Patterns for 4709’s cylinders complete

Paul Carpenter, the 4709 Night Owl group’s Project Engineering Manager, signed off the giant polystyrene patterns for the locomotive’s cylinders in Dudley, last week.

Metal casting is due to commence soon.

Seen in the accompanying photographs, the sacrificial moulds for 4709’s cylinders have been fabricated by Premier Patterns in Dudley and are identical. Once cast, the cylinders will be heat treated, machined and assembled into a single unit, that is planned to be nestling in 4709’s frames late in the Spring.

“This has been a lengthy process,” says Carpenter, “We needed to ensure the cylinders met Network Rail’s most recent loading gauge specifications for main line running, which in turn, meant a significant re-design of several critical components.”

Once complete, the designs were subjected to a stress analysis and only then were the CAD files released to Premier Patterns.

“We’re hoping to see the casting process under way within the next few weeks. The foundry has allocated a place in their work schedule for us, we can now send them the patterns and the project can continue,” added Carpenter.