. 

Edited November 20, 2020 by Wheatley

[Davey]

Sounds to me Wheatley like you're going off the rails!