| 29/02/1948 |
Crewe Works |
The first two engines of Order E 468, Nos. 4748 and 4749 , were completed on 15/1 and 6/2 respectively. They are the first of ten engines to be fitted with Caprotti valve gear together with roller-bearing axle-boxes. The appearance of these engines differs somewhat from that of the previous Class '5' 4-6-0's, the most outstanding features being a lowered foot-framing, involving the use of splashers over the coupled wheels, and the main steam pipes, which, set well forward, are coupled to the front end of each steam chest. The camshaft is driven from a gearbox mounted on the leading coupled axle, between the frames. This is connected, by means of a universal shaft, to the cross-driving gearbox, which, situated beneath the smokebox saddle, imparts rotary motion direct to the camshaft. A small instruction plate inside the cab advises drivers to work the engine with a fully-open regulator varying the cut-off to suit gradients, etc. No. 4748 underwent trials on 4/2. One more Class '7P' 4-6-2 has had the streamline casing removed, this was No. *6236 during w/e 7/2 (*This now leaves only two (Nos. 6226/43) to be dealt with). No. 6229, which had the, streamline casing removed in 12/47, went into traffic early in January, in standard .L.M.S. livery, but with a blank tender side. Since then, however, all newly-painted locomotives have had 'BRITISH RAILWAYS' painted on the tender side and the prefix 'M' added, above the number on the cab side, and also beside the number on the smokebox door. All numerals and letters are in a new Gill Sans style, unlined. Several locomotives have already been experimentally painted in various colours. Among these were L.M.S. Class '5' 4-6-0's Nos. 4762-4 and 5292 , painted S.R. green, L.N.E.R. green, G.W.R. green, and black respectively. All four engines were lined on the left-hand side only, the lining on each engine being standard with that used by the pre-nationalised company represented. The style of lining applied to No. 5292 is reminiscent of L. & N.W.R. livery; this engine has since returned to Works, and has been lined on the right-hand side also. These four locomotives were noted at Crewe on the evening of 28/1, apparently just off Works, but they have since been seen in regular service. The number of withdrawn locomotives standing, in the Works' yard has been further reduced. Engines recently cut up include Nos. 9206, 25694, 28343 W/E 17/1, and Nos. 9374, 28546/50 , W/E 24/1 |
SLS/194803 |
| 31/03/1948 |
Crewe Works |
New construction for the past month includes three more class '5' Caprotti 4-6-0's, Nos. 4750 , 4751 and 4752 completed on 17/2, 24/2 and 5/3 respectively, class '7P' 4-6-2 No. 6257 completed on 26/2, and 'Royal Scot' conversion No. 6154 completed on 27/2. It is understood that No. 6105 is the next 'Royal Scot' to be rebuilt with a tapered boiler. No. 6257 bears the name City of Salford, and on 3/3 was noted in photographic livery on the weighbridge. It has all the latest modifications incorporated in No. 6256, and is No. 5 of order E 464. A Johnson '2F' 0-6-0 No. 3084 (Ex 2D) has been allocated to the C.M.E. Dept., Crewe, and is to be used on the daily trip between the Works and Basford Hall Sidings. Ex L. & N.W.R. engines continue to disappear steadily; among the latest batch of engines to go to the scrap heap were Service locomotives Nos. 3248/9 (the last 0-4-2ST Crane engines) and 0-4-0ST No. 3084. Scrapping dates from the middle of January are as follows:-W/E 17/1: Nos. 9206, 28343; w/e 24/1, 9374, 28546, 28550; w/e 31/1, 6674, 25791; w/e 7/2, 6754, 25775; w/e 14/2, 9182, 27648; w/e 21/2, 7715, 9175; w/e 28/2, 3084, 3249, 9251, 28117; w/e 6/3, 3248, 6729 an 28145 |
SLS/194804 |
