When we were kids, there was and still is a railway line at the top of my Mothers garden near Cannock in Staffs. My friend was a spotter and while I never went that far, I enjoy watching trains myself. He lived further from the line and to claim a loco as seen he had to race upstairs and look out of his bathroom window to see the roof of the loco passing behind the houses over yonder. If I got the number I’d pass it to him. This was every school lunchtime. On one occasion I was cutting a sandwich and a loco came past light engine running down Wyrley Bank. It was basically just rolling down the bank making little noise as it approached. It was early spring and I easily got the number through the bare branches of the Hawthorn bushes at the top of the garden. Even so it caught me by surprise. 37 003. Odd. Not seen one of those before along this line. So anyway, I headed back to school and linked up with my mate on the way. “Did you see the loco that passed?” “I didn’t hear one.” “It was an odd shape I’ve not seen before on this line. 37 003.” He went BONKERS!!” “Naaah. You don’t get those along here.” I described the shape of the loco which fitted the number but even so he was well annoyed and for years afterwards he still accused me of making it up. Still makes me chuckle. So I’m quite pleased the loco still exists and is being looked after.
Stone cold. Giver her half an hour. Nice easy start, all 12 fire up fairly quickly so the timing is good. Once the oil warms up, the governor will be able to function correctly, the engine will stop hunting and be able to tick over smoothly. Effectively the oil is so thick that the governor detects what it thinks is a massive overspeed, cuts the fuel then detects an under speed so dumps a load of fuel in, hence the revving,
In one word, COLD!! A diesel engine requires 2 things to fire properly, Compression, and heat. This is what pre-heaters or glow plugs do, they warm the air in the cylinder before it's compressed and fuel added. Normally the heat comes from the act of compressing the air in the cylinder, but on a cold engine as here, the white smoke is mostly steam, and the black smoke is unburned fuel. Have a look at the same locomotive, starting on a warm day, and you will see the difference.
on and emd u can change the power packs (piston,liner, head) with engine in situ, u dont even have to remove overhead cam as its to one side of the cylinder, just open inspection door in crank, undo big end, open top, remove head and few other things and lift the lot out so Im guessing they get changed more, also 2 strokes always sound more crisp.
@joha77johaa It is called "hunting" The governor is not reacting quickly enough when cold to keep the speed steady so revs go up and down . It is not load-idle, just the no-load speed not constant.
this Vid is at Weardale, access is weekdays only here as the operating companys staff have to be present, 003 is currently on public display at NRM shildon as part of a visit.
Yes, but Smiffy answered my question. I'm wondering why EMD's fire so clean while these engines don't. I'm curious to know the difference. Sounds like mostly just older technology.
the governer is controlled by oil pressure, when its cold the oil is thick and doesnt flow well causing it to rev up and down, there an example of a warm day start on another of my vids, to see the difference.
To be honest. It wouldn't be all that hard to implement an external heatsource to keep the oil even slightly warm whilst not in operation. Like what those ice truckers do or something?
Why do these engines start like this? What is it doing when its shooting tons of smoke out like that? EMD engines don't do this, so it makes me wonder how these start.
adfgfds the generator used to provide current for the traction motors is energised to act as a motor. Refurbished units with alternators use a separate starter motor.
Is access still restricted at wensleydale? for work on diesels that is, the steamers get access, more anti diesel facism like NYMR where the steam fitters even ignore u if u like diesels, millitant kettle lovers!!lol.
