Wright writes.....

[St Enodoc]

2 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Thanks Frank,

 

Though I'm still not convinced. By what you suggest, the whole chassis (bogies and ponies as well) is then electrically-live because the motor is fixed to it. Granted, it's insulated from the wheels, but the risks of a short circuit are multiplied enormously. Even if it were on a plastic saddle, the worm/gear would still ensure electrical conductivity between the motor frame and the chassis. 

 

My 'empirical' evidence is provided by DCC-specialists. When Gilbert Barnatt bought that V2 and asked about its being converted to DCC (still using the D13), Jeremy at Digi-Trains just said it was too difficult and, anyway, fraught with risks to the decoders.

 

Has anyone ever actually done such a conversion to DCC using a D13 (or D11) without insulating the 'live' brush on the motor?

 

If they have, they'll just prove my being dim. I imagine the queue to show will be rather long.......................

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

It can be done. The consensus here is that it shouldn't be done.

[Pebbles]

4 hours ago, thegreenhowards said:

I agree. I’m not sure that you would need quite as much plastic as you suggest but the frames are enough to make it a non starter unless your objective is to prove it can be done out of sheer stubbornness. Swapping the motor over is by far the easiest solution. Does anyone know iof there is a direct swap for the D13?

 

Andy

All that is required is an insulated bush for the uninsulated brush holder. A simple turning job; if I recall correctly the bush should be tapped 6BA.

[Bernard Lamb]

Most readers of these pages will be familiar with the use of Witte type German smoke deflectors on the A3 class.

They were more common on some classes of German locomotives but by no means  universal. This morning the local branch passenger train was hauled by a former Prussian T18, DR class 78 locomotive. I know not what happened to the usual DMU. Even more unusual was that the machine was fitted with these Witte deflectors.

Bernard

 

[gr.king]

1 hour ago, Pebbles said:

All that is required is an insulated bush for the uninsulated brush holder. A simple turning job; if I recall correctly the bush should be tapped 6BA.

I was tempted to ask how difficult it might be to insulate the brush to tackle the problem at source, but you've provided the answer, for those able to turn and tap...

[Ribird]

4 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

The memory fades; I saw 60010 at Crewe Works during its cosmetic restoration!

 

Many thanks,

 

Tony. 

For all, little research trip using Flickr:

 

60008 after being repainted before being sent overseas: Flickr

 

60010: Flickr, Flickr, Flickr, and Flickr

 

*obviously these are Flickr links, so not my photos

 

5 hours ago, JamieR4489 said:

60008 was repainted in the States. When it came over in 2012 the NRM found loads of tiny holes as it turned out the Americans had grit blasted the engine to remove the original paint. 60010 still had its original paint when it came here. I think I've read that it had only had one top coat so it lasted pretty well.

People always assume that Green Bay didn't take care of 60008, but they at least repainted it to try and preserve it after being outside in USA weather conditions. That's about 30 years outdoors (some of that under the not-enclosed shed) of wear and tear. 

 

Look at this picture of Dwight, only being there for three years (with the start of the not-enclosed shed): Flickr and Flickr

 

For all, The Unlucky Tug (who is usually doing Thomas and Friends videos) has published a very nice documentary about the ill-fated USA tour of the Flying Scotsman. Youtube. 18:26 starts the Green Bay visit of Flying Scotsman, clearly showing how faded Dwight is just after 3 years in colour film. 

 

*obviously these are Flickr links, so not my photos

**no association with this channel

[Tony Wright]

With the motion now weathered, the V2 is ready for 'proper' service........................

 

 

 

With Jesse Sim's donation of the loco in the first place (in 'strange' LNER green), my repainting it, Geoff Haynes weathering it and my making a new set of frames for it, I think it's ended up all right, especially as the original chassis has generated a donation to CRUK. 

 

'Action' shots to follow.....................

[Tony Wright]

V2' action' shots as promised......................

 

 

60876 belts northwards through Little Bytham on a Newcastle express. 

 

I think a view like this epitomises my approach to layouts and locomotives. A layout on which is running a 'layout locomotive'. 

 

 

And racing down from Stoke, this time on an Up West Riding turn.

 

By way of a comparison, I put another Nu-Cast V2 in more or less the same position.........................

 

 

The main difference is that this one is completely my work, But, it's from nearly 40 years ago! 

 

If it shows anything, it's that my standards in loco building haven't altered/changed/improved over nearly four decades. The most that can be said is that I've been consistent (though the cab is a bit 'leany' on this example). 

[Michael Edge]

5 hours ago, Pebbles said:

All that is required is an insulated bush for the uninsulated brush holder. A simple turning job; if I recall correctly the bush should be tapped 6BA.

Back in the days when I used these motors a lot M.G Sharp could supply spare brush gear, including all the insulation. I used these to double insulate few of these motors - long before DCC was around though.

[Lemmy282]

Is used similar insulation on arly Farish N gauge locos that I converted to DCC years ago. It was called a ''digi hat" and was basically like a small nylon top hat without a lid. It insulated the brush from the frame and the decoder wire was soldered to the end of the brush, worked a treat.

 

Nigel L

[Tony Wright]

I still have a few locos powered by open-framed D11 or D13 motors (insulation on only one brush). Most still drive through Romford gears (40:1 or 50:1) and perform very well. One or two locos have D13s driving through a DJH gearbox, which give excellent performance. 

 

Not having to tolerate the restrictions imposed by DCC, I'll keep on running them (I have several spares for the future), though I don't think I'd install any in new locos now, because they really run a bit too fast. 

[Theakerr]

D of C was not stored under the best of conditions over here (and according to rumors has recently been moved back to those conditions) and therefore the colour in the video picture may not be representative.

 

[Coach bogie]

15 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

You're right, Graham.

 

The memory fades; I saw 60010 at Crewe Works during its cosmetic restoration!

 

Many thanks,

 

Tony. 

It was and truly 'weathered' when it arrived at Shildon.

 

Mike Wiltshire

 

[landscapes]

6 hours ago, Coach bogie said:

It was and truly 'weathered' when it arrived at Shildon.

 

Mike Wiltshire

 

Hi

 

Happy memories this was the first A4 I cabbed at Kings Cross station back in early 1963.

 

Regards

 

David

[Tony Wright]

7 hours ago, Coach bogie said:

It was and truly 'weathered' when it arrived at Shildon.

 

Mike Wiltshire

 

 

 

Thanks for these, Mike,

 

I didn't see 60010 at Crewe after its cosmetic restoration there, but just prior to it. It was sitting in the yard outside, but I can't remember whether it had its chimney there. A couple of months before, when I saw it at Darlington, it certainly didn't!

 

60007 also ended up at Crewe Works, inheriting several bits from 'below' from 60026, which was the last BR A4 I saw in action. 

 

Sadly, though I did have the opportunity, I didn't get to Scotland to see the class in its Indian summer. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[FarrMan]

Re India and New Zealand not getting 'their' A4s, could it be the different track gauges in those countries? Re Australia, though some was standard gauge, I cannot recall a railway museum in NSW, and Ipswich in Queensland, and I think there is one in South Australia, are both on different gauges.

 

Lloyd

[landscapes]

3 hours ago, FarrMan said:

Re India and New Zealand not getting 'their' A4s, could it be the different track gauges in those countries? Re Australia, though some was standard gauge, I cannot recall a railway museum in NSW, and Ipswich in Queensland, and I think there is one in South Australia, are both on different gauges.

 

Lloyd

Hi

 

I remember reading 60012 was offered to Australia but the offer was rejected, but not sure how valid that is.

 

A great shame as I never ever saw 60012.

 

Regards

 

David

[grahame]

Here's something a little different from the normal posted fare that might be of interest (probably not as it's distinctly not steam era). Although I've not done any proper modelling, for weeks now as I seem to have lost my modelling mojo and have been side-tracked by a rescue cat that I've adopted, I did undertake a little modelling photography recently for an article about structural height that I've written for the DEMU UPDate magazine. And here is one of those pics.

 

It's New London Bridge House which is a tall 'modernist' style tower office block, designed by Richard Seifert (who was the architect responsible for many modernist style tower type buildings including Centre Point and the Nat West tower). It was constructed in the late 60s and demolished in 2010 to be replaced by the Baby Shard. It sat at right angles on the end of a strange modern building known as 5 London Bridge Street and partially over a glass reception area.

 

The model is currently just a foam board carcass with details yet to be added. But standing at a little under two feet tall in N2mm scale (which would be around 4ft in OO/4mm) it does give an indication of what I mean by structural height:

 

[Tony Wright]

Today's work has seen my making of the motion on the EM frames for CLUMBER. 

 

During my 'spotting days at Retford, prior to the appearance of the 'Brits' on the boat train, the most-common loco on it was 61620, CLUMBER. Day after day it could be seen, rushing across the flat crossing heading east to Sheffield in the morning, then back again in the afternoon. 

 

For Retford's period, a B17 on the 'North Country Continental' is essential. However, the resident B17 (which has its motor in the tender driving via a shaft to the rear coupled wheels) hasn't been up to the job, despite the application of Gorilla Snot!

 

I first built 61620 in OO Gauge, and described its construction in the book I wrote for Crowood Press. Since a B17 at Little Bytham is highly-unlikely, then I've made a Comet set of frames for it in EM. 

 

Sandra Orpen tested it on Retford before its motion was made.

 

 

By all accounts, it passed with flying colours! It's absolutely packed with lead in every bit of space in the body, and that's what's needed to shift this heavy train up the gradient from the GC fiddle yard. 

 

This Covid is a real nuisance, but it's back here and it's now all but complete...................

 

 

Apart from the balance weights. Unlike on later Comet chassis packs, no balance weights are provided for this. Does anyone know of a source, please? 

 

The motion support brackets are attached to the body, so the Comet ones were not needed. 

 

I think this sort of thing is the way I can contribute to Retford in a practical manner.

 

 

Edited May 6, 2021 by Tony Wright
to add something

[jrg1]

8 hours ago, FarrMan said:

Re India and New Zealand not getting 'their' A4s, could it be the different track gauges in those countries? Re Australia, though some was standard gauge, I cannot recall a railway museum in NSW, and Ipswich in Queensland, and I think there is one in South Australia, are both on different gauges.

 

Lloyd

NSW has standard gauge tracks-the Rail Museum at Picton has many standard gauge locomotives, including The Major-an 0-6-4 of the same class as Cecil Raikes.  Various ROD 2-80s were imported to work the collieries in the Newcastle area, with at least one preserved.  A pity 60012 was not preserved.

[Northmoor]

Is the fact that a loco is named after somewhere, enough to justify its preservation there?  The RoDs and The Major had long service lives after export to Australia, an A4 wouldn't have.

 

If the name is enough, it would have been interesting getting some of the Jubilees to their final homes; Ulster would be easy but what about St. Helena or Mars?

[Andy Hayter]

Mars - no problem.  Just down the road from us but unfortunately metre gauge so not entirely suitable.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyeKEUVj0Mg

 

 

Typical of many rural stations it also served the village of Devesset - hence the name Devesset Mars - and was  close to neither.

 

Edit to add, not a lot happens for the first minute and a quarter - but that is also typical of such lines.

Edited May 6, 2021 by Andy Hayter

[manna]

G'Day Folks

 

60012 CoA, was offered to the NSW Government, for Free, but they had to pay for 'Postage', it was declined on those grounds.

 

manna

[Tony Wright]

7 hours ago, manna said:

G'Day Folks

 

60012 CoA, was offered to the NSW Government, for Free, but they had to pay for 'Postage', it was declined on those grounds.

 

manna

I honestly didn't know that.

 

A shame really, and I'll bet NSW wished it had accepted it now. 

 

When Jesse Sim took Mo and me to the NSW Railway Museum, it was amazing to see how many of the exhibits were 'Made in Britain' (made for Australia, of course). 

 

It would have been fantastic to have seen 60012; an A4 I never saw as a trainspotter. '9, '24 and '27 from Haymarket, but none of the others shedded at 64B. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Tony Wright]

8 hours ago, Northmoor said:

Is the fact that a loco is named after somewhere, enough to justify its preservation there?  The RoDs and The Major had long service lives after export to Australia, an A4 wouldn't have.

 

If the name is enough, it would have been interesting getting some of the Jubilees to their final homes; Ulster would be easy but what about St. Helena or Mars?

I still think it would have been rather nice to have 60011, '12 and '13 preserved in the countries after which they were named.

 

Anyway, the two A4s on the other side of 'the pond' never had a subsequent 'service life' there. 

 

A pity as well that some of the Stanier 'Coronations' (other than CITY OF BIRMINGHAM) couldn't have been accommodated in where they were named after. 

 

To me, however, the one loco which should have been preserved was SILVER LINK. Unfortunately, she was one of the first A4 withdrawn. Had she survived long enough to operate in Scotland, she might have just made it. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[FarrMan]

10 hours ago, jrg1 said:

NSW has standard gauge tracks-the Rail Museum at Picton has many standard gauge locomotives, including The Major-an 0-6-4 of the same class as Cecil Raikes.  Various ROD 2-80s were imported to work the collieries in the Newcastle area, with at least one preserved.  A pity 60012 was not preserved.

Many thanks for that information. I visited the Ipswich museum when I was over there in 1987, but not aware of any railway museum in NSW, which, I think, was the only State to have 'standard gauge' for internal traffic. Was Picton open in 1987? I would have loved to have seen it during my stay in Sydney.

 

Lloyd