Steam Improvements of
the Last 30 Years
Vale of Rheidol
Railway Locomotives
updated 05/05/2000
| Shaun McMahon worked here as the
Locomotive Foreman between 1989 and 1994. This
railway operates 3 2-6-2T's built at Swindon by
the Great Western Railway in 1923 (No.s 7, 8, and
9). The line is 2 foot gauge with a ruling grade
of 1 in 40, 11 miles long. It was originally
built as a lead mine railway, but is now a
tourist line. |
Kylchap Cowl as
Fitted to Locomotive No. 8
During 1991, this device was designed,
fabricated, and installed on the locomotive to
improve the drafting of this locomotive (the
worst of the fleet).
|
Lempor Exhaust
Stand for No. 7
After the initial success of the Kylchap
modification to no. 8, Shaun McMahon and Nigel
Day designed and fabricated a Lempor exhaust
system for installation on locomotive no. 7.
Unfortunately, railway management was unreceptive
to this idea and the system was never installed.
|
| McMahon and Day saw the possibilities for
improving service on this railway by moderately
modernizing their locomotives along proven lines.
This would have included new oil firing systems,
Lempor exhaust, piston valves, modified bogies,
suspension improvements, one man operation, high
superheat, and a modern water treatment system.
Unfortunately, the railway remained uninterested
in improving their locomotives despite the proven
benefits on the similar Welshpool & Llanfair
Railway a mere 40 miles away! |
|
