invisible change to help ‘DUKe’ fUlfil 1950s Dream
A CHANGE you will never see will make Duke of Gloucester much closer to what its designers intended.
The BR Class 8 Steam Locomotive Trust is to fit original-design Caprotti cams, in place of the modified items installed in preservation. Trust chairman Trevor Tuckley says this is to “try and turn it back into what [Tom] Daniels and Riddles intended.” When No. 71000 was being designed, Tom Daniels of Associated Locomotive Equipment Ltd - the firm that developed ‘British Caprotti’ gear from the Italian invention - recommended the engine be fitted with a double Kylchap exhaust. Instead, it received a Swindon-inspired design. Only after its rescue from Barry scrapyard did the ‘Duke’ get a Kylchap system - but, says Mr Tuckley, it is now thought that the combination of this and the modified cams made the exhaust “too sharp”. He added: “If we find that we need to change the cam settings later, it’s not a difficult task.” Discussions have taken place between the trust and Tyseley Locomotive Works - where No. 71000 is being overhauled - regarding the cambox work, and quotes have also been approved for Tyseley to overhaul the locomotive’s Mk 2 support coach. Just over a year since work began to dismantle the unique ‘8P’, the overhaul is running on schedule (see panel); if all continues to plan the locomotive will return to steam within two years. When the ‘Duke’ again graces the main line, it will have been restored much more closely to as-built 1954 external condition (save for the words ‘The Duke’ instead of ‘British Railways’ on the early emblem - SR458). The trust is also on target in another respect, having achieved its aim of signing up 300 members by the end of 2016 - the actual figure on December 31 was 302, rising to 306 as this issue went to press. For membership details visit the website at www.theduke.uk.com A £2,000 donation towards the overhaul has been received from the Veronica Awdry Charitable Trust, while a further fillip, estimated at £1,175, will come from a railwayana auction at Crewe on April 22, at which the collection of long-time ‘Duke’ supporter Jeff Irving will be sold. The proceeds will go to No. 71000, with Crewe Heritage Centre Auctions waiving the seller’s fee. The collection includes a print of the ‘Duke’ signed by Riddles and Daniels.