The Royal Duchy 2016

Excellent footage, but what happened on the return at Tiverton Parkway? She sounded way off beat.

 

Thanks. Not too sure really. I now know there was a 25mph restriction through the platform for clearance, though once she was clear of the station she sounded fine.

 

5 mph restriction through the platform.

 

Sounded like one of the draincocks was stuck open.

 

One of the cylinder taps was stuck open. Nothing to do with being off beat. She ran like a well oiled sewing machine all day.

 

Thanks to everyone who posted all the great videos of this trip. Looks like it was one of the best excursions of the year. What a magnificent noise from 46233 on Hemerdon. I turned up the volume on the computer and enjoyed the sound of one of Stanier's finest flattening the bank. Wonderful stuff!
Bravo to the 6233 folks as well for allowing her to rescue this trip and for keeping her in top form. This run certainly provided a boost to the morale of ML Steam this year.

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

 

So are the summit speeds covered by some Unofficial Secrets Act? Did her first run over the banks with 10 in 2001. That was an impressive run in both directions but couldn't book on this train and would love to know how she compared with the Duke and others with 9.

 

Thanks for that.. looks like I didnt choose locations very well, I was at Tiverton as well!!

 

Saw her arrive into the loop at Dawlish Warren then hightailed to Starcross, alas my view was rather more restricted than I had hoped (last minute decision) but she was fairly thundering along considering she was stationary only a few miles previous. Awesome sight and sound.
Thank you to all who made it possible.

 

This is a commom fault with Stanier engines, you see it a lot with Black 5s and 6229 was dubbed Hissing Sid in the 80s for the same reason.

 

Please enjoy

 

Are the draincocks a Stanier design or did the type predate his arrival on the LMS ?, considering GWR loco's are not generally known for this (Stanier came from Swindon) I find it odd a type that seems to consistently produce this fault was used.

 

I think you have the wrong image of a CME who was in charge of a huge department on the railway and wouldn't have got involved in the design of minor details like cylinder drain cocks. I believe the problem was caused by small bits of broken piston rings getting jammed in the valve, not surprisingly, given they were based on LMS practice, it was also a feature of BR Standards.

 

I wonder why! That sounds like someone I know! Likewise no co-incidence that people are talking about the "Duke" on her record breaking runs in the same sentence!

 

I wondered about that. One loco was going a bit faster, the other had a heavier load. Therefore both must have been doing about the same amount of work. Therefore both must have had about the same amount of steam going through the cylinders and up the chimney. I suspect that the air in the cutting was cooler on the earlier run so causing more of the steam to condense.

 

You simply do not have enough information to arrive at your conclusions.

 

On the Welsh Marches on Saturday I met up with one of the friendly timing fraternity who I've know for many years. His full timings have been sent to Mike Hedderly and will hopefully be in the next SR. There was some seriously good climbing and I'm looking forward to seeing the detailed logs. Some extracts are below. Out of interest I've included the speeds of 70013 on an exceptional run on the Duchy on 8th September 2013 with probably a 7/8 ton lighter train.
Outward
Into Whiteball Tunnel at 50.4 (54.4); out at 50.2 (58); Exminster 66.5 (77); Powderham 69.5 (80)
'Dainton': Newton Abbot, MP214 28 (46); MP215 48.5 (52); Stoneycombe 55.5 (48); MP217 1/2 37.8 (39); Dainton Tunnel In 30.6 (after a slip?) (35.8).
'Rattery': Totnes Pass 58.5 (40); Tigley 33.6 (28 Slip); MP227 45.5 (38 after 2 further slip); Wrangaton 52 (63).
Return
Treverrin Tunnel 13 (29); Lostwithiel 43.5 (47); max on bank 54 (57);
Bodmin Parkway MP274 40.5 (49); Max 52.5 (53); MP 270 1/4 (top of 1 in 70) 38.7 (41); Summit 44.5 (47).
'Hemerdon': MP 242 1/2 61.5 (62); min (on 1 in 42) 33.5 (25).
'Dainton': from Totnes Start (52), max 56.5 (62); Tunnel In 24.5 (35); Exminster pass 68.5 (40 - following ST).
'Whiteball': Exeter is MP 193 3/4: Hele, MP185 1/2 75.5 (57); Tiverton Parkway Restriction (MP177 1/4) 28 (46 after being looped at the Jn); MP174 1/4 (Summit) 49.5 (46) ; into tunnel 52.5 (49).

The smaller wheeled Brit lost less speed on Dainton Westbound. The Duchess's outward climb of Rattery was seriously good. Would have been good to see the Brit's speed at MP227 if it hadn't slipped a few times. The true Class 8 power of the Duchess not surprisingly had the legs by some margin on Hemerdon, the Brit on Dainton Eastbound where the tight curves around Combe Fishacre have less of an effect. But for the restriction through Tiverton Parkway, Whiteball eastbound with the Duchess would have been something very special. Wish I'd been there but the TBX was a bit good too. Hope the Duchess returns to the Duchy again.

 

I suppose 46233 could be the engine used on the 4th September, seeing as it's in the vicinity after the Cathedrals Express on the 3rd September to Kingswear? There's another Torbay that day too, using either 46100 or 34046(/052).

James

 

Some pictures from the Duchesses run at Dainton & crossing the Royal Albert Bridge, with video to follow later in the week...

 

Was rather hoping she might just show up on the 28th August Duchy as again the engine availability is almost non-existent in the south.