LMS 6399 Fury
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| Power type | steam |
|---|---|
| Builder | North British Locomotive Co. |
| Serial number | 23890 |
| Build date | 1929 |
| Configuration | 4-6-0 |
| UIC classification | 2'Ch |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm) |
| Leading wheel size | 3 ft 3½ in |
| Driver size | 6 ft 9in |
| Length | 64 ft 2¾ in |
| Locomotive weight | 87 tons 2 cwt |
| Fuel type | Coal |
| Fuel capacity | 5.5 long tons (5.6 t) |
| Water capacity | 3,500 imp gal (16,000 l) |
| Boiler pressure | 1,400–1,800 psi (9.65–12.4 MPa) (hp boiler), 900 psi (6.21 MPa) (hp drum), 250 psi (1.72 MPa) (lp boiler) |
| Fire grate area | 28 ft² |
| Heating surface: Tubes | 1,335 ft² |
| Heating surface: Firebox | 218 ft² |
| Superheater area | 274 ft² (high pressure) 355 ft² (low pressure) |
| Cylinders | 3 (1 hp, 2 lp) |
| High-pressure cylinder size |
11½ × 26 in (292×660 mm) |
| Low-pressure cylinder size |
18 × 26 in (452×660 mm) |
The London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) 6399 Fury was an unsuccessful experimental express passenger locomotive. The intention was to save fuel by using high pressure steam, which is thermodynamically more efficient.
[edit] Overview
Built in 1929 by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow, it was based on the frames and a modified boiler from the LMS Royal Scot Class. A 3-cylindered compound locomotive, it had one small high-pressure cylinder between the frames and two larger low-pressure outside cylinders, and a Schmidt high pressure boiler system. This raised high pressure steam at 900 psi (6.2 MPa) and low pressure steam at 250 psi (1.7 MPa). There was a sealed ultra-high pressure circuit working between 1400 and 1800 psi (9.7 to 12.4 MPa), filled with distilled water, that transferred heat from the firebox to the high pressure boiler.
Although given the number 6399, it was never taken into stock.
During a trial on the 10 February 1930, one of the ultra-high pressure tubes burst, killing Mr Schofield of the Superheater Company. The accident was thoroughly investigated and trials continued until 1933. Fury was then laid up until 1935 when it was rebuilt by William Stanier with a 2A boiler becoming 6170 Royal British Legion, the first of the Rebuilt Royal Scots.
Despite the accident, Fury was an economic rather than a technological failure. As many other experimental locomotives showed, the theoretical benefits of high steam pressure were hard to realise in practice. Fuel is only one part of the operating costs of a steam locomotive — maintenance is very significant, and introducing extra complications always increased this disproportionally.
[edit] External links
- http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/fury/fury.htm More details and pictures
- http://britishrailways.tripod.com/exfury.html
- Loco Locomotives A large amount of information on high pressure steam locomotives, as well as many other rail oddities.
