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27th June 2010
We would like to report that the second appearance of 14901 on MR-B metals was a success, but it would be dishonest to suggest it was anything other than a partial one. Andrew believes in what he calls "last weekend of the month syndrome" and over the years it has often proven to be true - the first weekend of the month and things go swimmingly, but the last weekend is where all good plans go awry.
The first east-bound working of the day for 14 901 ready to leave Butterley for Swanwick.
Readers may recall (if not, read up Utterley Butterley - 1) that fuel contaimination had left us stranded for some time at Butterley while fuel piping was rodded through and the fuel header tank refilled for the second time that day direct with a pipe and funnel. As that day wore on the Rolls developed a slight hunting at idle - only some 100rpm or so - enough to be irritating but not serious.
This hunting was still there as we headed light loco to Butterley to collect our ECS on Saturday 26th (5 vehicles this time, including a kitchen car, grossing 176 tons for those interested in such things) and start collecting passengers as shown above. Pete was again driving, the MR-B pilotman started off with Chris ( a senior MR-B official in white shirt) and later substitute Richard Ward of the group owning 47 401. Unlike the May Gala, there would be no topping and tailing so there was no back-up if 14 901 failed on the way and also required a run round at each end - a strange experience having come from the Elsecar line where no such luxuries as run-round loops exist.
14 901 brought the 5 carriages up the line without problem - observing the 10mph speed limit of the lower section and accelerating up to around 14-15mph on the remaining climb to Swanwick. We noted higher coolant temperatures but only a few degrees in a higher ambient.
Back at Swanwick before heading on to Hammersmith.
As Swanwick is not quite half way, and the line from there to Hammersmith is not only shorter but flatter, as we returned from Butterley we tended to find ourselves held at the Swanwick home signals until the other train, operated by two 08s, had entered the platform. Then we would be cleared and arrive to exchange tokens...
We are not Gronk fans - Pete usually describes them as "Start of the art (1930) traction package, State of Art (1870) chassis - all married to a Trawler engine" but nevertheless we tried double-heading with one: didn't work all that well so we reached an amicable divorce at Hammersmith...
But in 14-land all was not well. As the day progressed the hunting, which had started out as a mere 100rpm, developed steadily. By 4pm Pete was reluctantly saying that if it got any worse he'd consider failing it, as it was now cycling from 400 to 1000rpm and only becoming steady when under load - not so easy when the run from Swanwick to Riddings involves nothing much more than judicious brake applications. Andrew however, hearing it coming in to Swanwick on what would have been its final run of the day, made his mind up and after Terry was unable to influence the fuel pump to behave any differently, terminated the train. Richard Ward fired up the 47 and 14 901 went along for the ride. It was all the more sad because we had been joined on its final run by an SRPS member who regailed us as we waited with various stories of its travails at Bo'ness, including the tale of how the central roof piece had been blown off whilst under tow from a Class 26.
We returned and fired up 14 901 on the Sunday, but the hunting, though not as pronounced, was again present - 300rpm+, so reluctantly Andrew took the decision to withdraw the loco. Paul Bardill had in any event announced this the previous night on a forum, and we hope that few people were disappointed. For ourselves, Andrew set too to remove the fuel pump, which will return to the pump repairers tomorrow, but draining the header tank immediately revealed debris, and as there has not (before) been a "last-ditch" filter between header tank and pump, it is fairly obvious that some foreign matter had got into the hydraulic governor, causing the hunting.
We will know more shortly, but 14 901 moves to Peak Rail on the 1st and all being well should be back in action, double heading with D9525, at the Peak Rail "Anything Goes" Gala on the 10th/11th July.
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