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While the main focus of the Strathspey Railway is running steam trains for the paying public, a small but dedicated group of volunteers has been restoring other items of heritage interest in spare moments between working on the loco fleet and improving locoshed infrastructure and facilities.

The current project is a Ruston Hornsby 48DS diesel shunter of 1948 which worked at Longmorn distillery until 1980 (even though Dr Beeching had closed the adjacent main line in 1967). Because it was presented to the Strathspey Railway repainted with advertisements for Queen Anne blended scotch whisky, it is known to most people as “Queen Anne”.

To find out more about our aims, follow this link or click the [About] button above.

This Blog was started over 5 years after the project began, so most of the initial blog entries are retrospective.

Sunday 3 December 2023

Gearbox Refurbishment - Part 3

More Pictures

Here are some more photographs of the internals of the gearbox.

Clutch drum and various bits

Detail of the clutch operating levers

Fast Gear

The fast gear clutch connects the input and output gears (1 to 1 ratio). The friction plate is gripped between a fixed plate that is part of the clutch drum and a moving plate connected to one set of operating levers.

The friction disc with its linings

Clamping plates either side

The fast gear friction plate

The brown discolouration of the fast gear friction plate is probably due to oil staining and not due to overheating.

Slow Gear

The slow gear clutch shows signs of overheating on various parts. The spindles that operate the clamping plates are also discoloured at a place where they are adjacent to the slow gear clutch. The blue colouring indicates that at some time the steel has been heated to around 290 degrees centigrade.

Slow gear clamping ring

Slow gear friction plate and spindles

The other side of the slow gear friction plate

New Friction Linings

Investigations are ongoing regarding replacement of the friction linings. There is a company in Cumbernauld that undertakes this type of work. In fact they have relined a Ruston 48DS gearbox for a group at Prestongrange Mining Museum.

Another group restoring a 48DS at the Chasewater Railway has also given some useful advice.

It has not been decided yet if riveting or bonding of the friction plates is the best solution.

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