Jurassic undergoes enhancements for pulling longer trains to give 2022 performance boost
LINCOLNSHIRE Coast Light Railway flagship Peckett 0-6-0ST 1008 of 1903 Jurassic has undergone modifications to boost its performance for the 20202 season.
The former Southam Cement Works locomotive will be asked to haul three-coach trains this year, as opposed to one or two carriages in past years.
Due to increasing demand, the railway is to add an extra coach this year, in the form of the former Nocton Estates Railway shooting coach Queen Mary, which, as reported in issue 289, is being restored without windows to provide a semi-open-air coach for the regular service.
The limited platform length at Walls Lane station means that only a short coach can be added to the twocoach trains, and Queen Mary is the only one of the unrestored vehicles to qualify.
To get Jurassic ready for the extra loading, winter work involving the chimney and steam pipes, the regulator and the air compressor has taken place. The chimney had a crack on the bottom flange. A weld had been attempted in the 1980s to ensure the chimney was secure; over time, a crack in the weld worsened and a piece of the flange was now virtually broken away from the base.
Maintenance
The old weld was removed, cleaned up, and the piece welded back in. Before refitting the chimney, the opportunity was taken to tighten the bolts holding down the main steam pipes. This will hopefully improve steaming as the smokebox vacuum should be maintained.
The regulator was causing speed control problems so the slackness in the linkage is being remedied and the valve repositioned. A new linkage has been made so that driver can now alter the position of the regulator handle relative to the position of the valve.
As built, Jurassic had only a hand brake but to meet modern passenger train standards it requires air braking. However, in 2021 the chain drive to the air compressor failed on several occasions. The repair work has involved overhauling the compressor, fitting a tensioner and a new chain, and improving the fit of the pinion to the rear axle. It is hoped that the improvements will mean that Jurassic can maintain air pressure while operating the three-coach trains, and was scheduled to undergo a test steaming before being restored.
Jurassic should be back in use for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee long weekend on Saturday, June 4, and will then run every Saturday from July 16 to September 3.