New Build Baldwin Locomotive LYN 762 Steaming 8th July 2017 Lynton & Barnstaple Railway
Vložit
- čas přidán 7. 07. 2017
- Here are a few shots of new build steam locomotive LYN in steam at Alan Keef Engineering, not far from Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire. Over the last few months LYN has slowly been taking shape here, assembled from over 25000 components made over the last few years by individuals and engineering companies, big and small, all over the country, from over 7000 drawings.
The Lynton & Barnstaple railway opened on 11th May 1898 with three 2-6-2 tank engines built by Manning, Wardle & Co of Leeds, England. Two months later they were joined by 'LYN' a Baldwin 2-4-2. Shortly before the line opened, the directors of the railway had decided a fourth loco would be required to handle summer traffic. So why not order another Manning Wardle? During this time there was industrial dispute in British factories over the demands from workers for an eight hour working day. Manning Wardle's order books were full so could not complete an order in the required time. The railway's directors turned to Baldwin of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A who could produce a loco quickly, using many stock parts. A tender for £1030 was accepted on 20th April 1898. She was completed by late May, the final erecting drawing is dated 25th May. Steam testing followed at the Baldwin factory before being dismantled and shipped in crates from New York to Bristol, then probably by train to Barnstaple. After reassembly in Pilton Yard she steamed on the 23rd July and entered service four days later. LYN's build number was 15965 which gives and idea of the scale of Baldwin's output. The new LYN's build number is Alan Keef Ltd No 92. LYN was unique, although two similar 2'6" gauge 2-6-2 locos were being built around the same time for the Australian railways in Victoria state. (build numbers 15936 & 15937) Some of the later Australian built versions of the same design, NA class, are preserved and run on the Puffing Billy Railway near Melbourne.
All four L&B locomotives were named after three-letter Devon rivers. 'YEO', 'EXE' and 'TAW'. The Baldwin was named 'LYN' but commonly referred to by staff as 'The Yankee'. The Ffestiniog Railway's replica of a Manning Wardle loco, finished in 2010, is called "LYD"
When the Southern Railway took over the line in 1923, they also gave LYN a number: E 762. E For Eastleigh, the Southern shed Pilton was attached to. LYN was sent to Eastleigh works for overhaul at the end of 1928, returning in January 1929 in full Southern Railway livery. This is how the new LYN will appear. They also ordered another Manning Wardle engine "LEW" (The loco that was shipped to Brazil after the railway closed and never heard of again)
Despite a few teething problems, LYN was a popular and distinctive engine that was also the most powerful on the line, on occasion pulling five-coach trains, one more than normally allowed.
The L&B closed on the 29th September 1935. At the railway's auction on 13th November, LYN was sold for £50 and was quickly reduced to pile of scrap with only her nameplates, head-lamp and gauge glass protector surviving.
The 762 Club, a registered charity, was set up to construct, own and maintain a new LYN for operation on the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway. The project has taken about eight years and its supporters have contributed some £650,000. Testament to the strength of support for the L&B project as a whole, not forgetting it's also an investment into the North Devon tourism economy.
LYN's very first steaming was a few days before, quite appropriately on the 4th July and again on the 6th, this was for the boiler safety examination by an inspector.
Although the new LYN looks like the original, she incorporates the most modern design features to make her more powerful, fuel efficient and greener than before, probably the most advanced narrow-gauge steam loco ever produced in the world. A Victorian steam engine for the 21st century.
After some final preparation and painting into full Southern Railway livery, LYN will move to Woody Bay in early September for trials, load testing and driver training.
Come and see LYN for yourself at her first public steaming at the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Autumn Gala. 30th September 1st October 2017. See you there!! 😊😊😊😊
UPDATE: 10th September. First picture of the fullly painted LYN released. 😊😊😊😊😊
See for yourself at 762club.com and see "Lynformation No 60"
UPDATE: 11th September. LYN comes home to Woody Bay. This was followed on the 14th by twelve round trips or so of the line, approximately 24 miles, from light engine to loaded trains of wagons and 'AXE' as dead weight on the rear and she performed well.
www.lynton-rail.co.uk
www.762club.com
As a matter of interest, fifty years ago, on 9th July 1967 the last steam hauled trains ran on the southern region of British Railways.
Been a long time coming, well done to all her supporters: to those who financially gave to the project, to those who made all the parts and to those who put her together!
Amazing achievement. Apart from the lack of paint, looks just like my Accuracy version!
lovely Locomotive, can't wait until she's in her green livery. The video is great too, especially when it shows you the photos of the original 1898 built engine and the replica in 2017.
just fabulous !
Huge congrats to those involved. She looks almost spot on. All she needs now is some colour and some TLC.
Interesting that it seems to have a screw reverse where all the similar Australian Puffing Billy locos have lever reverse.
She's a fine look brute, can't wait to see this with Lyd. Hopefully very soon.
Yes that will be a fine sight. Keep 'em peeled! It's in the pipeline
traindriver35 I do have a soft spot for the Lynton and Barnstable but it is at the wrong end of the country for me and I am only a teenager so can't organise a holiday around a trip to one mile of railway. Although I did go many years ago and I thought it was just wonderful.
Not to worry, in a few years we'll hopefully have a much longer railway for you to visit. Glad to hear young people are interested in the railway.
traindriver35 A Yank named Alvin Toffler wrote a book about 1970 called "Future Shock" in which he notes that as the world becomes more technological the people feel the need to hold onto things from the past. He doesn't mention old trains but his thesis has been born out by the many tourist railroads and train museums that have started and prospered since that time. Of course it didn't hurt that incomes have risen and provided funds for donations and rides.
Re-creating this locomotive was a magnificent engineering achievement. It's lucky that the original drawings survived. How and from whom were they obtained, because that was surely the key to the entire project?
WAHOO! New kid on the block! Cant wait :D
Traindriver35, where are you getting all that rail and what weight is it? What boiler pressure in PSI does your new Baldwin produce?
Rail for the new extension? It's going to be brand new 50lb rail I think. The working pressure of the boiler is 250lbs psi
traindriver35 Where is it being rolled?
Sorry, I'm sure it's be considered by those in charge of the project, but I don't know.
Why did you have Baldwin build the original?
Please have a look in the description. I give a fairly good account. Hope you like the new LYN
traindriver35 thanks. I've never seen or read a description below a CZcams video so complete. It has the Baldwin roof. But it has no headlight. Hope to ride your rails someday.
Thank you, I do try😊 the history of our little railway is very interesting and to have had a unique loco, built in the U.S. puffing over rugged Exmoor is quite special. I think she was the only U.S. built loco specifically for the U.K. There were others sent here during WWII and later bought by the Southern Railway. A replica has been made of the headlamp which we will see in September. The original is in a museum