That was very interesting Alan. Being able to watch the work was a bonus, I guess, especially nowadays as you can't. The word that came to mind is 'quartering' - to arrange the drivers such that there's a one-quarter turn between opposite wheel-sets. On a model, we simply pick it up... so here there must be a way that the whole loco is lifted clear of the tracks in order that the offending wheel-set can be removed. How did they do that here with taking the wheel-set and cranks away all at once? Of course, quartering isn't really an issue here, as the position of the wheels in the other wheel-sets would already be determined - and it was just a case of keeping them secure while the new set was aligned. And how did they do that, I ask? Perhaps the con-rods would be offered to the braked wheels, and the new set rotated until they fit into place. Can you imagine the accuracy of the replacements... a couple thou out and there's be all sorts of vibration. But - since you know more about this than me, I would relish your input. Oh - not to forget... Thankyou, Alan!
Hi Peter, thank you as always for your kind remarks and interesting questions. Quartering? this is very much a necessity for 2 & 4 cylinder locomotives because if this was not done, all the motion could lock on "top dead center" T.D.C. and "bottom dead center B.D.C. because the motion is laid out in quadrants (i.e. 90deg arcs) but on a three cylinder locomotive the motion is laid out in 120deg arcs so there can never be a situation where all the motion locks. Multiples of 3 cylinders in engines are known as "naturally balanced" and that's why 6 cylinder cars seem so sooth (and even modern 3 cylinder cars!). Wheel drop? The wheel pit has a section of track and floor in the middle which is removeable so when the wheelset to be removed is placed over it and the section removed, the wheelset can be dropped by sliding the hornblocks (main bearings) down and out of the frame, then reinsert the sections, roll the locomotive away on the remaining axles, remove the sections again and lift the wheelset out. All the remaining motion stays in alignment during this so when reassembly takes place the wheelset has simply to be rotated to align with the rest of the motion. BTW there is a lot more slack in steam locomotive motion bearings than you may think, hence the clank clank clank when a loco is drifting downhill that is why lubrication is so important!. Hope this answers your questions. Best regards, Alan
Just what I needed, a breath of fresh air & some common sense, people able to work together for a satisfactory end result .. 👏 You called it right Alan 'H&S concerns' finding issues where non ever existed. A dull wet day here today in Hampshire, so good to see Devon & more important Totnes .. 😅 bathed in summer sunshine. Thanks for this 'look back' Alan .. 👍 atvb t ..
My pleasure Terry, interestingly the wet weather recently and me at a loose end yesterday resulted in the compilation! Can't wait to get out there again. Best wishes, Alan
One from the days before I discovered your excellent channel!!! Ah, so the Dept. of Common Sense has found it's way to the depths of Devon, luckily after you filmed the repair process!! Good to see engineering co-operation, I didn't think that was too bad a downtime?? Any more of these little nuggets hiding in the Alan Archive????😂
Hi Bob and thank you for your interesting, amusing and supportive comments as always. As for nuggets? we'll have to wait for the next archive "spring clean"! Best wishes, Alan
Hi Barry and thank you for your valued comment. I am sure that this was the first A4 at Buckfastleigh, it was certainly talked about in those terms at the time if I remember. Kind regards, Alan
@@Steamclipsyep along with the great marquess she too is also in the museum too and I think once the new owner takes over John Cameron they will surely be back in near future
Thankyou for the great workshop scenes. You must have respectful connections to be able to do that. And your explanations are much appreciated.
That was very interesting Alan. Being able to watch the work was a bonus, I guess, especially nowadays as you can't. The word that came to mind is 'quartering' - to arrange the drivers such that there's a one-quarter turn between opposite wheel-sets. On a model, we simply pick it up... so here there must be a way that the whole loco is lifted clear of the tracks in order that the offending wheel-set can be removed. How did they do that here with taking the wheel-set and cranks away all at once? Of course, quartering isn't really an issue here, as the position of the wheels in the other wheel-sets would already be determined - and it was just a case of keeping them secure while the new set was aligned. And how did they do that, I ask? Perhaps the con-rods would be offered to the braked wheels, and the new set rotated until they fit into place. Can you imagine the accuracy of the replacements... a couple thou out and there's be all sorts of vibration. But - since you know more about this than me, I would relish your input.
Oh - not to forget... Thankyou, Alan!
Hi Peter, thank you as always for your kind remarks and interesting questions. Quartering? this is very much a necessity for 2 & 4 cylinder locomotives because if this was not done, all the motion could lock on "top dead center" T.D.C. and "bottom dead center B.D.C. because the motion is laid out in quadrants (i.e. 90deg arcs) but on a three cylinder locomotive the motion is laid out in 120deg arcs so there can never be a situation where all the motion locks. Multiples of 3 cylinders in engines are known as "naturally balanced" and that's why 6 cylinder cars seem so sooth (and even modern 3 cylinder cars!). Wheel drop? The wheel pit has a section of track and floor in the middle which is removeable so when the wheelset to be removed is placed over it and the section removed, the wheelset can be dropped by sliding the hornblocks (main bearings) down and out of the frame, then reinsert the sections, roll the locomotive away on the remaining axles, remove the sections again and lift the wheelset out. All the remaining motion stays in alignment during this so when reassembly takes place the wheelset has simply to be rotated to align with the rest of the motion. BTW there is a lot more slack in steam locomotive motion bearings than you may think, hence the clank clank clank when a loco is drifting downhill that is why lubrication is so important!. Hope this answers your questions. Best regards, Alan
Hello Alan - that's a concise explanation, and I thank you very much for it. @@Steamclips
Great video!
Right you are, all's well that ends well!
Hi and thank you for your kind and very much appreciated comment. Best regards, Alan
Just what I needed, a breath of fresh air & some common sense, people able to work together for a satisfactory end result .. 👏 You called it right Alan 'H&S concerns' finding issues where non ever existed. A dull wet day here today in Hampshire, so good to see Devon & more important Totnes .. 😅 bathed in summer sunshine.
Thanks for this 'look back' Alan .. 👍 atvb t ..
My pleasure Terry, interestingly the wet weather recently and me at a loose end yesterday resulted in the compilation! Can't wait to get out there again. Best wishes, Alan
One from the days before I discovered your excellent channel!!! Ah, so the Dept. of Common Sense has found it's way to the depths of Devon, luckily after you filmed the repair process!! Good to see engineering co-operation, I didn't think that was too bad a downtime?? Any more of these little nuggets hiding in the Alan Archive????😂
Hi Bob and thank you for your interesting, amusing and supportive comments as always. As for nuggets? we'll have to wait for the next archive "spring clean"! Best wishes, Alan
Very well done SDRE. Was that the first A4 that you have had to do a repair job on ?
Hi Barry and thank you for your valued comment. I am sure that this was the first A4 at Buckfastleigh, it was certainly talked about in those terms at the time if I remember. Kind regards, Alan
Today that loco is now out of action
In a museum on a farm!
@@Steamclipsyep along with the great marquess she too is also in the museum too and I think once the new owner takes over John Cameron they will surely be back in near future