Steam engine noises!

[turbostarrob]

Hello everyone,

Over the past year, I've shown high interest in steam engines; trying to learn about them and how things work.

My particular interest at the moment is ex-LMS 13065 "Crab". When the driver shuts the regulator, and coasts. There is a metallic, clink, clink, clink noise coming from the front axle. Can anyone enlighten me what causes this please?>

 

[R4_GRN]

Worn bearings?

 

[Firesprite]

Slack valve motion from wear and tear.

 

[turbostarrob]

Slack valve motion from wear and tear.

So is it valve motion from inside the cylinders?

Thank-you for the reply!

 

[R4_GRN]

Hi firesprite, is this due to worn bearings on the valve motion? This is not a cynical answer to your reply I thought it might have been worn bearings on the crankshaft did not consider it could be the sliding? Valve inside the cylinder

 

[patstonuk]

Just about all steam locos in BR days would emit various 'clink' and 'clunk' noises from the running gear. It's the nature of the beast with so many moving parts both visible and audible.

 

[Macwomble]

Could be a flat spot on one of the wheels.

 

[LordBerkley]

If the sound is happening when the engine is coasting that noise will be the snifting valves. To stop a vacuum developing in the cylinders when there isnt being any steam being drawn in, most steam engines have a set of valves that let air in instead. On an LMS crab the snifting valves are mounted on the sides of the cylinders, i.e. near the front axle.