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Cheltenham Society of Model Engineers |
Next Public Afternoon (1330 - 1600hrs) |
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LBSC 'Pansy' |
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GWR Pannier Tank
(LBSC 'Pansy')
by Barry Leach |
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Back in the early 1980's I completed
my first steam locomotive - a 5"Gauge GWR Pannier Tank - to the LBSC
Design 'Pansy'. I've regularly steamed the locomotive for the past 15
years and can honestly say that it has been one of the most reliable steam
locomotives with which I've been involved. For the most part LBSC's design
is very sound, the locomotive is a very good steamer and has been an excellent
passenger hauler during the society 'open' afternoons. |
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For any prospective builder I would heartily
recommend it as a good steam locomotive. However, there are a few pitfalls one should
be aware of:
- The slide valves are driven by a rocker shaft
directly from the die-block. It is advisable to fit additional bearings
to the motion plate to provide support for the rocker shafts on either
side of the slide valve drive arms. Without this bearing the load
on the slide valves will cause the single centre bearings to wear
into a 'barrel' shape within the first twelve months of use.
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- Protection around the rear axle and axleboxes is essential. Much coal dust from the footplate
drops through and onto the axle/axleboxes. Keeping this dust from
these bearings will greatly improve their life.
- Be careful with the purchase of the casting for the 'Inner Dome Bush'. In its unmachined state
my casting was short of the required length by about 0.125".
Suppliers can be reluctant to acknowledge these types of problem -
it's not their responsibility(?).
- My drawings show the blast pipe centre line and the chimney centre line in different positions.
They should be the same.
- The dimensions for the cabside doorway do not match the drawing. Check them out.
- Beware of using OLD drawings. My original drawings for Pansy, purchased in the late 1960's, have
the boiler dimensioned incorrectly. It will not reach the smokebox,
being short by about 0.187". The boiler barrel length should
be 11.625" and the outer/inner firebox length should be 5.5/4.625,
respectively. Check your drawings.
- I consider the positioning of the emergency handpump in one of the sidetanks to be questionable.
Use of the handpump puts much stress into the supporting platework
and whether one could safely use the handpump whilst on the move is
suspect. Fitting the handpump crossways into the bunker space, directly
to the buffer beam, gives a very firm position with easy access when running.
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- Give much consideration to the
lubrication of all the 'between frames' motion. Wear on this motion
needs to be kept to a minimum as much as possible. Whilst being an excellent
'runner', when maintenance of the motion is required a major stripdown
is required.
- The boiler works extremely well
with the softer Welsh steam coals. However, when using the harder 'Anthracite'
type of coal it is extremely difficult to get the coal to burn completely
away. It leaves small glowing embers which after about an hours running
fill the firebox, making it difficult to maintain pressure. At this
point the grate has to be dropped and a new fire lit for another hours
run. Perhaps someone might have an answer to this!
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