Black5 with a flat tyre!

Nice to see a steam loco benefiting from technology developed for modern locos!

**LINK**

Can't see a thing about new technology. What am I missing?

Andrew.

The skate developed for diesels etc - this is the first time it has been used for a steam loco

Note that the skate has open journals - its beams simply rest on its own axles, and it almost appears to have no bearing linings though it probably has thin half-bushes.

It's evidently designed to be assembled easily and rapidly by two people around the affected wheel, so I assume that detail helps reduce the height to which the vehicle axle has to be jacked.

'

A couple of years ago I saw and heard a long hopper train pass through Skipton station while I was awaiting my train. One of the hoppers was emitting a loud, heavy thumping, making me wonder if it had a flat. It might have been too far back for the driver to have heard it even if had the window open. I mentioned it to the driver of another train that happened to stop a few moments later, diplomatically adding, "I am not an expert on rolling-stock engineering, but it didn't sound right at all". He thanked me and said he'd pass it on.

Why did they have to take the engine if the flat was on the tender?

Roy

Never occurred to me to think about that - cheaper to use the main line for one trip rather than 2 perhaps?

When I worked on DMU in 1960's flat tyres were common, the driver had failed to wind off the trailing unit hand brake, they a had a hand brake at both ends. I don't recall it happening on locos. John

That’s a standard MK 2 BR railway skate set on loco width tread. The 4 side plates grip the tyres of the wheel set . The 2 holes in the middle of the side plate allow a dowled spacer to be added to allow it to grip the reduced the tread width of C & W wheel sets. The bearing is in the middle of each wheel . The wheels can be carried to site on a tee shaped handle and are very heavy they are held apart by a spacer tube that does not rotate because it has no an axle. Maximum speed 25 mph on plain track and 5 mph on points and crossings. Stop every every 5 miles or so for bearing temperature checks and a regressing of the bearings after 15/20 miles. When skate is retrieved check and adjust bearing play and regressed for next time. There is always a rider with the rolling stock being recovered the wheels a 25 MPH look like Catherine wheels he is there both to carry the above checks and gently remind the driver of the speed limits and ensure if it’s a driven wheel being carried that it’s motor is isolated along with the appropriate bogie wheel or wheel set brakes!

Is it because the loco has no coal or water, which must limit its range? I've no idea how far a locomotive could travel without topping up the fire and water?

And do the coupling rods have to be disconnected before towing, which might also mean the valves have to be reset from scratch on reassembly?

Putting it on a trailer might be much less trouble.

Or maybe road is just the easiest way of moving a steam locomotive not normally authorised for main-line travel. Watched a documentary were one was delivered by road to a heritage railway special event and then returned home by road for maintenance, before being delivered by road for a main-line run between scenic locations. I got the impression steam didn't mix with normal traffic in the sense the engine could go anywhere. Bet the forum has someone who can tell me!

Dave

Apparently, some firemen used to lock the tender wheels deliberately, to produce a flat. With the brake released, the resulting vibration shook the coal forward, saving work for the fireman!

With steamers restricted to 75 mph (Presumably because of hammer blow ) mixing among the 125 mph express running diagrams would cause problems, even with constantly being put into sidings to let fast traffic pass

So transporting by road probably causes fewer problems for all concerned.

Howard

The skate was probably used to get the loco and tender to the nearest road access point apart from requiring a a 25 mph path which if your lucky is an after midnight job. Also If the skate was to run hot or worse collapse during its trip in the first instance skate parts are required and in the 2nd there could be damage to the tender and the rail Network. If you look at the risks involved then this was good risk management. One thing that also needs considering with wheel flat movement is the temperature because large flats and low temperatures can result in broken rails. There is a group standard that covers flat length in a 2 axis chart axle weight x flat length = permitted max speed.