S160 6046 has passed its hydraulic test. I was a bit misinformed about it being a steam test which will be in a couple of weeks time the good news is that it passed at 340 PSI which means that it will run at 225 psi where as 5197 only ran at 200psi. Not being a mechanical man, only work on the P/Way, not sure how this affects the power rating. What is the normal PSI.?
S160 6046 is to have its steam test this Thursday. Unfortunaely it will not be finished in time for the gala this weekend but hopefully it will be on display in light steam. The owner would not rush the work as this engine will be the mainstay of the railway for the next couple of years, but is hoped that it can star in the opening of the 3 mile extention of the line later this Spring.
Things still progressing well, went in the shed today and they are now putting the lagging on the boiler. Changed my Avatar to the latest photo. Should see a big difference next week with all the cladding fitted. Will keep updating as things move towards full steaming.
It's been a long time coming but there is light at the end of the tunnel, the boiler work has been done and painting has started. Still work to be done on cylinders and running gear but it won't be long now. I have put a photo on facebook on the Railroad Milepost site so that you all can see the progress made. Roll on the good times.
S160 6046
Pistons have now had their rings fitted, conrods are being fitted, pipework done and painted. Won't be long now, hopefully. photo on Railroad Milepost site.
Finally the S160 6046 has gone one the rails down to Froghall and back on a test run with coaches. I have changed my avitar photo to it and there is a larger one on my Facebook. Can't wait till its run in and has a run up the Cauldon line.
Testing is still going on, had a few problems with the compressor which have now been overcome. The exciting news is that it is now being bought up to mainline standards, so in the future it could be running on the mainline for the first time in the UK for 50 years. Keep upto date on the Churnet Valley webpage.
Still having problems with the air compressor the original one has gone to Poland to be overhauled but still no signs of it returning. In the meantime we have borrowed one from NYMR off their S160 which has been standing outside since the ticket ran out, so we are trying to overhaul that one. Apart from that just a little timping is required to get it running.
Finally the problems with the air pump have been resolved. Today it has gone up the Cauldon line for the first time. It is still being tested so it had a diesel inside in case of problems but it was not needed. Shoud be used on first revenue trains this week on the CVR. Try this short video if it works, on youtube htpp://youtu.bemYW9SrLj1kU
The S160 6046 is fully operational and is pulling the Santa trains at weekends and Wednesdays. The whistle sounds different from 5197. Did the different makers use their own whistles or should they have been the same? Some good videos on you tube of the first runs.
Well done to you and your crew! It sounds like you've gotten yourselves a well-earned Christmas present. Where can we find the videos on You Tube? I'd love to see them.
I'm not sure wether this works over there but try youtube churnet valley santa trains s160. the best one I think is Penny Steams part 2. The music sucks but goes off after about 1 min. Hope you enjoy it
Samoht, I went looking and I found it. Everyone, search You Tube Churnet Valley Railway 1st December 2012. You'll find it, and you've GOT to see this video, it's just wonderful, especially part two.
You know, it's your locomotive, and you can paint it anyway you want, but I have to admit I was pretty gratified to see that U.S.A. on the side. And that is some beautiful country that train rolls through! No wonder you Brits fought like lions to keep Phillip of Spain, Napoleon, and Hitler out of it!
You folks have done it, well and truly. Great job!
PS, i don't think the music's bad, I found it as charming as that fuzzy puppy!
Glad you enjoyed the video the long distance shots with the mist were very good. The number and USA are in stainless steel,they really glint when the sun shines on them. Did you notice 5197 outside the shed it is next in line to be restored some time this year, so hopefully in a couple of years time we should have both of them running.
Oh yeah, I noticed. And everybody else, WATCH THAT VIDEO!
If you look at the video by Irwellsteam on the same weekend about 1.23 min in there is a good shot of 5190 outside the shed.
The Churnet Valley Railway has announced a steam gala on the 23rd and 24th Feb, which will star S160 6046 making its gala debut. In addition there will be 2 guest locos one an ex Southern BR U class 31806 plus one TBA. There will also a ex LNE BR N7 69621 loco. Also in the yard a Bayer Peacok 0-4-0 will be giving driver experiences. It should be a great gala with trains running the 27 mile round trips with gradients up the 7.5 milr Cauldon line of between 1in40 and 1in61. There will be some double heading as well. My eyes are watering at the prospect of the S160 going up there and the sound of the whistle as she goes.
Sounds like it's going to be one hell of a party! Wish I could be there. Oh well, maybe one day.
Say, is anyone paying attention to this thread besides ME?
Not sure if you are aware, but another S160 is being restored! Alaska RR #557. ( Baldwin Locomotive Works builders serial number 70480 was built for the United States Army Trans- portation Corp (USATC) to become their U.S. No. 3523. The equipment power shortage was acute in Alaska as military preparations were being made for the United States entry into World War II. Twelve of these locomotives were diverted to Alaska and No. 3523 arrived in December 1944 to become Alaska Railroad #557.)
You can see more about her here and the efforts we have made in the last five months:
http://www.alaskarails.org/pix/former-loco/557/restore/index.html
She has become our little "Gypsy Rose" and we have a strong love for what we are doing
Oh and Merry Christmas,
Art
There is some good footage of 6046 this weekend on the Mince Pies Special going up the steep Cauldon line on youtube. You will notice that there is a diesel on the back this was because the last thing to be put on during restoration was the sanders and these had been damaged during the storage. With it being so wet the rails were slippy and the diesel supplied some adhesion as and when needed. So as thought the s160 did quite a bit of wheelslip but it still looked great, plenty of steam and smoke.
The S160 6046 is running well now and is ready for the gala and after that will be going to star in another gala at the West Somerset Railway. The other good news is that 5197 will be moved into the shed at the end of February, ready to be on display at the gala. In March it will be started to be striped down ready for its overhaul, so in a couple of years we should have both S160s running together. Can't wait to see them double heading up the Cauldon line.
New sandboxs have been fitted to 6046 both front and rear. The reason for this is that the engine has been restored to mainline standards for future running on the mainline. The position of the sander on the top of the boiler posed a problem as it would be running under the wires. The sandbox is still there but disconnected as taking it off would ruin the line of the loco. The steam gala is next weekend with the S160 steaming along with 3 other locos, should be a good couple of days.
Just an update on our 2 S160s, 6046 is performing great, getting well run in ready to make a mainline debut, It will be the first S160 to run on the mainline since just after the war, hopefully it will be at the end of the year. 5197 has been stripped down ready for the boiler removal this week and is being fast tracked to be running at the end of 2014. It will be exciting to see both S160 double heading up the steep gradients of the Cauldon line.
Thanks for the update samoht! Glad to see you haven't forgotten us!
Sorry for being so long in posting but its been a busy year on the Churnet Valley. First 6046 has been on several railways this year, the lastest one was North Yorkshire Moors where it spent the last several months but has now returnded the run our Santa specials. It certainly turned some heads and renewed the interest in the S160s. 5197 has been stripped down in preparation for the rebuild and some new parts are being manufactured. In the meantime a pseudo Class USA switcher has been purchased, this was built in Poland based a on Colonel H.G.Hills C.E., U.S. Army design. This is being fast tracked and altered to B.R. gauge and hopefully will be running in the new year. So in the next 18 months we could have 3 USA designed locos running, plus another class USA switcher has been purchased but requires quite a lot of work to get her running again.
Welcome back samoht! We missed ya buddy! And your Churnet Valley updates.
Thanks Firelock,Don't get much feedback apart from yourself so I cannot judge the interest if theres any in what we are doing. All these locos are the mainstay of our railwayand we are hoping to get 6046 a ticket for mainline running.
You're welcome samoht! I'm sure there's plenty of interest. Everyone isn't as verbose as I am!
Try posting some phots if you can, that's a sure way to keep everyone's interest piqued.
I'm interested in updates, too!
I for some reason cannot get my photos on here but if you search for Churnet-Valley-Railway/locomotives there is a potted history of the 2 S160s and some photos on there.
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