steam69

Andrew

The Connecting Rods as supplied in the kit are too short (2mm), I was going to tell Geoff but as he was not well I didn't want to cause him any more stress.

I understand the new owner Andrew is aware of the problem.

Richard

Sylvian

One more major improvement can be achieved by reducing the overall width of the cylinders, this has to be done by reducing the huge amount of side-play in first two wheels otherwise your valvegear will tie itself in knots !!

Richard

Nick

As a former member of the 2857 society on the SVR it may interest you that she is comming to the end of an extensive overhaul and, should be back in traffic next summer.

Anyone can keep up to date with her progress by going on www.2857.org.uk

Just one other point is that the 28xx class had a compensated and sprung chassis, where as the Collett 2884 class had cheap and nasty conventional sprung chassis.

Richard

Nick, Two comments on your above notes

1)The early chimneys were parallel and copper capped similar to saint etc. and were common until the early 1930's

2)The safety valve bonnets were tall with the top feed, indeed I'm sure that some survived into early BR days.

Richard