On this day, June 19, 1876, British steam locomotive designer Sir Nigel Gresley was born.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Hat tip for the reminder, Wikipedia

Nigel Gresley



Born: 19 June 1876; Edinburgh, Scotland
Died: 5 April 1941 (aged 64); Watton-at-Stone, Hertfordshire, England

Sir Herbert Nigel Gresley CBE (19 June 1876 – 5 April 1941) was a British railway engineer. He was one of Britain's most famous steam locomotive engineers, who rose to become Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). He was the designer of some of the most famous steam locomotives in Britain, including the LNER Class A1 and LNER Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific engines. An A1 Pacific, Flying Scotsman, was the first steam locomotive officially recorded over 100 mph in passenger service, and an A4, number 4468 Mallard, still holds the record for being the fastest steam locomotive in the world (126 mph).

Gresley's engines were considered elegant, both aesthetically and mechanically. His invention of a three-cylinder design with only two sets of Walschaerts valve gear, the Gresley conjugated valve gear, produced smooth running and power at lower cost than would have been achieved with a more conventional three sets of Walschaerts gear.

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Mallard fastest steam train of all

Albert / Alan Greenman
729 subscribers

the Mallard set the world record for the fastest ever steam locomotive when it hurtled down the East Coast Main Line at 126mph.

Mallard & Flying Scotsman - Steam on the Main Line - 1986
17,098 views Dec 24, 2019

Roy Harrison
3.56K subscribers

In 1986 Mallard returned to Steam and worked Mainline trains, this is my second video featuring Mallard, I hope you enjoy watching.

Sir Nigel Gresley whistles through Grantham 27 nov08

grantham8
699 subscribers

280,907 views Nov 27, 2008
60007 Sir Nigel Gresley at speed through Grantham -- This is what the A4 and mainline were about ---AWESOME---even my wife enjoyed it . Turn the sound up and listen to that whistle.

Mon Jun 19, 2023: On this day, June 19, 1876, Sir Nigel Gresley was born.

Sun Jun 19, 2022: On this day, June 19, 1876, Nigel Gresley was born.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Gresley conjugated valve gear not a very intelligible concept for non-engineers

perhaps even non-railway engineers. They sure did kick up smoke and soot.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. Until now, I thought I was the only person at DU who had even heard of it.

There are quite a few video clips at Youtube posted by people who seriously know their way around a machine shop.

And good morning.

Southern Pacific 4-10-2 Valve Gear Test 3

SP5004
380 subscribers

7,614 views Jul 20, 2017
Close-up of the valve gear motion in a test for a 1.6" (1.6007 :-p ) scale Southern Pacific 4-10-2. There have been several attempts to get the project off the computer screen and into the real world with out success. Yet.

On a normal locomotive with only 2 cylinders, the crank pins are set 90 degrees apart from each other. This means a power stroke every 90 degrees of rotation of the drivers.

Right-hand Cylinder 0.0/360 degrees.
Left-Hand Cylinder 90 degrees.
Right-Hand Cylinder 180 degrees.
Left-Hand Cylinder 270 degrees.
Right-hand Cylinder 360/0.0 degrees.

This makes for a very evenly timed "chuff" sound from the exhaust.

Chuff. Chuff. Chuff. Chuff. Chuff. Chuff. Chuff. Chuff. Chuff.

On a locomotive with 3 cylinders such as a Shay the crank pins are set 120 degrees apart. This means a power stroke every 60 degrees of rotation of the drivers whihc again makes for a very evenly timed "chuff" sound from the exhaust.

Chuff. Chuff. Chuff. Chuff. Chuff. Chuff. Chuff. Chuff. Chuff.

However, on these locomotives the Center Cylinder had to be raised up to make room for the Engine (aka Lead) Truck. This put the Center Cylinder at a 9.5 degree angle.

The locomotive is considered "right-hand lead" thus the first power stroke is the Right-Hand cylinder and the Right-Hand crank is at 0.0 degrees.

Thus the order of the cylinders is Right, Center, Left and the power strokes occurred as follows:

Right-Hand Cylinder 0.0/360 degrees.
Center Cylinder 50.5 degrees.
Left-Hand Cylinder 120 degrees.
Right-Hand Cylinder 180 degrees.
Center Cylinder 230.5 degrees.
Left-Hand Cylinder 300 degrees.
Right-Hand Cylinder 360/0.0 degrees.

This gave the locomotive a very unique "stuttering chuff" from the exhaust.

Chuff.Chuff...Chuff. Chuff.Chuff...Chuff. Chuff.Chuff...Chuff.

Gresley valve gear, O-scale 4-12-2

Train Kitchen
634 subscribers

37,706 views Mar 22, 2019 #trainkitchen #oscale #proto48
O-scale Sunset Union Pacific 4-12-2, working 3rd cylinder & Greesley valve gear


#trainkitchen
#oscale
#proto48

Not impressive enough? Try this three-cylinder Caprotti valve gear demonstration.

7 1/4” gauge Duke of Gloucester

The Steam Workshop
11K subscribers

14,517 views Sep 3, 2018
This is our rebuild project of the 7 1/4” gauge Duke of Gloucester. Built by the late Dennis Evans, she’s a full 3 cylinder Caprotti valve gear masterpiece and we are proud to be trusted with her rebuilding. For more information like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram or visit our website page for this loco. www.steamworkshop.co.uk/portfolio/sw-rebuild-no-17/