A day at the scrap yard...

[Marks DTM Calib]

So, the loco in question was

47145 Merddin Emrys

She is under the torch as we speak (I am told)

[Dishevelled Den]

Nope, not cleared for mainline running....although it can be dragged across the mainline.

What's the restriction Mark?

[Marks DTM Calib]

You need all the train protection systems fitted (ours only has AWS and you would need TPWS as well) and network radio installs.

Then you need to up the anti on the servicing (not a big deal) and compelte a major over haul.

Probably about 50K's worth of work!

[Dishevelled Den]

I suppose that's understandable but it must be frustrating all the same - will the unit be destined for static display then?

[lozzy]

now that is a quality project deffinatly different fro mthe norm id love to look around the train scrap yard

[Marks DTM Calib]

47292 is a runner and is used on preserved lines (based in Nottingham).

47145 is currently heading for a new life as washing machines and cutlery!

Nothing to frustrating about not going mainline as it does bugger them up a bit! We can get a tow across the network to other locations though (we have certificates for ultrasonic crack testing on the axles/bogies and fitness to run).

It is a BIG hobby....and a bloody filthy one to!

[Marks DTM Calib]

now that is a quality project deffinatly different fro mthe norm id love to look around the train scrap yard

Not a lot to see other than a few (often tired) trains. You just get on them and remove the bits you want. 

[lozzy]

i thought car audio was exspensive lol i can imagine its well satifying when you get to take it out

[Marks DTM Calib]

Yup.....although I have done a shed load of work on 47292 and never yet traveled on or behind her!

Anyway, that gets addressed on the 23rd when I get a day as trainee!

Expensive, just a tad. Although a lcoo can be got for reasonable ish money, running them is a different mtter (although the centre pay a useage fee plus fuel and consumables)

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Yup.....although I have done a shed load of work on 47292 and never yet traveled on or behind her!

Anyway, that gets addressed on the 23rd when I get a day as trainee!

Expensive, just a tad. Although a lcoo can be got for reasonable ish money, running them is a different mtter (although the centre pay a useage fee plus fuel and consumables)

Is your 47 Mark equipped with a train heating boiler, and thus requires an insurance certificate for it? :-/

Of course with my beloved steam railway engines we most certainly have boilers - big ones - that require yearly exams, five year overhaules, and major overhaules ever 10 years which is VERY expensive (£100's of 000's ), although a legal requirement and the only way you can obtain the insurance 'ticket'!  Without that you cannot even run it on your own preserved line hauling passengers.  Main line certificated engines are even more heavily restricted with the requirement for all the modern train control equipment.

Do diesels have similar restrictions and maintenance requirements? :-/

[Marks DTM Calib]

All 47's were originally fitted with steam heat boilers (normaly a Spanner Mk1 or 2).

These were removed in the early 80's and only 1 or 2 have since been re-fitted. Some 47's (47/4's, 47/7's and 47/8's being an the types) were modified to replace the aux DC generator with an alternator which supported ETH (electric train heating) which is a 1000V ish Dc feed for coach ancillaries.

They boilers are required to be inspected but, do not have the same requirements as a steam loco as they are considerably lower pressure (they generally get inspected to the same standard as the air receivers i.e. boro scope inspection of the internals).

We are currently trying to obtain a steam heat boiler but, it wont be a Spanner unit, its more likely to be an ex factory diesel heat unit.

If you look at the pic of 145 you will note some hand holds on the side (they are plated over on 292), these were to allow access to the water fill point for the steam heat setup (the filler has been plated over).

Its interesting to note that some of the early express diesels (falcon is an example) had a water scoop fitted to re-plenish the boilers.....needless to say these were quickly removed due to the large spray created and the impact on the traction motors!

Also, when removed, some loco types (not 47's as they have a ver centrally mounted 33 ton Sulzer engine) suffered traction issues due to the large change in weight......so if you look say in a class 31 (has an EE V12 similar to that used in the 37 with a few changes) , you will find a boiler and water tank shaped lump of concrete!

[Lizzie_Zoom]

All 47's were originally fitted with steam heat boilers (normaly a Spanner Mk1 or 2).

These were removed in the early 80's and only 1 or 2 have since been re-fitted. Some 47's (47/4's, 47/7's and 47/8's being an the types) were modified to replace the aux DC generator with an alternator which supported ETH (electric train heating) which is a 1000V ish Dc feed for coach ancillaries.

They boilers are required to be inspected but, do not have the same requirements as a steam loco as they are considerably lower pressure (they generally get inspected to the same standard as the air receivers i.e. boro scope inspection of the internals).

We are currently trying to obtain a steam heat boiler but, it wont be a Spanner unit, its more likely to be an ex factory diesel heat unit.

If you look at the pic of 145 you will note some hand holds on the side (they are plated over on 292), these were to allow access to the water fill point for the steam heat setup (the filler has been plated over).

Its interesting to note that some of the early express diesels (falcon is an example) had a water scoop fitted to re-plenish the boilers.....needless to say these were quickly removed due to the large spray created and the impact on the traction motors!

Also, when removed, some loco types (not 47's as they have a ver centrally mounted 33 ton Sulzer engine) suffered traction issues due to the large change in weight......so if you look say in a class 31 (has an EE V12 similar to that used in the 37 with a few changes) , you will find a boiler and water tank shaped lump of concrete!

Thanks for all that Mark, I now know a little more about preserved diesels!  8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

[Martin_1962]

now that is a quality project deffinatly different fro mthe norm id love to look around the train scrap yard

Not a lot to see other than a few (often tired) trains. You just get on them and remove the bits you want. 

Been to Woodhams - that was huge

[Martin_1962]

All 47's were originally fitted with steam heat boilers (normaly a Spanner Mk1 or 2).

These were removed in the early 80's and only 1 or 2 have since been re-fitted. Some 47's (47/4's, 47/7's and 47/8's being an the types) were modified to replace the aux DC generator with an alternator which supported ETH (electric train heating) which is a 1000V ish Dc feed for coach ancillaries.

They boilers are required to be inspected but, do not have the same requirements as a steam loco as they are considerably lower pressure (they generally get inspected to the same standard as the air receivers i.e. boro scope inspection of the internals).

We are currently trying to obtain a steam heat boiler but, it wont be a Spanner unit, its more likely to be an ex factory diesel heat unit.

If you look at the pic of 145 you will note some hand holds on the side (they are plated over on 292), these were to allow access to the water fill point for the steam heat setup (the filler has been plated over).

Its interesting to note that some of the early express diesels (falcon is an example) had a water scoop fitted to re-plenish the boilers.....needless to say these were quickly removed due to the large spray created and the impact on the traction motors!

Also, when removed, some loco types (not 47's as they have a ver centrally mounted 33 ton Sulzer engine) suffered traction issues due to the large change in weight......so if you look say in a class 31 (has an EE V12 similar to that used in the 37 with a few changes) , you will find a boiler and water tank shaped lump of concrete!

47/3 were never fittted with with boilers

[Martin_1962]

Ow, shes a good runner.

But, these are rare units now and they are the last of a kind.

They contain Davis and Metcalfe brake gear....no other classes after this one did plus many other items are unique. Once the last of them on the mainline are scrapped (a time growing ever closer) then the spares will dry up very quickly and if you run out of spares then your woking loco turns in to a museum exhibit.

So, you need a good spares stock!

And hence, we work like little squirrels obtaining useable spares to keep her going for the long term. Even if you dont use them, they can be used to trade for items you do need.

Big diesels are fast dissappearing off our railways with the UK designed and built ones being quite rare now (class 66's being Gm Canadian units)

Bl00dy Sheds - not exactly a heavy hauler.

One failed on a bank with a heavy train, the following one with a Brush built loco pushed it up with its own train as well.

Most powerful Diesel in Britain was built in 1962!