Doctor Syn in RH&DR overhaul workshop, New Romney, on 15 January 2010. The motion and wheels all re-painted, re-furbished and replaced into the frames. Here seen being tested on air for one of the very first times. Seen in shot, Kim Richardson and Mark Lane (operating the lifting link). The piston valves are yet to be set correctly.
I am disappointed, I always believed these were three cylinder.
paullubliner 4 months ago
@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 4 months ago
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.
jonemmins 4 months ago