If someone showed me the road leading to that level crossing on a model, I’d think it was badly done. You just don’t get roads that steep and gradient changes that sharp in real life!
Nope Graham, 1213 was on the down train and the crew of no.8 got in contact and said that there was a problem with no.8 and it wouldn't be able to make it to the summit. So 1213 on the down train switched to the up train so No.8 could just coast down hill back to Aber to be fixed!
Priming can be caused two ways. The first is to have too much water in your boiler. This is a mistake by the fireman. The water is then picked up and carried along with steam into the valves and cylinders. This washes oil out of the cylinders and valves and can cause a lot of wear. In the worst case scenario, the cylinders will hydraulic. This can blow out the cylinder ends, bend piston rods and or smash the cylinder castings. Not good. The other way is to have dirty water in the boiler. As a boiler is in service, any impurities in the water get left behind, just like in your kettle. Boilers are washed out at regular intervals where the water is dropped out of the boiler and a high pressure hose is used to wash the muck out. If you fall behind with this, the water gets soupy and a scum sits on top of the water and this can also be picked up and washed through the cylinders as well. Last week I was driving a loco which needed a washout. Although the water was nowhere near a high level, big fluffy “clouds” of steam would come out of the funnel. The chuff of the loco changed to a “woof” and was very noticeable. The procedure then is to close the throttle and open the drain cocks on the cylinders and let the loco settle down again. I hope this helps. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tVh0lpmgJ3Q.html This is a video from the Silverton Railroad. Have a look at the 35:18 mark. This is what can happen when you hydraulic a cylinder.
@@bigkiwimike I would have thought that if the boiler was overfull excess could be released via the blowdown valve, or if all else failed, turning on an injector WITHOUT turning on the water supply valve. Which would have made that condition correctable. Although bad water/dirty boiler could not be corrected so easily.
@@smitajky You are right about using the blowdown to lower the water but with most locos you have to stop first to operate it. I’m not familiar with the other method you have suggested. That idea wouldn’t work on New Zealand locos with Sellars injectors.
