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Steam Locomotion in
the 21st Century
The Recent History of
Steam Locomotive Development
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The Rebuild of FCAF's Garratt
Locomotive No. 2
the "L. D. Porta"
updated February 23, 2004
photos, info and most text
courtesy Shaun McMahon except as noted
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As
readers will appreciate, being a Garratt
locomotive (as opposed to a conventional
locomotive) the complexity of the work
in hand is far greater than it was for
Camila, the FCAF's other steamer which
was modernized in 1999. Dismantling and
full inspection of the loco began on
26th February, 2001 (see photos below)
and the rebuild was completed in late
2001. Photos of the work follow at the
bottom of the page. A brief summary of
items attended to during the overhaul
and modifications is as follows:
-Improved,
streamlined live and exhaust steam
circuits coupled with a high degree of
insulation for the steam pipes
-Fitting of Lempor exhaust system,
Kordina and DeLaval blower
-Improvements to combustion system
-Improved and extended mechanical
lubrication inclusive of proportional feed
-Modified driving axle suspension
-Improved boiler insulation
-Improved cylinder insulation
-Improved cab layout to aid single manning
conditions
-Raising of cab so as to allow the driver
to stand up properly
-Raising of boiler 300 mm to allow better
primary air flow to firepan, allow the
later addition of a primary air heater,
and to provide more room for the fitting
of improved steam circuits
-Increased feedwater capacity
-Increased fuel capacity
-Flange lubrication
-Motion ovberhaul
-Valve gear overhaul
-Piston and valve ring replacement
-Wheelset replacement and provision of
high adhesion wheel profile
-Evaluation of work to be carried out at
stage 2 full rebuild
-Improved sealing of smokebox door
-Replacement of blowdown valve
-Attending to security aspects of existing
boiler
-Modification of existing brake gear
-Provision of handrails so as to aid
safety aspect of climbing up on locomotive
-Fitting of test gear so as to evaluate
performance of locomotive in traffic
-Replacement of existing reversing
screw (deferred until later in
2002)
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Overhaul/modification of No. 2-
February 2001
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No. 2, with water and fuel
tanks removed, stands outside the FCAF
workshop awaiting dismantling. |
| No. 2's auxiliary water tanks,
front water tank, and rear combined
water/fuel tank are visible in front of FCAF
No. 3 Camila. |
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No. 2's cab being removed via
a little "gentle persuasion". Reverser
mounting bracket had to be cut to allow the
cab to be removed. |
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Removing No. 2's cab; water
and fuel tanks seen on the right. |
| With first stage dismantling
complete, No. 2 is pulled clear of the
works. No. 2's regular driver (in high
summer season), Chris Parrott, is just
visible driving diesel Tierra del Fuego. |
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No. 2's smokebox showing
original blastpipe, which was replaced by a
Lempor Ejector during the rebuild. Compare
this to the photo below showing the new
Lempor exhaust system fabricated by
Girdlestone Rail. |
| Camila shunts No. 2's boiler,
mainframe, and power units in the works yard
at Estacion Fin Del Mundo. |
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No. 2's freshly primered
original boiler (no. 1) on the mainframe
inside the shop at Ushuaia. The spare boiler
(no. 2) was modified by Girdlestone Rail in
South Africa (see below) and was used to
replace this boiler during the overhaul. |
| No. 2's front power unit
stripped for overhaul and modification
inside the workshop at Ushuaia. |
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RFIRT No. 109
One of Porta's famous Mitsubishi-built
2-10-2's now lying derelict. Visible in
this photo are the throttle handle and
manual screw reverser which was to be
fitted to No. 2 during its overhaul. This
had to be delayed until later this year so
that the engine could be placed back in
service on schedule.
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| No. 2's water tanks undergoing
modification at Ushuaia. Tanks were
significantly enlarged and re-countoured. |
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Modified Boiler No. 2 for
No. 2
in Girdlestone Rail's Shop in South Africa
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Modified Driving
Wheelsets for No. 2
Featuring Porta "High Adhesion" Profile
at Girdlestone Rail in South Africa
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New Lempor Exhaust System
for No. 2
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Lempor Exhaust Nozzles
and Blower for No. 2
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New Oil Burner for No. 2
Oil is atomized and
ejected by steam around the perimeter of
the gap at the top of the assembly
No. 2 Rebuild Progress on the FCAF
Shaun McMahon reports from Ushuaia that
good progress is being made on Garratt
locomotive No. 2's overhaul and
modernization. (photos courtesy of Shaun
McMahon)
FCAF No. 3 Runs Around Its
Train at Estacion Fin Del Mundo. In the
background is the boiler and mainframe of
No. 2 No. 2 mounted aboard one of the
railway's flat bogie wagons. August 25,
2001.
No. 2's front power unit
mounted on supports for easy access during
rebuild
Photo of the power unit
showing the cylinders prior to
installation of jacketing
No. 2's front power unit
mounted on supports, showing fabrication
of cylinder jacket to allow extra-heavy
insulation of all cylinder external
surfaces in accordance with Porta's latest
recommendations.
No. 2's front power unit,
mounted on supports showing
nearly-complete cylinder jacket on one
cylinder
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No. 2's "new"
boiler shown in its new position
(raised considerably compared to
the original installation) with
new Lempor exhaust system
installed. |
| A closeup of No.
2's smokebox showing the details
of the Lempor exhaust stack and
steam exhaust piping below. |
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Another view of
No. 2's main frames with the
boiler installed, showing
greatly increased cab height
which allows "full scale" driver
to work in comfort! Greatly
increased height of Lempor
exhaust stack is evident. |
| No. 2's handsome
brass builder's plates on the
cab side. |
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Backhead view of
No. 2's new boiler with some cab
accessories installed. |
| Back of No. 2's
cab showing greatly increased
height for improved operator
comfort. |
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Bottom view of No.
2's firebox, showing new oil
burner and "flared" air
admission inlets to promote
turbulence for better fuel/air
mixing and improved combustion
efficiency. |
| One of No. 2's two
engine units showing partially
insulated cylinders. Note
"pocket" on front surface of
cylinder to allow installation
of extra heavy insulation. |
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No. 2's new rear
water tank. Height and profile
have been signicantly altered to
provide greatly increased water
capacity while maintaining good
visibility. Center opening
(painted black) is for
installation of new fuel oil
tank (shown below). |
| New fuel oil tank
ready for installation in recess
provided in rear water tank. |
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Side view of new
rear water tank. |
| Rear view of new
high capacity front water tank. |
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Side view of new
front water tank showing
"streamlined" profile, similar
to No. 2's "big sisters" such as
the South African Railways GMAM
Garratts. |
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No. 2's rebuild was completed in
December 2001, and the locomotive was renamed "L. D.
Porta" before testing and tuning up was begun. Tuning
up was completed in early 2002 and the locomotive was
returned to regular service.
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