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S112 Revenge (formerly Spitfire)
This is one locomotive which has never actually run at Embsay. However, things are about to change as it is in the middle of
a heavy overhaul following a change of owner. The left hand pictures show the loco leaving Acton Hall and also upon its
arrival at Embsay. The photo on the right shows S112 once it had been unloaded, well before any work was started. The photo
lower down shows the state it has remained in for most of its time on the line - having been cosmetically restored, sitting
on the shed base in the snow.
Although it looks very similar to an Austerity it is in fact a predecessor of
the mass produced Austerity design, works number 2414, built in 1942. The loco
itself is one of eight of the 50550 class - the differences being:
- sloping bunker back
- gib and cotter coupling rod brasses
- compensated springing
- boiler manhole
- squared off frame ends
- buffer beams to rail level (later altered - see second photo)
- boiler presure of 180lbs (Austerity: 170lbs)
- larger heating surface
- increased weight
- smaller wheels
- greater tractive effort
This has led to the owner's statement that 'it would pull an Austerity inside out'!
It was withdrawn in 1972 with very worn motion and a few patches on the firebox. The loco was
never named whilst at work at Acton Hall Colliery, Pontefract (where it worked alongside
Airedale and Beatrice), and acquired the name
'Spitfire' shortly after arrival at Embsay, where it was cosmetically restored. The name will be
altered to 'Revenge' when the restoration is complete, after one of the locomotives John Marrow
Snr. worked on at Walkden. Its last movement prior to the overhaul was when
Monckton No. 1 was removed from the shed base for its overhaul. This is what
is seen in the third picture, taken by Dave Outibridge. The sloping back to the bunker can be
seen clearly.
The overhaul itself is very thorough and will involve the construction of a new bunker, cab and
smokebox, as well as work on the frames to restore them to 'as built' condition, as they were cut
back (along with the rear buffer beam) at some stage in its career. New bufferbeams have been fitted, and the frames have
been built back up to their original profile. The wheels have been returned to Embsay having been turned, and a new bunker
is to hand. The firebox will need repairs, but is suitable for a further
period of use. The quality of the old tubes was such that they are suitable for re-use in a smaller
engine, and to this end have been donated to Airedale. During the
overhaul so far, the locomotive has been found to be in far better condition than had previously
been reported.
If you would like to follow the progress of this loco in more detail, I can
recommend visiting http://Respite3696.tripod.com/Hunslet2414/, a website devoted to this engine,
as well as the other surviving locos of the same class. This also includes information on the Marrow's
latest project, No. 8, formerly 'Sir Robert Peel', from the Chinnor and Princes
Risborough Railway.
Recently an article appeared in the YDR News
magazine which contained some information about the loco during its
army career.
The foundation ring has now been removed from the firebox, revealing a huge build-up of cooked 'muck'
which would appear to have been there since it left the Port of London Authority! Re-wheeling has been successfully completed, as can be seen from the photos below.
More photos of Revenge under overhaul
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Viewed from the front of the loco, Revenge's cylinders are seen prior to the re-boring. They had also been tested under pressure
to ascertain whether the casting was sound, which it was. The result can also be seen clearly.
(c) Tom Ireland.
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Other work that was going on was the alignment of the horns, enabling the wheels to be fitted accurately quite soon. Alignment
is especially important, otherwise problems will be experienced with the axleboxes running hot and other such things. This
was a problem with Cranford initially as the frames were mis-aligned following a collision in the Ironstone
industry.
(c) Tom Ireland.
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The Marrows brought a pallet of axlebox brasses with them recently for Revenge, seen here from the side and above.
(c) Tom Ireland.
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The jacks are seen in place under the loco chassis, now raised into the air.
(c) Tom Ireland.
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The wheels are easily rolled in, underneath the frames, clear of the jacks.
(c) Tom Ireland.
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Once underneath, the wheels are located, with the brasses in the correct position, ready for the frames to be lowered down
onto them.
(c) Tom Ireland.
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The frames are then lowered carefully with the jacks, with each wheel carefully watched into place.
(c) Tom Ireland.
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The loco is now sitting on its wheels for the first time since the overhaul commenced, with new axleboxes and re-profiled
wheels.
(c) Tom Ireland.
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A close-up of one of the wheels showing a small wedge keeping the frames from sitting directly onto the boxes before the
springs are hung from their hangers.
(c) Tom Ireland.
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A view of the overhauled motion between the frames of Revenge. The slidebars can be seen clearly here. New pistons have been
made as the cylinders were bored out, and these are now ready to be fitted.
(c) Tom Ireland.
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A more general view of the motion.
(c) Tom Ireland.
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The brakeshaft, seen between the frames, below the running boards.
(c) Tom Ireland.
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The spring hangers have been fitted here so that the chassis is technically able to roll now! LT presumably refers to Left
Trailing axle.
(c) Tom Ireland.
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One of the crosshead slippers.
(c) Tom Ireland.
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S112's boiler has recently seen further attention from John with work continuing to remove the inner firebox which is going
to be replaced. The firebox is due to be sent away to be used as a pattern so that the new firebox will be returned ready for
fitting.
(c) Tim Warner.
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The firebox has now been removed, and can be seen here with the rest of the boiler, as well as on its own giving some
impression of the size. It differs from an Austerity boiler by having girder stays at the top as opposed to crown stays.
(c) Tim Warner.
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