Lost bark to regain a bite?
Heard the one about the ‘King’ with the quadruple chimney? No? Well, there isn’t one - but it does have a four-nozzle blastpipe. That novel move is to compensate for the 4in shaved off No. 6023 to make the Collett engine Network Rail-friendly; the GW was happy to run its big 4-6-0s at 13ft 5in (progress, eh?). While you and I might concern ourselves about the aesthetics of King Edward II with trimmed down cab, safety valve bonnet and single chimney, more pressing is whether it actually steams. An unwelcome side effect of squeezing the four-cylinder engine down in height has been upsetting the draughting dimensions. Hence the new arrangement, developed in conjunction with Dutch steam expert Jos Koopmans; you can maybe think of it as something similar to a Lemaitre exhaust, which also had multiple nozzles all exhausting through a single chimney. “Everyone’s quite pleased that the amount of coal consumption has dropped quite dramatically,” reports Great Western Society Chairman Richard Croucher with ‘KEII’ running up and down at Didcot. Now as a blastpipe is hidden deep within the smokebox, it isn’t something you’d normally see - but that doesn’t mean you won’t know the ‘King’s’ new breathing apparatus is there. Those used to the big bark of Collett’s largest 4-6-0s may be in for a bit of a surprise. “It has a different sound,” says Richard. “I’ve only heard it once, but it’s crisp, there’s no doubt about that.” New draughting is one part of a long and weary process of preparing No. 6023 - which first steamed in 2011 - for the main line. Yet things do now finally appear to be getting close (see News); fitting out the cab with its technical gear is in process. Richard is targeting trials for the Double Red’ 4-6-0 early next year - and the West Somerset Railway may be the venue. After that, No. 6023 could run around half a dozen trips a year, with the current ‘ticket’ running up until 2020. As for timing, the ‘Great Britain’ next May is being considered as a possibility. That doesn’t necessarily mean it would be the first trip, says Richard: “Clearly I’d like to do something for the membership.”