RH&DR Doctor Syn during overhaul, testing motion on air (1)

[paullubliner]

I am disappointed, I always believed these were three cylinder.

[jonemmins]

@paullubliner Only locos 7 and 8 were ever designed - and built - as three cylinder locos. At the time the locos were saturated steam only. They were very thirsty on water and high on coal on consumption as a result. Also the third cylinder was very difficult to get to to do maintenance (lubrication, adjustment, gland packing, setting etc.) They were blanked-off in the 1930s; No.7s first, No.8's only after it seized in operation and caused much disruption to the service.

[jonemmins]

No.8 was subsequently renamed Bluebottle and painted blue as punishment. (Later returned to being named Hurricane but always since blue!). The cylinders remained in situ until the 1970s. One of them is still retained as a museum piece. There is still a box on the front valence under the smokebox on both locos which was the space where the cylinders were housed. All other locos were always two cylinder.

[rbnoremac]

Shes Looking amazing!! :D I cant wait to see her in steam again!! :)