Progress update on fitting ETCS to steam locomotive “Tornado”

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has provided an update on progress with the installation of European Train Control System (ETCS) to A1 Class Pacific No. 60163 Tornado.

A number of outstanding electrical tasks have been completed including:

• Fitting a protective cover to the cable joints between the inside front left lighting frame lighting strips, as this is an area that is prone to impact from tools;
• Installing flexible conduits, wiring, and an LED strip for the front buffer beam lighting, with just final fitting of the LED strip and connection to the system to be completed;
• Surveying around the reverser stand ready for refitting the sander indicator wiring, boxes and air pipes.

The apparently simple task of installing front buffer beam lighting was made more complicated because of the need to install new wiring in the conduit that runs from the under-running plate box past the cylinder and down to the turbogen connection box. Different methods were tried without success until a combination of a nylon and a tubular steel rod were able to be pulled through the conduit.

The next challenge was to get the wiring through the frame and finalise the position of the LED lighting strip, but the conduit for the front buffer beam umbilical wiring provided a path for the strip gave it good physical protection.

The sander indicator pressure switch box that flashes an LED to remind the driver when the sanders are operating used to be located in an unsuitable location under the floor on the driver s side. A new location has been identified for it on the left of the reverser stand, which will provide a better connection to the forward and reverse air pipes, near to the sander lever, and will be easier to connect into the LED box and the rest of the electrical system.

Most of the more complex and problematic electrical work on Tornado has now been completed, with electrical jobs yet to be completed including:

• Final fitting, connection and testing of the front buffer beam LED lighting strip;
• Reconnecting the wiring to the Turbogen Switch Box wiring that had been disconnected to allow welding on the engine frames;
• Connection of all electrical systems between the engine and cab once the cab has been fitted, which will include a few modifications to make sure everything fits in some very confined spaces;
• Making a new sander indicator box and wiring, refurbishing the LED box, and final fitting of the boxes to the reverser stand and air brake bracket;
• Refitting and rewiring the front-top marker lamp on the top of the smokebox;
• Refitting front-lower marker lamp after the front buffer beam footplate has been fitted;
• Refitting the front-right and -left marker and tail luminaires;
• Testing all of Tornado s electrical systems as far as possible without the tender;
• Making up and testing new umbilical cables between the engine and tender, which are required because of the higher electrical current due to installation of ETCS.