Gresley Carriages - Vacuum Pipes?

[notascoobie]

Good afternoon,

I'm playing with Ian Kirk bits in 7mm at the moment. I've got a 61'6" BCK well advanced now and I'm doing some detailing.

I think I've sussed out the carriage and bogie footboards but there's one thing that's got me scratching my head. On one side of some (all?) carriages is a pipe that runs from the headstock along the side of the solebar, under the footboards. On some carriages the pipe is turned under the carriage body in the area of one of the bogies, whereas on others, it continues the full length. Some carriages havee a short run to the nearest bogie, whereas others have a long run to the far bogie.

I'm presuming this is something to do with the vacuum braking but cannot work out a rationale for its positioning. I don't even know whether it's present on every Gresley carriage or whether it's actually vacuum related.

Confession of ignorance over. I'd be pleased if someone could indulge me and explain all about it. Please!

Regards,

Vernon

[greenglade]

Hi Vernon


I'm not entirely familiar with the carriage layout but basically if fitted with vacuum brakes ( I'm talking automatic braking here as I happen to have a little experience with them although in miniature form) there will be the main train pipe which runs for the entire length of the train being connected for each carriage via the vacuum hoses. For each carriage you will have pipes coming off the main pipe to the vacuum cylinder or actuator/s. There needs to be a tight seal on these as loss of vacuum will automatically engage the brakes.

This link explains it far better than i could... http://www.engrailhistory.info/r143.html

there is also another pipework involved and that's the heating hosing again running along the length of the train.

Pete

[2512silverfox]

You really are best advised to get a photo of the vehicle you are modelling. There was some variety although all vehicles did have the continuous vac pipe on one side or the other with or without 'kinks'.

[UpDistant]

Hi Vernon

I asked a similar question a while ago and got this helpful reply - "Turnbuckle underframe drawing 4739N of 1924 shows the vac pipe on the right hand solebar. Looking down on plan this is on the handbrake side of the underframe, or the opposite side to the dynamo. Drawing 10614N Rigid trussing of 1935 shows the same, and drawing 12712N Welded underframe of 1937 shows the same. These drawings are for 60'-0" underframes. Hope this helps."

I would also recommend getting a copy of Mike Trice's 12mm : 1ft drawing 61'6" vestibule Gresley turnbuckle underframe (from Dart Castings) if you haven't got it already.

John

[notascoobie]

Guys,

Thanks for your prompt responses, there's some good advice there.

John, thanks for the steer about the underframe drawing.

Regards,

Vernon