Didcot Railway Centre - 'The Impossible Dream' 19/04/2019

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5 жыл бұрын

Testament to the effort, hard work and determination shown by volunteers, The Great Western Society - based at the Didcot Railway Centre - have turned the clock back on three locomotives previously thought to be "Impossible Projects": Restoring 6023 "King Edward II", converting 'Number 93' back into a Steam Rail Motor, and a New-Build 'Saint' Class.
While at Barry Island Scrapyard after withdrawal, 6023 suffered a derailment during a shunting move, subsequently leading to the trailing driving wheels being damaged beyond repair. During the initial restoration attempt - commencing in 1985, doubt was cast as to the plausibility casting a brand new wheelset for the locomotive. However, after a change of ownership to the Great Western Society, and as engineering methods developed, a new trailing wheelset was cast in 1994 - a first for standard gauge steam in preservation.
GWR Steam Rail Motor - 93 entered preservation with the GWS in 1970, as Auto Trailer - 212, having been converted from a Steam Rail Motor by the GWR in 1934. In 1998, after substantial research and development, work began on constructing a new Power Bogie to resurrect 93 as a Steam Rail Motor, being completed in 2011.
Finally, 'Saint' 2999 "Lady of Legend" steamed for the first time in 2019, being born out of the ashes of 4900 'Hall' Class - 4942 "Maindy Hall". Since 2004, the GWS have been working painstakingly to back-date/convert the 'Hall' into a 'Saint' Class; the former being a direct development of the latter. Their efforts came to fruition in April, when "Lady of Legend" was launched into public service.
With the trio of "Impossible" projects complete, the Didcot Railway Centre bore host to 'The Impossible Dream' event over the Easter weekend of the 19th-22nd of April; showcasing the three locomotives rubbing shoulders for the first time in preservation. The Steam Rail Motor could be seen in action on the demonstration Branch Line, paired with Auto Trailer - 92, while the 'King' and the 'Saint' alternated for turns on the main demonstration line - with double-headed running late in the day.
Locomotives:
Ex-GWR 6000 'King' Class - 6023 "King Edward II"
GWR 2900 'Saint' Class - 2999 "Lady of Legend"
GWR Steam Rail Motor - 93
All footage filmed on Friday the 19th of April 2019.

Пікірлер: 78

@johndavey72 5 жыл бұрын

Well , that really is TOTAL commitment. Heartiest congratulations to all. It's a perfect example of teamwork. I think this is a salutary lesson that the politicians should and could learn from.

@GrrMeister 5 жыл бұрын

*Magnificent, and congratulations to all those hard working Volunteers for their fantastic work in getting these beautiful Locomotives operating again.*

@guy_called_Odin 5 жыл бұрын

I'm on the footplate of the Lady in that last runby! What a way to finish a day!

@simonpurbrick 5 жыл бұрын

Great video! I live nearly (Abingdon) and try to visit Didcot as I can. What I have heard from my father and brother that the Saint was nice!

@DomWhibley 5 жыл бұрын

Nice video. I was on holiday at the time so could not go, but luckily they were running Edward on the Lady of Legend launch day on the day I went to that, so I still got to ride behind both those great locos.

@jessicaburdell7779 Жыл бұрын

That's a pretty neat way of restocking coal for the locomotives. Here in the US, we just simply have an excavator (or backhoe, as some call it) dump it in for us.

@AntonioRibeiro-ly2rx 2 жыл бұрын

Viva el ferrocarril uno de los mayores y mejores inventos de la historia todo lo demás es secundario

@michaelhampton9493 5 жыл бұрын

Well done to everyone at G.W.S Didcot. A mammoth task completed. Can't wait to see 2999.

@BornotB-xi6kg 4 жыл бұрын

My respect, I can't imagine how hard it must be to repair an engine.

@geraldbeament5950 5 жыл бұрын

Brilliant Video.

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you

@djburland 5 жыл бұрын

Dreams sometimes come true

@AndreiTupolev 5 жыл бұрын

Can't wait for 2999 to be given a chance to see and hear it in proper action

@SimonTog 5 жыл бұрын

Wonderful video, thumbs up :)

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much

@Locos-del-oeste 5 жыл бұрын

Exelente video 😉👍

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much

@terrier_productions 4 жыл бұрын

Would be amazing to have King Edward back on the mainline doing tours

@jppicur 5 жыл бұрын

Makes you want to move to Didcot.

@theextremeanimator4721 5 жыл бұрын

Until the Lady goes Mainline.

@c3pfett 5 жыл бұрын

God I love the smell of coal burning with hot iron and steam!!

@astromotive6047 5 жыл бұрын

10:53 Lady of Legend (A locomotive of two identities) and 5322 aka Lizzie (A locomotive of 2 World Wars)

@532bluepeter1 5 жыл бұрын

It would seem that 7202 is the nearest to running of the 7200 tanks unless I am wrong again.

@BernieHollandMusic 4 жыл бұрын

Saints Preserve Us !

@KPen3750 5 жыл бұрын

I see they have the valve timing sorted out (at least from what I can hear)

@984francis 5 жыл бұрын

With steam engines it's usually referred to a valve settings. The responsible fitters were know as valve setters.

@KPen3750 5 жыл бұрын

@@984francis thank you for the correction. For Internal Combustion engines, its Valve timing, so I called it that but thanks for pointing out the setting

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 5 жыл бұрын

You are hearing correctly. The valves certainly sounded healthier in the flesh, than 2 weeks ago. Credit to the GWS.

@KPen3750 5 жыл бұрын

@@TheSouthernerYTChannel oh most certainly. I really want to see the Lady in person. Sadly I am in the US

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Here's hoping you are able to make it 'across the pond' to see the Lady in the future.

@terrier_productions 5 жыл бұрын

The real impossible dream is King Edward ll doing a railtour!

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 5 жыл бұрын

All in good time

@532bluepeter1 5 жыл бұрын

Are you aware of why a railtour for 6023 is an impossibility for the present?

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Yes. And are you aware of their plans after the next overhaul?

@532bluepeter1 5 жыл бұрын

@@TheSouthernerYTChannel I am unaware of any plans post the next overhaul. The issue is the width of the cylinders and to allow the King to run on the mainline would now require the manufacture of a modified set of outside cylinders to conform to the new reduced loading gauge of the Western Region. It is a crying shame after the enormous effort that went into restoring this locomotive and one which probably could not have been foreseen. The group responsible for the rebuild of this locomotive who had to cast a new pair of coupled wheels to replace those which had their rims and tyres cut away along with much else as this was a hulk suffered a terrible blow to learn of this after all their hard work. The locomotive was fitted with AWS and it was intended to certify it for the mainline so my heart goes out to them at what is a terrible disappointment as at present this is a caged bird allowed only on preserved lines.

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 5 жыл бұрын

The outside cylinder blocks, along with numerous other parts have been trimmed down to bring the King to within Mainline gauge - though it is still subject to quite substantial route restrictions owing to the legnth of the frames, and the subsequent swing of the front frame section on curves. It was announced by the GWS early in 2018, that attempts to get 6023 on the mainline would be postponed until after overhaul, once the revised blastpipe arrangement had been tested, fettled and refined, as well as loaded test runs carried out. The project is on pause - not stopped permanently. There is a full press release dated 31.1.2018 on 6023's dedicated website: www.6023.co.uk/news/news.htm

@IroncladInSteam4007 5 жыл бұрын

So what’s the point in the outer axlebox on the King’s front bogie?

@highdownmartin 5 жыл бұрын

IT supports the leading axle

@highdownmartin 5 жыл бұрын

But the answer you really wanted is it provides room for the two inside cylinders which would foul an inside bearing on the the leading axle of the bogie. It would limit the side play to an unacceptable level. Inside cylinders drive to leading drivers

@532bluepeter1 5 жыл бұрын

The outside frames on the front axle of a King class locomotive allow for clearance of the inside cylinders which drive the front axle and are further forward than those on the outside which drive the centre axle. It is the stress cracking of these frames which was discovered in 1962 and caused the premature withdrawal from service of the Kings.

@soulbabe79 5 жыл бұрын

I'm going on Sunday

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Cool

@peternice9404 5 жыл бұрын

Why was the King painted blue?

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Because it's an actual livery it carried in service. And when you have so many GWR 4-6-0's running around in shades of green or black, it's nice to be different.

@peterrosenquist 5 жыл бұрын

11:24 does anyone know if ROD 5322 is moved out for special events like that?

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 5 жыл бұрын

The guys and gals at the Great Western Society do like to line-up their locos for photo opportunities during events.

@532bluepeter1 5 жыл бұрын

The locomotives of Didcot are regularly shunted around for display purposes on steam days and special events.

@peterrosenquist 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you both for your answers!

@nickelplatenerd6989 5 жыл бұрын

Maindy Hall..... I mean Lady of Legend’s driving wheels are even bigger than King Edward II’s.

@paulcaswell2813 2 жыл бұрын

6'8 1/2" as against the King's 6'6" examples...

@lukeslocomotives8521 4 жыл бұрын

Is this Saint locomotive a complete new build or a conversion from another different class of locomotive? I am just curious.

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 4 жыл бұрын

Ex-4942 "Maindy Hall"

@lukeslocomotives8521 4 жыл бұрын

@@TheSouthernerYTChannel Thankyou

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 4 жыл бұрын

Welcome

@stephenharrison645 5 жыл бұрын

Is there a sheep powering the rail motor?

@eddeduck 5 жыл бұрын

THATS EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT WHEN I WAS THERE!

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 5 жыл бұрын

When you run out of coal, you have to improvise...

@TimRuffle 5 жыл бұрын

Yes... yes... very nice... er- is that 18000 behind the Saint at 12:45?

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Yes it is.

@terrier_productions 5 жыл бұрын

I can’t see it!

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 5 жыл бұрын

facebook.com/TheSouthernerYT/photos/a.586438828516578/586439008516560/?type

@532bluepeter1 5 жыл бұрын

18,000 the British Brown Boveri gas turbine locomotive is a Didcot resident. It does not have any turbines in at present and as far as can be ascertained at present there are no suitable turbines extant so it is currently a static display item whilst possibilities are cogitated.

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Full, further information can be found on the Didcot Railway Centre's website: didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/article.php/88/18000-kerosene-castle

@theextremeanimator4721 5 жыл бұрын

Can't they make more replicas of Steam Rail Motors?

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 5 жыл бұрын

While it is possible, you've got to ask "why?". It wouldn't fill any hole in the preservation movement that 93 already doesn't, while it would result in splitting donations towards their upkeep, resulting in a financial strain. For the sake of seeing a pair running together, the cons likely outweigh the pros.

@theextremeanimator4721 5 жыл бұрын

@@TheSouthernerYTChannel I'm just asking things that will never happen at this point.... : /

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 5 жыл бұрын

We can dream...

@DVR01 5 жыл бұрын

Marcus' and King Edward II's (Over the Hills) basis

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 5 жыл бұрын

Cool

@ChargerusPrime 2 жыл бұрын

Extinction is not forever when it comes to steam locomotives. But I will admit, I never understood why y'all Brits made such overly complicated locomotives with 4 cylinders. It just sounds like an operational nightmare to run something like that. Granted running an engine like big boy is tough because of its size, but at least no one has to climb inside the framework in order to keep things properly oiled up. But perhaps I'm just overthinkin, still, well done chaps, lady of legend is undeniably stunning!

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 2 жыл бұрын

It's a fair question to ask if you don't know. With the railway pioneering development happening earlier in the UK than in the US, a lot of the supporting infrastructure was built to a smaller loading gauge to suit locomotives of the time. As such, bridges, signal gantries and station platforms, down to the tightness of some curves, all affected the subsequent design limitations of future locomotives. This meant locomotive designs in the UK had to remain compact in comparison to the US, while still attempting to improve tractive effort and power. One such way around this, was to utilise the 'dead space' between the frames with extra cylinders to increase outright power, without extending the locomotives length or width to accomodate this.

@ChargerusPrime 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheSouthernerYTChannel ooh, that makes sense. I can't help but think y'all over there might have benefited from 2-8-2 mikados or maybe even a 2-10-2. Though I will admit, your 8F and 9F locomotives are very important abd impressive machines.

@TheSouthernerYTChannel 2 жыл бұрын

There were a few 2-8-2 designs to run on UK metals, such as the LNER P1's and P2's. The P1's are a good example of 'falling foul' of insufficient supporting infrastructure: They could handle longer trains than most passing loops could hold, and tight curves contributing to steam pipe fractures etc. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LNER_Class_P1

@ChargerusPrime 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheSouthernerYTChannel I've heard of the p class mikados, they were doomed from the start because their drive gear layout was a copy of a 4-8-2 wheel arrangement with the 2nd driver being the main one. On every other type of Mikado, the 3rd driver is the main which allows for it to go around tighter turns, and most mikados never bad more than a 68 inch drive wheel which still allowed for speeds of 80 mph.