Engineering updates

Engineering Up-date - July 2017

Submitted by Kevin West on 4 August, 2017 - 20:26

Locomotive Frame Assembly

Work continues on the construction of The Unknown Warrior at number of locations.

Following the decision by LNWR Heritage to end all sub-contract work, the workload for the engineering team has increased substantially. This has impacted in several areas, including the time that would normally have been spent compiling these engineering updates. I hope that the workload will reduce in the coming months so the frequency of the reports will become more frequent.

Read more about Engineering Up-date - July 2017

Boiler Manufacture - May 2017

Submitted by Kevin West on 25 May, 2017 - 08:46

Our Chairman, David Bradshaw, was informed on Tuesday 9^th May, that LNWR Heritage had decided to end all sub contract work and concentrate on its own fleet. As a result LNWR Heritage will not be continuing work on constructing the boiler for The Unknown Warrior. The Board of the LMS Patriot project is naturally very disappointed with this decision by LNWR Heritage, the impact of which is still not clear, though it is highly likely that there will be some delays in getting the boiler completed.

Read more about Boiler Manufacture - May 2017

Engineering Update - April 2017

Submitted by Kevin West on 28 April, 2017 - 14:41

Locomotive Frame Assembly

Work continues on the construction of The Unknown Warrior at number of locations.

This report starts with the good news that Chris Collins has returned to work at Llangollen following his medical issue earlier in the year.

A different view of the Unknown Warrior inside the shed at Llangollen. March 2017.. Photo – Kevin West

Work has continued on a number of fronts at Llangollen in the last month.

Read more about Engineering Update - April 2017

Engineering Update - January 2017

Submitted by Kevin West on 9 February, 2017 - 18:19

Locomotive Frame Assembly

Work continues on the construction of The Unknown Warrior at number of locations.

Unfortunately, I have to start this report with some very un-welcome news. Chris Collins, one of the 2 Llangollen Railway Engineering engineers that is working on The Unknown Warrior has suffered a heart attack and has subsequently spent some time in hospital. I am sure everyone will join us in wishing Chris a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back at Llangollen as soon as possible.

Read more about Engineering Update - January 2017

Engineering Update - December 2016

Submitted by Kevin West on 21 December, 2016 - 17:41

Locomotive Frame Assembly

As we work towards our target to be complete for 11^th November 2018, the amount of work taking place at locations across the country is rising.

Read more about Engineering Update - December 2016

Engineering Up-date - October 2016

Submitted by Kevin West on 13 October, 2016 - 21:56

Locomotive Frame Assembly

Work continues on the construction of 'The Unknown Warrior' at number of locations.

Read more about Engineering Up-date - October 2016

Engineering Up-date - July 2016

Submitted by Kevin West on 20 July, 2016 - 12:55

Locomotive Frame Assembly

Work continues on the construction of The Unknown Warrior at number of locations.

Members listen to the presentation during Members Day at Llangollen Works, 25^th June. Photo – Kevin West

Work is progressing at Llangollen following on from the locomotives return at the end of March.

Read more about Engineering Up-date - July 2016

Engineering Up-date walk round video

Submitted by Kevin West on 10 June, 2016 - 10:31

Our Chief Engineer has been playing with his new camcorder and made this walk round up-date video of the loco build.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvLwEUJOW_Q

Read more about Engineering Up-date walk round video

Engineering Up-date March 2016

Submitted by Kevin West on 14 April, 2016 - 14:39

Locomotive Frame Assembly

Work continues on the construction of The Unknown Warrior at number of locations.

Following on from the fitting of the Bogie at Tyseley on 4^th February, work has continued on preparations to fit the Valve and Cylinder Liners.

Read more about Engineering Up-date March 2016

The Unknown Warrior now a 4-6-0

Submitted by Kevin West on 24 February, 2016 - 14:59

Following the fitting of the bogie to The Unknown Warrior at Tyseley Locomotive Works in early February 2016 we are pleased to be able to publish these photos of The Unknown Warrior.in the yard at Tyseley.

The Unknown Warrior stands in the yard at Tyseley Locomotive Works, 4th February 2016. Photos by Kevin West

Read more about The Unknown Warrior now a 4-6-0

Engineering Update - Jan 2016

Submitted by Kevin West on 13 February, 2016 - 10:14

Locomotive Frame Assembly

Work continues on the construction of The Unknown Warrior at number of locations.

Read more about Engineering Update - Jan 2016

Engineering update - December 2015

Submitted by Kevin West on 19 January, 2016 - 08:41

Locomotive Frame Assembly

Work continues on the construction of The Unknown Warrior at number of locations. The construction of a steam locomotive of any size is a complicated engineering task and the past few weeks have proved to be just that. While it may appear that not a lot is happening above the surface, in fact the 8 legged duck is paddling furiously although perhaps not all in the same direction!

Read more about Engineering update - December 2015

Engineering Update - October 2015

Submitted by Kevin West on 2 November, 2015 - 15:53

Locomotive Frame Assembly

Work continues on a number of fronts on the construction of The Unknown Warrior.

The Unknown Warrior takes a rest at Donnington Services during its movement from Barrow Hill to Tyseley, 29^th September. Photo – Kevin West

The major work of permanent fitting the cylinders and Motion Brackets to the locomotive has been completed.

Read more about Engineering Update - October 2015

Engineering Report - August 2015

Submitted by Kevin West on 9 September, 2015 - 17:37

Locomotive Frame Assembly

Work continues on a number of fronts on the construction of The Unknown Warrior.

The major work of permanent fitting the cylinders to the locomotive has been completed.

RH Motion Bracket with Bottom Slide Bar in place being drilled – Photo:- Gavin Shell

Read more about Engineering Report - August 2015

Engineering Report - June 2015

Submitted by Kevin West on 2 July, 2015 - 18:14

Locomotive Frame Assembly

Work continues on a number of fronts on the construction of The Unknown Warrior.

The major work at present is the permanent fitting of the cylinders to the locomotive frame assembly.

Read more about Engineering Report - June 2015

Engineering Update - May 2015

Submitted by Kevin West on 5 June, 2015 - 12:33

Locomotive Frame Assembly

Work continues on a number of fronts on the construction of The Unknown Warrior.

Read more about Engineering Update - May 2015

Engineering Update - May 2015

Submitted by Kevin West on 8 May, 2015 - 15:07

Locomotive Frame Assembly

Work continues on a number of fronts on the construction of The Unknown Warrior.

Read more about Engineering Update - May 2015

Engineering Update - February 2015

Submitted by Kevin West on 13 March, 2015 - 16:34

Locomotive Frame Assembly

Work continues on a number of fronts on the construction of The Unknown Warrior.

The Unknown Warrior is a 3 cylinder locomotive after the fitting of the right hand cylinder at outside Llangollen shed. 23^rd January 2015

Photo – Kevin West

Read more about Engineering Update - February 2015

TUBEPLATE PROGRESS

Submitted by Kevin West on 5 March, 2015 - 18:27

Progress continues on the construction of the boiler for The Unknown Warrior.

Latest work has included drilling the Firebox Tubeplate as seen here in this picture.

Picture - Oakwood Visuals

A full engineering update will follow next week.

Read more about TUBEPLATE PROGRESS

Engineering Update - December 2014/January 2015

Submitted by Kevin West on 21 January, 2015 - 14:09

Locomotive Frame Assembly

The Unknown Warrior’s frost covered nameplate catches the sun outside Llangollen shed. 3rd December 2014

Photo – Kevin West

Read more about Engineering Update - December 2014/January 2015

2014 review - HELP US FINISH THE JOB

Submitted by admin on 18 December, 2014 - 00:46

We have now reached a major turning point in the construction of 'The Unknown Warrior's' chassis, with a change in emphasis from manufacture to assembly. Much still needs to be done but with the last of the major castings now complete we are turning our attentions to the myriad of smaller parts which will be required.

Read more about 2014 review - HELP US FINISH THE JOB

Engineering Update - October 2014

Submitted by Kevin West on 11 November, 2014 - 17:32

Locomotive Frame Assembly

45551 in the shed at Llangollen November 2014

Photo – Tom Peacock

Read more about Engineering Update - October 2014

New Bogie Wheel Cast

Submitted by Kevin West on 10 October, 2014 - 13:57

Less than a month from making the decision to manufacture a new wheelset for the locomotives bogie, rather than wait any longer for the possibility of a set from an 8F in Turkey, the first Wheel Centre has been cast.

The 3D CAD data was supplied to Premier Patterns by the project's CAD Designer, Kevin West and the pattern cut in a polyurethene foam.

Read more about New Bogie Wheel Cast

Engineering Update - September 2014

Submitted by Kevin West on 2 October, 2014 - 10:59

Locomotive Frame Assembly

The Unknown Warrior on display in the mud at The Great Dorset Steam Fair

Read more about Engineering Update - September 2014

Engineering Update - July 2014

Submitted by Kevin West on 12 August, 2014 - 11:55

Locomotive Frame Assembly

Following the wheeling of the chassis at Tyseley Locomotive Works in late June the chassis was only display at the Tyseley Locomotive Works Open Weekend on 5^th & 6^th July, before moving back to Llangollen on Friday 11^th July.

That one small sentence does not explain the effort and logistics involved to move the chassis the 80 miles between to two sites.