SOS Junction. If anything happens would someone wake me up please..

[Clive Mortimore]

Is Warley in Warley?

That is a good point young Stu.

 

See Warley is at the top of the hill from Brentwood Station so why don't they hold their show in Brentwood. All mad to me.

[The Blue Streak]

These "POP COMBO'S" like their " gear " ( so I've heard ) and it seems to have rubbed off on one of they Suvvern groupies ......

 

 

ALL SING - "Stuck in the Middle With You "

 

P. Watermun

 

Great video of one of those SNAFU moments that occur and we don't usually see. Loved the teaks too.

[St Enodoc]

By the way, anyone think they might be going to the Lincoln Show in Newark next Sunday? Grantham is going to be there so worth a look at that.

Phil

No, sorry.

[St Enodoc]

Stupid question from Wiltshire but why isn’t the Lincoln Show in Lincoln?

 

Confused of Calne

The Brighton show is in Brighton but at one time it was in Hove, actually.

[bigwordsmith]

Anyone else watch 'Endeavour ' last night and find themselves complaining to the telly about it all being filmed in Southern  land when he's supposed to be an Oxford copper

 

Then to top it all for a show set in 1965, the hard a blue class 33 with full yellow eyed and a very bright headlamp in the middle!

 

Fell asleep half way through, not trying to find out ho produces it to offer my services as a venue scout, specialising in finding the right ambience for period dramas.

 

I did explain to SWMBO that this was a great idea as it meant we could travel the country looking at preserved railways in the name of work, thereby making it tax deductible, but she seemed rather underwhelmed.

 

Personally I always felt that lots of hot sun, alcohol and lazing around was way over-rated as a pastime, but that's the kind of holiday she enjoys!

[Mallard60022]

Great video of one of those SNAFU moments that occur and we don't usually see. Loved the teaks too.

In theory, a 3 cylinder loco should not get in that situation if their valves are set accurately. 

Lincoln is in Newark because of the earthquake in Swansea.

I suspect the Endeavour researcher is about 16 and only knows about the Bluebell due to Santa Specials they went to. I didn't survive to watch it as I had a weird tiredness experience (not uncommon). Could have used somewhere more appropriate I'm sure so go for it Smiffy; let SWMBO go on girly holidays. 

P

[New Haven Neil]

In theory, a 3 cylinder loco should not get in that situation if their valves are set accurately. 

Lincoln is in Newark because of the earthquake in Swansea.

I suspect the Endeavour researcher is about 16 and only knows about the Bluebell due to Santa Specials they went to. I didn't survive to watch it as I had a weird tiredness experience (not uncommon). Could have used somewhere more appropriate I'm sure so go for it Smiffy; let SWMBO go on girly holidays. 

P

 

SKP has developed a reputation for that,  instead of the crews griping about it, they should perhaps investigate the cause!  Something not right in valve setting or valves.  Time for some indicator diagrams to be done.

[Oldddudders]

SKP has developed a reputation for that,  instead of the crews griping about it, they should perhaps investigate the cause!  Something not right in valve setting or valves.  Time for some indicator diagrams to be done.

 

It goes back a long way! Derry's book of the Bulleid Light Pacifics has an undated Transport Treasury pic of 34053 at Eastleigh, in reverse for the second time trying to get started! 

[Mallard60022]

The Hornby version has a 'certain reputation' as well.

Interesting situation. I shall go and peruse my volumes and see if this was something that happened to other loco's of the class. I don't remember reading that before though.

All I can say though is that certain MBPs I have heard in preservation are deffo not very well 'tuned'. The exceptions are 34046, 35005 & 35028. Not been hauled by an 'original' except on the Bluebell.

Phil

[New Haven Neil]

Makes you think about a manufacturing inaccuracy in the valve gear somewhere, or a porting issue.  Indicating each cylinder would sort that out.  The NYMR had a lot of issues with the Schools class when they first ran it, which initially was put down to it being unsuitable for bashing up 1 in 49 hills.  A different approach to valve setting sorted it out, and it is quite an impressive

performer.

 

My boss/bestie used to own a quarter of rebuilt West Country Taw Valley, I must ask him if it suffered such issues.

[Dr Gerbil-Fritters]

Interesting points - I wonder why a more scientific approach to 'tuning' steam locomotives isn't standard now.  I've observed the same as Lord Duckling, quite a few mainline 'stars' that attract raves on the tube of you seem to be to be badly tuned and far from well.

 

The most extreme example being the rebuild of DoG which sorted out that particular lemon.

[New Haven Neil]

Interesting points - I wonder why a more scientific approach to 'tuning' steam locomotives isn't standard now.  I've observed the same as Lord Duckling, quite a few mainline 'stars' that attract raves on the tube of you seem to be to be badly tuned and far from well.

 

The most extreme example being the rebuild of DoG which sorted out that particular lemon.

 

The Flying Haggis Scotsman was always an example of that.  An A3 will never have 6 exact spaced exhaust beats as the centre cylinder is at a different angle to the outside ones thus the cranks aren't all at 120 degrees but she really was rough when I last heard her, pre-rebuild.  I should imagine she's pretty good now though, Ian Riley knows his stuff.  I suppose a lot of the skills are lost in terms of valve setting, and tweaking.  The recent book about Talyllyn and Corris locos is interesting on that front, they basically taught themselves what was wrong with the early valve gear designs ( a lot!) and improved them. Well, John Bate did, but has he passed on the detail?  Or if he has, will the new generation believe him...wheels are often re-invented by those with the relevant ego sizes. (This is an example used for a generalisation, not a pop at current TR engineers BTW).

[Mallard60022]

Makes you think about a manufacturing inaccuracy in the valve gear somewhere, or a porting issue.  Indicating each cylinder would sort that out.  The NYMR had a lot of issues with the Schools class when they first ran it, which initially was put down to it being unsuitable for bashing up 1 in 49 hills.  A different approach to valve setting sorted it out, and it is quite an impressive

performer.

 

My boss/bestie used to own a quarter of rebuilt West Country Taw Valley, I must ask him if it suffered such issues.

Was OK when I was behind it around early 90s, Brighton to Victoria. Went through Gatwick and East Croydon like sh## off a shovel and the whistle .........  oh yes.

Phil

[Mallard60022]

Interesting points - I wonder why a more scientific approach to 'tuning' steam locomotives isn't standard now.  I've observed the same as Lord Duckling, quite a few mainline 'stars' that attract raves on the tube of you seem to be to be badly tuned and far from well.

 

The most extreme example being the rebuild of DoG which sorted out that particular lemon.

The films of DOG doing the Devon banks is absolutely superbio. As good, if not better than a 125 seemingly.

Phil

[Mallard60022]

The Flying Haggis Scotsman was always an example of that.  An A3 will never have 6 exact spaced exhaust beats as the centre cylinder is at a different angle to the outside ones thus the cranks aren't all at 120 degrees but she really was rough when I last heard her, pre-rebuild.  I should imagine she's pretty good now though, Ian Riley knows his stuff.  I suppose a lot of the skills are lost in terms of valve setting, and tweaking.  The recent book about Talyllyn and Corris locos is interesting on that front, they basically taught themselves what was wrong with the early valve gear designs ( a lot!) and improved them. Well, John Bate did, but has he passed on the detail?  Or if he has, will the new generation believe him...wheels are often re-invented by those with the relevant ego sizes. (This is an example used for a generalisation, not a pop at current TR engineers BTW).

Scotsman was a mess until the most recent rebuild. I've seen it half a dozen times since then and it sounds silky smooth. 

Tornado at speed sounds like a Diesel. The Duchess sounds brillo. R Scot is a beauty. Bittern has always sounded tidy but SNG I've never been quite so sure about. 70013 came through here a couple of times and Britannia just the once. Both sounded tight and tidy; good old bark. Have not heard any others AFAICR as the Castles usually go up through Rovrum and the B5s through Sheffield.

[New Haven Neil]

Was OK when I was behind it around early 90s, Brighton to Victoria. Went through Gatwick and East Croydon like sh## off a shovel and the whistle .........  oh yes.

Phil

 

He's got a great story about a mainline test run, but it needs to be kept under wraps for now as some officials involved may still be working. #ahem#.  It can go some.....

[Mallard60022]

Some of the finest performances I experienced as a passenger have been:

35005 southbound  from Leicester, up Sharnbrook and into London;

73096 out of Guildford to Gloucester, up Sapperton both ways then Didcot to Reading at a gallop on the way home;

73096 to Exeter Central out of Guildford including 46mph minimum on Honiton Bank;

73096 same trip, on the WR main back to Reading....really, really quick;

34018 to Weymouth and back from Woking;

34018 from Exeter St David's to Reading, after Guildford to Exeter Central and Okehampton in a leisurely fashion;

34027 Brighton to Victoria....whizzo;

Tornado in 2010, first public run, York to Newcastle and return ...... what a machine that is. Looking forward to seeing that at 90 near here later this year.

Castle 4087 from Bristol to Plymouth in 1963.....amazing performance making up 20 minutes of a 30 minute deficit.

happy days

Edited February 20, 2018 by Mallard60022

[Captain Kernow]

Some of the finest performances I experienced as a passenger have been:

35005 southbound  from Leicester, up Sharnbrook and into London;

73096 out of Guildford to Gloucester, up Sapperton both ways then Didcot to Reading at a gallop on the way home;

73096 to Exeter Central out of Guildford including 46mph minimum on Honiton Bank;

73096 same trip, on the WR main back to Reading....really, really quick;

34018 to Weymouth and back from Woking;

34018 from Exeter St David's to Reading after Guildford to Exeter Central and Okehampton in a leisurely fashion;

34027 Brighton to Victoria....whizzo;

Tornado in 2010, first public run, York to Newcastle and return ...... what a machine that is. Looking forward to seeing that at 90 near here later this year.

Castle 4087 from Bristol to Plymouth in 1963.....amazing performance making up 20 minutes of a 30 minute deficit.

happy days

Can you quantify and confirm these allegations with detailed timing notes and a well-used stop watch?

[brianusa]

Can you quantify and confirm these allegations with detailed timing notes and a well-used stop watch?

 

I rather like Phil's descriptions.  Whizzo!

 

Brian.

[Captain Kernow]

Whizzo!

 

But that's a diesel!

[Clive Mortimore]

But that's a diesel!

Only to some

 

We had respect and called them "Westerns".

 

Others went by their numbers and they were known as "Thousands"

 

Lower mortals called them "Wezzies".

 

I have even heard them refereed as a pile of ##### from Swindon. I am not sure that was adopted very widely outside of BR headquarters. 

 

Never class 52s by platform enders.

Edited February 20, 2018 by Clive Mortimore

[Oldddudders]

  The recent book about Talyllyn and Corris locos is interesting on that front, they basically taught themselves what was wrong with the early valve gear designs ( a lot!) and improved them. Well, John Bate did, but has he passed on the detail?  Or if he has, will the new generation believe him...wheels are often re-invented by those with the relevant ego sizes. (This is an example used for a generalisation, not a pop at current TR engineers BTW).

Well, stap me vitals! Mention of a bloke I’ve actually met! I did a volunteering stint at Towyn, just the one, at Easter 1973, and John Bate was among the people I met. I was digging trenches in Pendre Yard - and today ERDF are digging one across my lawn!

[Mallard60022]

Can you quantify and confirm these allegations with detailed timing notes and a well-used stop watch?

Correct.

Phil

[Oldddudders]

I think we have got to the bottom of why 34053 has problems. These three scallywags put a hex on it when the rebuild was still settling down.

 

 

This is Waterloo, and the train is a Summer Saturday portion of the ACE. It may be 1959 or 1960, and we are headed for Port Isaac Road. The rebuild happened in mid-1958, so it cannot be before 1959. Ian (I am at the back), Adrian, on the right, and Keith Dudley. As we know, the loco has been preserved, but poor Adrian died in 2016 of a brain tumour. 

Edited February 20, 2018 by Oldddudders

[The Blue Streak]

Here you go Ian

 

Edit - Ian got it sorted so picture removed again

Edited February 20, 2018 by The Blue Streak