Despite having to run with a temporary power control wheel, brand new battery electric mining locomotive No.6 was released to traffic today from Low End Works.
The locomotive's very first outing was a test run from Beckfoot Shed to Swallowdale Shed and back.
Production at Low End Works is now held up due to Brexit border delays!
Loco No.6 is nearing completion but cannot be released to traffic until a proper power control handle has been installed on the driver's control panel.
Work on assembling the power control circuits for new battery loco No.6 has commenced.
Electrical components were supplied by Essel Engineering Ltd along with a very good wiring diagram. The components are:
The 1mm thick steel sub-frames have been ditched in favour of 2mm thick steel. This is intended to enhance adhesion when the loco goes mountain climbing!
The loco frame was drilled with 3mm bit to create mounting holes for the footplate brackets. These will be screwed to the frame with 6BA brass bolts and the holes in the brackets may need to be oversized to allow clearance.
Progress on new loco No.6. An iterative process of design development has been undertaken to produce a satisfactory design for the cab.
The experimental discarded patterns in card can be seen in the photos.
Problems with running in snowy conditions have been solved by using No.3 Mate Susan in place of the booked duty loco No.4 Capt John.
Susan is externally fired and so her wheels get hotter than John's! This greatly assists adhesion on icy rails.
An iterative process of successive 3D drawings (patterns) has led to the fabrication in steel of the cab and roof for new locomotive No.6.
Low End Works can report good progress on the design and building of brand new battery mining loco No.6.
At this stage the loco footplate and roof profile have been finalised and manufactured from sheet steel, whilst the cab is still in the 3D drawing stage.
On the afternoon of 8th February 2021 modest snow appeared to be no barrier to operating the Monday train services (freight and passenger).