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clive BRretired posted an update in the group
2 months agoMainline Steam (Early Walschaert for the late Bulleid)! Not too sure of the spelling? But the first was adopted in 1844, So another 100yrs till Oliver Bulleids Merchant Navy or Westcountry types would be conceived! And another ten years or so to their chains and oil bath method was ditched for the Walschaert gear to be installed! They were being rebuilt or converted up till about 1959! So i might wonder where Clan line disappeared to? When it come on the pits with no overcoat on and sporting fancy new gear! I was doing loads of earlier ones like Blue Star, General steam navigation, British India Line etc, But then the lighter 34s like Westcountry, and the Squadrons etc! I would cycle 12 mile to work for 6am start! Collect my bucket of oil and parafin plus an armful of cotton waste for cleaning engines! Then it was up and down while under all sorts of valve gear, Some i call mincing machines of so many moving parts! But the Bulleids you walk through the pits, ‘ducking your head’ to then lift your left leg up to rail, Left hand hauls you up for other leg to span the pit and track! (oil can in right hand)! Then the two big counter balances with inner bearing is now about chest height! Anti twist and pull large cork out! Fill, Then displace oil with finger to refit and twist cork clockwise and firm! All mainline drivers would favour the Bulleid sorts outer bigend on ‘drivers side’ between 5 and 10 past 12 midnight (clockface) for its ‘Underneaths’! I favoured that too! You simply lean further out cab widow, If you cant see it, then its not there yet! Lol! My word, that was 67yr ago! And some very strange rod gear or motion of so many sorts back then! Screw hand brake down hard! You may depend on it on a busy pit! And with bearings spinning too fast for the eye to see at their great speed, You refit a cork with care! Throw a cork and the oil will follow! Your Peninsular and oriental makes London! Your Eddystone or Sir Frederick Pile makes the westerly withered arm! A 100 percent for the young passed cleaner tending an 1844 masterpiece! And £3-9shilling and 11pence a week! Is about 9 times greater than my weekly paper round was!
