Lots of drivers in our club leave the injector water valve cracked open all the time. It keeps the injector cool, and there is then full water supply available the instant you whack the steam on

Firemen on heritage railways usually get an ear-bashing from the inspector for wasting water if they do that.

Worth considering if the leak is internal or external though? It's fine if there is a small leak through the valve but if it is leaking up the stem through the gland you stand a chance of sucking air in when the injector is running, and they don't like that!

Paul.

I had injector feeding problems once with a 5" tank loco. I traced the problem to a leak in the feed pipe from the side tanks. Not big enough to show with the head from the tanks but enough to allow air in when the injector was trying to feed and the vacuum was drawing in air. Cured the leak and the injector worked fine.

Edited By Andrew Binning on 27/06/2020 08:53:19