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Testing UK built locomotives destined for export.

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theageofthetra

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Having seen the enourmous Glasgow built Garret at the Industrial museum at Coatbridge had me wondering how did North British, Vulcan etc test run their locomotives that were destined for overseas markets? In many cases they would be for a different gauge or be far too big for the UK loading gauge. Did they have any test track of any significant length or was all pre delivery testing done on a rolling road? I can't imagine they would ship a loco all the way to Burma or Australia just for the customer to find it didn't work! I am thinking particularly of those that went to remote industrial sites or far flung corners of Africa where there wouldn't be the engineering capacity or knowledge to resolve a major flaw.
 
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Taunton

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The major loco manufacturers did have multi-gauge test tracks, but they were notably short, within the factory confines, and really only suited a few revolutions up and down at walking pace. Apart from that, they relied on commissioning engineers being sent out to the destination, and the competence of the drawing office in getting it right in the first place. Technology was more straightforward in those days.
 

gazthomas

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It does seem a bit haphazard. Yes, you would hope designers would know the outcomes of their designs but as we've seen so many times the reality was quite different, hence the need for true "on the road testing". I don't buy the point about technology being more straightforward. Yes, compared to now but it's all relative.
 

EbbwJunction1

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Have a look at this from t'internet ..... http://ssa.nls.uk/film/1276

I haven't looked at all of it, just the first few minutes and a bit at the end, but this is a description:

Full record for 'NORTH BRITISH'
Full length video [100213031]
Image 1 for 'NORTH BRITISH'
Film status
Scottish Screen Archive can clear copyright
Sometimes we will be unable to make copies available because of restrictions on the National Library of Scotland under copyright legislation or due to the conditions of deposit.

Places: Glasgow
Subjects: Construction and engineering. Transport
Genres: Promotional
Decade: 1940s

All titles All titles with videos Titles with full length videos only

Title: NORTH BRITISH
Reference number: 1276
Date: 1949c
Director: d. John S. Abbott, Jnr.
Sponsor: North British Locomotive Company
Production company: The Big Six Film Unit
Sound: sound
Colour: bw
Fiction: non-fiction
Running time: 39.54 mins

Description: Promotional film for North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow with coverage on how the locomotive "Bartholomew Diaz" was manufactured and sent to South Africa.

The "Bartholomew Diaz" was the 2000th locomotive sent to South Africa and was named after a Portuguese explorer and unveiled by the 5oth African Minister of Transport. Locomotive handed over by Sir Andrew Duncan, director of the North British Locomotive Company in the presence of Mr Lorimer (co. dir.) and the Portuguese ambassador.

Credits: ph. Alfred Kerntiff sd. C. W. Green m. De Wolfe technical d. C. W. Hancock
p. Edward Cook

Shotlist:
Credits (.52); Steam locomotive driving along tracks. (1.02); Pan from Queen Street station to City Chambers (1.10); General shots of Glasgow, including the Albert Bridge, Provand's Lordship, Glasgow Cathedral, the Royal Infirmary and Glasgow Cross. (1.52); Unidentified railway platform (2.08); Exterior shot of the North British Locomotive Company works at Springburn in Glasgow (2.22); Tracking shot of shop floor at locomotive works (2.59); Exterior shot of the North British locomotive works and rooftop shots of the workshops (3.27); Shot of the exterior of the North British offices (3.47); Interior shot of the drawing offices at North British and close-ups of the draughtsmen at work (5.01); Tracking shot of the shop floor and close-ups of the men working at a lathe, also close-ups of lathe itself (6.44); General shots of men working on the wheels and tracking shot of shop floor. Close-ups of men working on machines and benches (7.49); General shots of shop floor (9.00); Close-ups of men checking sites (9.52); General shots of shop floor and close-ups of men assembling a cast (10.50); The molten steel enters the cast (11.24); Tracking shot of the shop floor and close-ups of engineers and turners at work (15.52); Close-ups of men working at the forge and press (16.59); Shots of men at work on the piston rods and other parts, with shots of turners at work. Also shots of men finishing parts (25.13); General shots in the drawing office (24.03); Woman punching identification plates and shots of typists at work (25.01); General shots of shop floor and shots of press in action (26.50); Men working on boiler and other body parts, also shot of crane lifting boiler into position, where men assemble the engines (29.54); Testing engines (30.37); Making identification plates (31.04); Unveiling of plaque on the 2000th North British locomotive sent to South Africa, "Barthomew Diaz" (31.32); Train and carriages passing through South African countryside (31.47); Close-ups of North British loco. no. 60203 being testing outside workshops (33.20); Simmer and Jack Mines Ltd No 6 loco. being tested, also shots as it is packed into wooden cases. Crane lifts part of engine (34.41); Tracking shot of shop floor and general shots men at work and fixing ID plate to engine (36.40); Lorries tow engine from Queen's Park works and pass over Jamaica bridge before loading onto "Glen Campbell", ship berthed at Yorkhill Quay. Good shots as crane lifts engine onto ship (39.18); Shots of the ship being towed out by tugs (40.54).

It looks as if the sections between 28.18 & 29.11 approx. and 31.37 & 32.00 may answer your question, perhaps?
 

jonty14

Member
Joined
3 Aug 2009
Messages
240
Location
Rottweil Germany
Have a look at this from t'internet ..... http://ssa.nls.uk/film/1276

I haven't looked at all of it, just the first few minutes and a bit at the end, but this is a description:

Full record for 'NORTH BRITISH'
Full length video [100213031]
Image 1 for 'NORTH BRITISH'
Film status
Scottish Screen Archive can clear copyright
Sometimes we will be unable to make copies available because of restrictions on the National Library of Scotland under copyright legislation or due to the conditions of deposit.

Places: Glasgow
Subjects: Construction and engineering. Transport
Genres: Promotional
Decade: 1940s

All titles All titles with videos Titles with full length videos only

Title: NORTH BRITISH
Reference number: 1276
Date: 1949c
Director: d. John S. Abbott, Jnr.
Sponsor: North British Locomotive Company
Production company: The Big Six Film Unit
Sound: sound
Colour: bw
Fiction: non-fiction
Running time: 39.54 mins

Description: Promotional film for North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow with coverage on how the locomotive "Bartholomew Diaz" was manufactured and sent to South Africa.

The "Bartholomew Diaz" was the 2000th locomotive sent to South Africa and was named after a Portuguese explorer and unveiled by the 5oth African Minister of Transport. Locomotive handed over by Sir Andrew Duncan, director of the North British Locomotive Company in the presence of Mr Lorimer (co. dir.) and the Portuguese ambassador.

Credits: ph. Alfred Kerntiff sd. C. W. Green m. De Wolfe technical d. C. W. Hancock
p. Edward Cook

Shotlist:
Credits (.52); Steam locomotive driving along tracks. (1.02); Pan from Queen Street station to City Chambers (1.10); General shots of Glasgow, including the Albert Bridge, Provand's Lordship, Glasgow Cathedral, the Royal Infirmary and Glasgow Cross. (1.52); Unidentified railway platform (2.08); Exterior shot of the North British Locomotive Company works at Springburn in Glasgow (2.22); Tracking shot of shop floor at locomotive works (2.59); Exterior shot of the North British locomotive works and rooftop shots of the workshops (3.27); Shot of the exterior of the North British offices (3.47); Interior shot of the drawing offices at North British and close-ups of the draughtsmen at work (5.01); Tracking shot of the shop floor and close-ups of the men working at a lathe, also close-ups of lathe itself (6.44); General shots of men working on the wheels and tracking shot of shop floor. Close-ups of men working on machines and benches (7.49); General shots of shop floor (9.00); Close-ups of men checking sites (9.52); General shots of shop floor and close-ups of men assembling a cast (10.50); The molten steel enters the cast (11.24); Tracking shot of the shop floor and close-ups of engineers and turners at work (15.52); Close-ups of men working at the forge and press (16.59); Shots of men at work on the piston rods and other parts, with shots of turners at work. Also shots of men finishing parts (25.13); General shots in the drawing office (24.03); Woman punching identification plates and shots of typists at work (25.01); General shots of shop floor and shots of press in action (26.50); Men working on boiler and other body parts, also shot of crane lifting boiler into position, where men assemble the engines (29.54); Testing engines (30.37); Making identification plates (31.04); Unveiling of plaque on the 2000th North British locomotive sent to South Africa, "Barthomew Diaz" (31.32); Train and carriages passing through South African countryside (31.47); Close-ups of North British loco. no. 60203 being testing outside workshops (33.20); Simmer and Jack Mines Ltd No 6 loco. being tested, also shots as it is packed into wooden cases. Crane lifts part of engine (34.41); Tracking shot of shop floor and general shots men at work and fixing ID plate to engine (36.40); Lorries tow engine from Queen's Park works and pass over Jamaica bridge before loading onto "Glen Campbell", ship berthed at Yorkhill Quay. Good shots as crane lifts engine onto ship (39.18); Shots of the ship being towed out by tugs (40.54).

It looks as if the sections between 28.18 & 29.11 approx. and 31.37 & 32.00 may answer your question, perhaps?

Nice find. I Love old films like this.
 

DarloRich

Veteran Member
Joined
12 Oct 2010
Messages
32,924
Location
Fenny Stratford
Having seen the enourmous Glasgow built Garret at the Industrial museum at Coatbridge had me wondering how did North British, Vulcan etc test run their locomotives that were destined for overseas markets? In many cases they would be for a different gauge or be far too big for the UK loading gauge. Did they have any test track of any significant length or was all pre delivery testing done on a rolling road? I can't imagine they would ship a loco all the way to Burma or Australia just for the customer to find it didn't work! I am thinking particularly of those that went to remote industrial sites or far flung corners of Africa where there wouldn't be the engineering capacity or knowledge to resolve a major flaw.

I have seen pictures of various odd looking contraptions running on UK railways prior to export. whether this was a test or just transshipment to ports i am unsure
 

Western Lord

Member
Joined
17 Mar 2014
Messages
1,064
I would imagine that the attitude was the same as British car manufacturers of the 40's to 70's: the first owner did the testing!
 

theageofthetra

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Joined
27 May 2012
Messages
3,565
Location
Beckenham
Haha I was wondering whether the customer was the quality control. That attitude destroyed the UK car & bike industries.
 
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