GWR Vacuum Cylinder

[RickyTParticipant @rickyt]

Can anyone tell me the dimensions (inside and outside diameter, and length) of the vacuum cylinder in the Keith Wilson 'Bulldog' design?

I am building Torquay Manor and fitting vacuum brakes. No casting supplier appears to supply castings for a suitable vacuum brake cylinder under the Torquay Manor heading. I have obtained the plan and castings for the top and bottom of the vacuum cylinder, and the piston which Reeves supply for the 51XX 'Prairie' to the Trevor Shortland design. (I figured that the 51XX is in many ways a Manor in tank engine form).

The 51XX plan specifies an inside diameter for the cylinder of 2.5 inches with the cylinder wall 1/8 inch thick. Oddly, Reeves do not supply a casting for the cylinder itself, but they do supply such a casting for the Bulldog design. So if the Bulldog cylinder is of similar dimensions my problem is solved. If it is not, then my Dilemma continues. The size cylinder I need is not a stock size, and the bore would presumably need to be turned in any event to ensure concentricity and a suitably polished surface. I don't want to bore it from solid bar as it will be very expensive and wasteful. Is there any other stock casting I could utilise?

[RickyTParticipant @rickyt]

[Bob YouldonParticipant @bobyouldon45599]

Good evening Ricky,

The Manor like the 51XX and many other GWR designs were fitted with the standard 30" diameter vacuum cylinders, so the Trevor Shortland designed 51XX cylinder castings are the correct ones to use. The late Keith Wilson shows on his Bulldog and for that matter his Dukedog designs, the vacuum brake cylinder, which unless one was to build an example of the final lot of Bulldogs, the Birds, which were in fact fitted with a pair of much smaller vacuum brake cylinders, thus the vacuum brake cylinders on the majority of both classes is incorrect for the locomotives as drawn by Keith, both classes being fitted with a pair of steam brake cylinders mounted behind the rear steps. I would suggest the 51XX design is followed and a section of tube or a short section of cored gunmetal is used to form the cylinder portion of the brake cylinder. The GWR 3500 and 3000 gallon tenders were each fitted with a single smaller diameter vacuum brake cylinder.

I hope this somewhat clarifies the situation.

Regards,

Bob Youldon

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