Many thanks, now this ignorant and ill-informed colonial understands the purpose of those things. Now, please describe the purpose of the three copper pipes shown on the Mallard that originate between the two bogie axles, are routed forward outside the bogie wheel, and are affixed to the Guard Iron?
OK, that would explain three pipes, the Mallard having three cylinders. Though it's interesting that the drains would be run outside of the frame, forward of the bogie, to be attached to the guard, rather than directly below each cylinder. Also, why would the drain from the right cylinder be run across the frame and be mounted on the left side.....? Or were there two drains per cylinder, and one of the center cylinder's drains was run to one side and the second drain run to the other side.....Nah, that's just too far out.
Yep, there are two drains per cylinder, so six in all, and they are split three each side. Cylinder drain cocks in action as another locomotives pulled Tornado out of the shed. When locomotives are standing for a while, water can condense inside the cylinder, if this is not blown out the cylinder ends can be damaged or wlown out! The open cocks also mean that the exhaust blast is softened so the loco can move more smoothly at low speed.
Remember that unlike the piston in a typical internal combustion engine, a steam piston is powered in both directions for each stroke. Each cylinder has an intake and exhaust at each end so also needs a drain on both sides of the piston, therefor the two per cylinder.
Latest update on Tornado The first new mainline steam engine to be built in Britain for nearly five decades is making its first long-distance passenger trip into London. The train set off from Darlington and due to arrive in London King's Cross station at 1347 GMT. Full article is here..... BBC NEWS | UK | Steam train making London visit
Great videos, thanks. Hope somebody posts videos of today's run, which is scheduled to start as I type...1347GMT (0747CST)
Here's a batch of recent vids from YouTube taken over the last couple of days. Not particularly great quality - but you gotta love that sound.... This first post is a week ago. The guy shooting it is hopefully on the train today so we should see some more from him shortly. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6ZvSD0zZ3s"]YouTube - A1 60163 'Tornado' with the Peppercorn Pioneer at Northallerton 01/02/09[/ame] [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UJR6C8Q14Y"]YouTube - The Tornado - A1 Steam Locomotive 60163 - Maiden Passenger Service Trip[/ame] [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJmF1cdEbsw&NR=1"]YouTube - Tornado viewed from Brafferton 31 01 09[/ame] [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSWh1qlhhxs&feature=related"]YouTube - Tornado 60163 at Durham[/ame] enjoy!
Steam was still in use on the Southern Region's Waterloo-Weymouth line when I left England in February 1967. Steam ended there six months later in July 19676. I heard on the radio that Tornado made her first revenue run into London today. Tim
I can see the newspaper and TV headlines though, "Steam Train Chuffs into Town":tb-wink: It'd be a hard choice whether to ride the train or watch it trackside, if you did the latter you'd only get one spot though, you'd never catch up again. One thing I notice from the first video that is common to railfanning anywhere in the world is the bloke who sees you holding a video camera and asks out loud, "Have you got it going?" Duh!
