Tri-ang (Triang) Railways TT Directory
 

Butch - Shakedown Trials

So with the loco assembled, it was back to the club for a steam safety test and issuing of a club boiler certificate.

There have been a number of trials carried out so far and each time I've come away with a to do list;

First, the water feed control valve to the injector failed and was replaced by a commercially available product. The injector was de-scaled and the hand pump seal replaced.

Secondly, it was found that the piston ring where leaking. Having set off with 80psi on the clock the pressure fell back to zero within one lap of the small circuit at the club. The symptom here was steam being emitted through the blast pipe with the engine in full forward, regulator open but the loco held stationary. Extraction of the pistons with the loco 'fully' assembled was very tricky as access to the retaining bolts was very restricted. 

The third test was significantly better. The new graphite yard piston rings made the world of difference and boiler pressure was maintained whilst circling the small track. However, when the tanks and injector became warm the injector steadfastly refused to pump water into the boiler. With the hand pump also starting to leak again the decision was taken to drop the fire. I've now stripped the loco and will re-commission the axel pump, strip the injector to re-examine it and also look again at the hand-pump seal. We're getting there......

The hand pump was duly rebuilt with a new rubber seal. The tanks and boiler were then removed and work started on rebuilding the axel pump. This consisted of replacing the ball bearings, de-scaling the pump and replacing the rubber seal. The water tank was also de-scaled prior to reassembly of everything.

One other item on the to do list is to replace all the springs because the current ones are of differing strengths and lengths. It's therefore difficult to get the balance right.