Steam & Excursion > #34070 MANSTON on a Frosty morning

A nicely weathered (Dirty) Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 #34070 MANSTON, on a frosty February morning on the Mid-Hants, also known as the Watercress line, with a short mixed goods train.  These SR West Country and Battle of Britain class locos were informally known as Spam Cans or flat tops because of the classes air-smoothed casing. Twenty are still with us in varying states of preservation, and all but four have run at some stage in preservation. Nine are currently operational.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/31/24 00:16 by Rattie.

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Sounds like a 3-cylinder.....

That is some well maintained track and rolling stock -- no banging over joints or flat wheels....just quiet as she goes...B

Beautiful video, but . . .

<<A nicely weathered (Dirty)>>

Imho, there is nothing nice about a dirty engine! I was there last spring and was really disspointed to see such a dirty engine and to learn it was done on purpose. Give me clean power any day!

-Jim



 

Here is one of my pictures of the Manston taken on April 27, 2024 with its "Dirty" appearance.  

-Jim



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/29/24 18:48 by RailRyder.

---

Thanks for the compliments on the video. As lovely as it is to see clean engines on most heritage railways, that is not as they were in actual service, especially in later years of steam. A bit of weathering on the odd engine is fine by me, and it reminds me of my early trainspotting days back in the 60s.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 12/29/24 08:27 by Rattie.

Nice lighting for a cold day. Well done.

Earlk Wrote:
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> Sounds like a 3-cylinder.....

Yes she is.
Gerry Gaugl
Dominion of Canada

Are the cylinder cocks open for a reason?
Gerry Gaugl
Dominion of Canada

RailRyder Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Here is one of my pictures of the Manston taken on
> April 27, 2024 with its "Dirty" appearance.  
>
> -Jim
>
> that is some huge wheels on that tender!!

Rattie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for the compliments on the video. As lovely
> as it is to see clean engines on most heritage
> railways, that is not as they were in actual
> service, especially in later years of steam. A bit
> of weathering on the odd engine is fine by me, and
> it reminds me of my early trainspotting days back
> in the 60s.

AKA "In Service" look.

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA

moonliter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Earlk Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Sounds like a 3-cylinder.....
>
> Yes she is.
> Gerry Gaugl
> Dominion of Canada

OK, British Steam Experts, we have a 3- cylinder 4-6-2.  The 3rd cylinder is neatly tucked in between the frames driving a cranked axle.  

What kind of valve motion does it have?  There are no signs of such on the outside.  I doubt it has Stephenson gear, although the idea of six sets of eccentrics, 3 sets of link motion and a cranked axle hiding under there would be a facinating, typically British way of doing things....

A guess is some sort of poppet valve arrangement.

What say you?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/30/24 10:33 by Earlk.

AKA "In Service" look.   I like that.  Forgive me if I alter the YouTube version using that bit of copy.

Earlk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> moonliter Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Earlk Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Sounds like a 3-cylinder.....
> >
> > Yes she is.
> > Gerry Gaugl
> > Dominion of Canada
>
> OK, British Steam Experts, we have a 3- cylinder
> 4-6-2.  The 3rd cylinder is neatly tucked in
> between the frames driving a cranked axle.  
>
> What kind of valve motion does it have?  There
> are no signs of such on the outside.  I doubt it
> has Stephenson gear, although the idea of six sets
> of eccentrics, 3 sets of link motion and a cranked
> axle hiding under there would be a facinating,
> typically British way of doing things....
>
> A guess is some sort of poppet valve arrangement.
>
> What say you?

Are we SURE it has three cylinders?  There's a number of videos on YT that show British locomotives being constructed in the late 1930's and they had four cylinders with the inside cylinders driving a cranked axle. This would explain why there wasn't the "normal" three cylinder valve gear.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/30/24 14:55 by PHall.

This should answer your questions.Boiler pressure of 34070: 250 lbf/sq.in.,
Weight of 34070: loco 86.0 tons, tender ~42-48 tons,
Wheel diameter of 34070: 3' 1'', 6' 2", 3' 1",
Valve gear of 34070: Bullied chain driven,
Cylinders (diameter x stroke) of 34070: 16⅜" x 24", three.
Tractive effort of 34070: 27720 lbf.
BR Power classification of 34070: Class 7P.
Bullied SR 4-6-2 Pacific design with 'air-smoothed casing, thermic syphons and Boxpox driving wheels.

I did some more research on the loco, and it turns out that in 2022, at 34070's most recent overhaul, it was suggested to Southern Locomotives, who own the loco, along with several others, rather than return the loco to its usual pristine appearance that they might avoid repainting “Manston. They agreed, and when "Manston" was returned to service, enthusiasts were given the opportunity to see an authentically worn-down and weathered loco in action.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/31/24 05:44 by Rattie.

You still need to wash them for corrosion control if for nothing else. 

PHall Wrote:
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> You still need to wash them for corrosion control
> if for nothing else. 

Really? What is "corrosion control", and where does the "corrosion" come from?

HotWater Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> PHall Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > You still need to wash them for corrosion
> control
> > if for nothing else. 
>
> Really? What is "corrosion control", and where
> does the "corrosion" come from?

Rain water and coal dust do wonderful things to steel. Plus it's much easier to inspect a clean machine then a dirt covered one.

But you know that...

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> HotWater Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > PHall Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > You still need to wash them for corrosion
> > control
> > > if for nothing else. 
> >
> > Really? What is "corrosion control", and where
> > does the "corrosion" come from?
>
> Rain water and coal dust do wonderful things to
> steel. Plus it's much easier to inspect a clean
> machine then a dirt covered one.
>
> But you know that...

You would be amazed what one can find on dirty running gear machinery and the boiler, prior to washing. Now, diesel is another story, i.e. being nice and clean helps a lot during any inspection.