Prepping a Jinty...
Evening all. Well, a tiring afternoon to say the least! I left work at 1:30pm as usual and headed straight for Shackerstone, arriving there at around 2:10pm. After receiving my orders from Carl on the platform I headed straight for the shed; overalls in hand. There, simmering outside, was the beautiful 2-8-0 No3803. Unfortunately, 5542 left last Sunday night so is no longer a regular sight at the shed. Still, 3803 should keep us flying the Western flag for some time yet! Behind 3803 was my charge for tomorrow; "Thomas" the Tank Engine, better known as the Llangollen Railway's Class 3F 'Jinty' No47298. My job this afternoon was to get the engine prepared for tomorrow's operations. First, I had to get the heavy and rather awkward face off the front, with some welcome help from Mr Simmons! I then got some spanners and opened the smokebox door. This had to be checked internally for any leaks in the tubes as well as generally checking for anything that didn't quite look right. However, everything seemed in order so I cleaned out the ash from the week before and proceeded to lock up the door again. As you may know, the Fowler Smokebox Door's are on bolted 'Lugs' rather than the more typical 'Clock-Hands'. Smokebox done, it was up into the cab. The Firehole Ring Protector had to come out, as did the Baffle. I then had to clamber into the gloom of the Firebox...
Checks in the firebox involve the Stays, Fusible Plugs, Brick-Arch, Tubeplate, Tubes and of course the Firehole Ring in general. Anything weaping has to be reported and investigated. However, today, everything looked just fine. Checks done, I could then sweep out the ash from the fire of last Sunday. One would think that this would be a hard task, involving a shovel at least, but not so on the Jinty. The Firebars had enough clearance between to allow me to lift one out and push all of the ash down the created gap. (As I did on "Holy War" last year at Bala, if only on a slightly smaller scale!). Fire Grate clear, I could check it. There was one warped bar which we all agreed we would keep an eye on over the weekend. Apart from that, all was well, so I clambered back out of the gloom. Honestly, it is horrible in there! This done, I could light a Warming fire. We do this by only occupying the front half of the grate, with a bed of coal 1-lump thick and plenty of wood. The fire is then left for around 2-3 hours before being raked through and thinned. There should then be a thin bed which can burn overnight to 'warm' the engine. After all, heating an engine too quickly (from cold) can create too much thermal expansion at once. This creates the risk of leaking tubes and stays which should be avoided at all costs. Fire lit, I sat with the Jinty as she warmed up. Back up at the station, a newly-repainted BR Mk1 Coach stands gleaming in the hot sunshine...
Behind 47298, 3803 stands warming. This is a real beast to warm up! The only difference between her warming fire and the Jinty's, though a little larger of course, was that the one for the 38xx was placed on the back half of the grate rather than the front...
The Jinty is now wearing her face again. Now, I don't tend to like these faces but this particular one is a great improvement on some of the ones we've had in the past!...
By 6pm, both engines were warming nicely and were back in the shed, 'screwed-down' and chocked. The shed was then locked and we headed for home. 47298 should now be nice and warm when myself, Jan and Eddie arrive to crew her in the morning. Goodnight Jinty! Evening All...
Evening all. Well, a tiring afternoon to say the least! I left work at 1:30pm as usual and headed straight for Shackerstone, arriving there at around 2:10pm. After receiving my orders from Carl on the platform I headed straight for the shed; overalls in hand. There, simmering outside, was the beautiful 2-8-0 No3803. Unfortunately, 5542 left last Sunday night so is no longer a regular sight at the shed. Still, 3803 should keep us flying the Western flag for some time yet! Behind 3803 was my charge for tomorrow; "Thomas" the Tank Engine, better known as the Llangollen Railway's Class 3F 'Jinty' No47298. My job this afternoon was to get the engine prepared for tomorrow's operations. First, I had to get the heavy and rather awkward face off the front, with some welcome help from Mr Simmons! I then got some spanners and opened the smokebox door. This had to be checked internally for any leaks in the tubes as well as generally checking for anything that didn't quite look right. However, everything seemed in order so I cleaned out the ash from the week before and proceeded to lock up the door again. As you may know, the Fowler Smokebox Door's are on bolted 'Lugs' rather than the more typical 'Clock-Hands'. Smokebox done, it was up into the cab. The Firehole Ring Protector had to come out, as did the Baffle. I then had to clamber into the gloom of the Firebox...
Checks in the firebox involve the Stays, Fusible Plugs, Brick-Arch, Tubeplate, Tubes and of course the Firehole Ring in general. Anything weaping has to be reported and investigated. However, today, everything looked just fine. Checks done, I could then sweep out the ash from the fire of last Sunday. One would think that this would be a hard task, involving a shovel at least, but not so on the Jinty. The Firebars had enough clearance between to allow me to lift one out and push all of the ash down the created gap. (As I did on "Holy War" last year at Bala, if only on a slightly smaller scale!). Fire Grate clear, I could check it. There was one warped bar which we all agreed we would keep an eye on over the weekend. Apart from that, all was well, so I clambered back out of the gloom. Honestly, it is horrible in there! This done, I could light a Warming fire. We do this by only occupying the front half of the grate, with a bed of coal 1-lump thick and plenty of wood. The fire is then left for around 2-3 hours before being raked through and thinned. There should then be a thin bed which can burn overnight to 'warm' the engine. After all, heating an engine too quickly (from cold) can create too much thermal expansion at once. This creates the risk of leaking tubes and stays which should be avoided at all costs. Fire lit, I sat with the Jinty as she warmed up. Back up at the station, a newly-repainted BR Mk1 Coach stands gleaming in the hot sunshine...
Behind 47298, 3803 stands warming. This is a real beast to warm up! The only difference between her warming fire and the Jinty's, though a little larger of course, was that the one for the 38xx was placed on the back half of the grate rather than the front...
The Jinty is now wearing her face again. Now, I don't tend to like these faces but this particular one is a great improvement on some of the ones we've had in the past!...
By 6pm, both engines were warming nicely and were back in the shed, 'screwed-down' and chocked. The shed was then locked and we headed for home. 47298 should now be nice and warm when myself, Jan and Eddie arrive to crew her in the morning. Goodnight Jinty! Evening All...
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