Brian_G

OK John, ya got me! It was an assumption on my part as I'd not looked closely at a Standard cab layout for a while. (As I model the LMS I'm steeped in Stanier Black 5's and Jubilee cab layouts, where, in common with other locos of that era, the live steam injector and its controls is on the left - but it does make more sense to have both on the same side though).

As you know the injectors, used for replenishing the boiler water, come in two types. On the left hand (driver's) side is the live steam injector; on the fireman's side is the exhaust steam injector, which uses exhaust steam from the blast pipe to make the injector work and improve efficiency by saving steam. This injector can also work with live steam if required, so the pipe work around it is more complex. I don't have the Book of the 9F's (and am not well up on the Crosti versions) but it should tell you which type of injectors they use (e.g. type J, type J/K or type K) so if you know this I'm sure Ragstone can tell which are the correct castings from his range if you drop him an email. Alternatively, let me know and I can identify them from the complete diagrams in the Engineman's Book. If you have any particular questions on pipe runs not covered in the 9F book then I can possibly look at the 9F, no. 92240, at the Bluebell Railway where I'm a member, although it's not a Crosti of course.

I managed to get my scanner working. This is taken from "Handbook for Railway Steam Locomotive Enginemen" published in 1957 by the British Transport Commission and was used for training drivers and firemen on all the technical aspects of steam operation. This is typical valve gear for BR Standards such as the 9F (Standard 4 tank has different slide bars)

When you say 'valves or parts' do you mean those that go to make up the motion /valve gear? If you don't know what the components are called I'll see if I can upload a drawing for you. For other parts (e.g. injectors) Ragstone has some photos of BR Standard castings with part numbers.

The 'big angled pipe' on the rh side is the exhaust feed from the smokebox to the exhaust steam injector. The pipe work around this injector is complicated as this injector can also be used as a live steam injector in addition to the normal live steam injector on the lh side. I believe that as different classes of injectors were used on various BR standards that can also explain the detail differences in pipework.

John, yes kits are easier to control to the standard you want, although mine are usually modelled in light weathering or else ex-works condition. Your article has made me decide not to bother with all the hassle of Dapol wagons (although I have got one of their Jintys on pre-order). I'll ask the wife to get me another Parkside kit like last Xmas.

John, thanks for your excellent write-up and photos. It's very helpful as I was considering suggesting to my wife to by me one or two Dapol wagons as Xmas presents. (Most of my currently small fleet are either Slater's or Parkside Dundas that I've built over the years.)