Vacuum Braking (12) Implementation (6)

My previous article on the braking pipework finished with a view of the beginnings of work in the cab. To say this involved some unsightly contortionist-like activities is an understatement because the space in which to fit this pipework is bijou to put it mildly. After a day of this, I need a day away to recover!

It also doesn't make it easy to take good photos. I hope the gist is clear from the following ones.

The first is the driver's eye view looking forward.

Avoiding the window and other pipework

I had originally planned to have the train brake handle below the cab's opening on the right. However, there are other bits and pieces reserving space on the side-panel such as the lever for remotely operating the exhaust condensate valve. It would also have meant the pipework passing under the shelf supporting the boiler feed pump where there are other pipes to be installed.

So I concluded that the best route for the pipe was around the top of the circular window aperture with the brake lever much higher up. Top right in the photo are the yellow-coloured silencer/air filter where air is let in to apply the brakes. Then there is the blue-handled brake valve lever itself with the vacuum relief valve just beyond it pointing up at an angle. There is a connection for the vacuum gauge right at the front.

It was not an easy job fitting the pipe around the window particularly the elbow at the top left. The pipes won't bend or give so they have to be exactly the right dimensions to go together! (I got it right on about the third attempt!).

The next photo is looking down to where the vacuum pipe passes through the cab floor (see the last three photos of this link).

Connections to the train pipe,check valve and Ejector

I've put a right angle in between the check valve and the ejector to shorten the length of the steam feed pipe. Hopefully this will reduce the length and weight of suspended pipework.

Ejector's steam feed

The ejector's steam feed is taken from below the left hand safety valve manifold branch (left foreground). It passes through the blue pressure reducing valve to the ejector via a cross (+) fitting which will allow for connecting a condensate drain valve and an ejector-feed pressure gauge. (The pressure reducing valve needs to be set to feed the ejector at its optimum pressure - 60 psi).

Next I have to assemble the safety valve manifold with steam seal and complete the ejector connections. Some extra Stauff clamps are also needed to support the vacuum pipe. Then there is the ejector exhaust pipe which will require a hole in the roof. Hmm, I'd better get that in the right place!