snowy1051 Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 (edited) Hello, might seem an odd question, especially when Rule 1 can be so easily invoked. But, I like to diagram my steam locos ever so slightly realistically. Being ex footplate, Saltley in he 60's, I know what can happen to the fire after a certain amount of miles worked with a loco that does not have a rocking grate. That is always in the back of my mind when I arrange my roster. I also diagram my coaches, with Saltley Carriage siding and Gloucester as originating points. My question is.....would it be realistic to diagram my ex Midland Flatiron a round trip of 150 miles with it's bunker full to overflowing with 3½+ tons of coal??? Maybe I am getting a little too engrossed with my hobby, but one part I enjoy is rostering my available fleet. I have worked out my timetable on a 24 hour period. My layout is a 22' end to end terminus layout with a PP operated branch and scattered about are several private sidings just for operational interest. Without my timetable and loco roster, I would get bored very quickly just running trains up and down. I much prefer to work out the t/table and loco roster, then work to it. (my trains all run to time)!! this is the part I enjoy. I hate ballasting and only "do" scenics when and if. I also enjoy converting things, mostly wagons. I have just finished putting a scatch built freelance MOD LWB van body onto an old Hornby brakevan chassis. (shades of Colonel H.F. Stephens, my hero) It generally takes me 11 to 12 hours (not continously) to run through my t/table. All one man operated and all controlled by one analogue controller. We do have a model railway club here , tho' is N & Ho gauge and is all DCC and radio controlled Canadian railway stuff, but very nice and impressive. Pardon me for digressing and excuse my while I exit my 1952 world. I have to go and do the washing up..(which I find very therapeutic)...Thanks, Snowy. Edited February 10, 2021 by snowy1051 grammar. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted February 10, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 10, 2021 I don't know about a Flatiron, before my time, but I remember the trains from New Street to Ashchurch via Evesham being worked by a Saltley based Fowler 2-6-4T and seeing Fairburn 2-6-4T at Tewkesbury just before the station closed. Beyond that distance a 2P 4-4-0 or 4F 0-6-0 was more likely. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinofLoxley Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 Passed through Lethbridge years ago on holiday, didnt realise it had a model railway club. Timetables were under discussion yesterday on another thread. Range would be a very legitimate feature of a timetable. Your Flatiron needs a coaling stop so maybe you need to build a coaling stage, ash plant, and some watering faciities? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted February 10, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 10, 2021 (edited) Water would have been a bigger problem than coal. Get off shed with the boiler pressure right up, a well prepared fire and a full bunker and you could go for several hours as long as you top up the tanks. Edited February 10, 2021 by TheSignalEngineer 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Andy W Posted February 10, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 10, 2021 40 minutes ago, TheSignalEngineer said: Water would have been a bigger problem than coal. Get off shed with the boiler pressure right up, a well prepared fire and a full bunker and you could go for several hours as long as you top up the tanks. Yes, you'd certainly need water, either from column or troughs, but heading south coal would probably be OK. There were plenty of tender locos that only carried 3 1/2 tons or even less which made the trip. Depends on the load. Coming back however, there's the climb up the Lickey, or the nearly as hilly line through Redditch and a cautious driver wouldn't want to be running out of coal there. Of course there was a shed at Bromsgrove, plus bankers to lean on! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted February 10, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 10, 2021 8 minutes ago, Andy W said: ..........heading south coal would probably be OK. There were plenty of tender locos that only carried 3 1/2 tons or even less which made the trip. Depends on the load. Normal load on those was only three coaches. Sometimes the Gloucester stoppers had a stengthener. Other than the climb out of New Street southbound and Lickey or Redditch to Barnt Green northbound the road was quite easy 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR Chuffer Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 8 hours ago, snowy1051 said: But, I like to diagram my steam locos ever so slightly realistically You may find value in this topic I started and the responses. And BTW, I'm with you on your operational sentiments, average modelling but bang on WTT. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Johnster Posted February 10, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 10, 2021 This is one of those piece of string questions; AFAIK there is no written table that determines how far a loco can go on a full tender or bunker of coal; this was a matter of experience. There are some surprising real life examples, for instance Fowler 2-6-4T and later BR standard 2-6-4Ts were used on Swansea Victoria-Shrewsbury trains on the LNWR Central Wales route, not an easy run but the passenger loads were not heavy, 3 or 4 coaches, and stops were frequent so there was plenty of water available. Another interesting one is the (in)famous 'St Fagan's Pullman', as unlikely a diagram as ever was. This was the job of a 64xx pannier from Abercynon shed; loco off shed, light engine Pontypridd attach 2x auto trailers, work to Cardiff Clarence Road via Treforest, Tonteg, Barry Rly Creigiau, St Fagan's, SWML Cardiff General thence Riverside branch to Clarence Road. Then 2 return trips to Penarth, then return to Pontypridd at lunchtime for relief, then repeat the performance during the afternoon, then light engine Abercynon with whatever was left in the bunker. Serious climbing in both directions, smart commuter timings, and a mileage that would not be out of place on a main line turn, all on a 64xx bunker full for the day. You've got to go flat out to keep out of the way on the SWML including a stop at Ely, and there's no water at Clarence Road... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 Read a tale about "The Duke of Gloucester" on a Glasgow to London express, the tender was just down to coal dust arriving at Crewe (where the loco was due to be changed). Other classes were far better. water was no problem though with water troughs. Jubilees were nicknamed "The Colliers best friend", Caprotti Class 5's also. Brit15 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowy1051 Posted February 11, 2021 Author Share Posted February 11, 2021 Didn't the Standard class 3 2-6-2 tankies that worked in South Walkes for a bit, have to have their bunkers modifieds to carry more coal, due to not having enough for their diagrams? Good to see the Fowler class 4 tankies got a mention for their Swansea to Shrewsbury runs, they had the same coal capacity as the Flatiron, 3½ tons. Swansea to Shrewsbury is, I believe, 115 miles. At Saltley, before I started, they had a Peterboro' lodging job with a 3F, starting with a full tender at both ends and empty at destination. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now