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Best British Locomotive

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by Hermod, May 12, 2017.

  1. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Stanier or Ivatt edition? Better unlock the thread! :)
     
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  2. Hermod

    Hermod Member

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  3. estwdjhn

    estwdjhn Member

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    [​IMG]
    A true British eccentric (well four actually, all on the outside), unquestionably unique, but also quite a powerful and effective bit of kit for a loco of its size. It's also grumpy and possess a sly cunning of which any elderly British gentleman would be proud.
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2017
  4. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    I think that this is the only survivor fitted with Mr Gooch's link motion. Are there any others?
     
  5. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    We'll all have our favourites, this is mine:

    [​IMG]

    SECR H Class 263 by Merlin_1, on Flickr (Not my photo)

    If there is a better combination of haulage, comfort and free steaming, I'm yet to see it; and having run over 1.8 million miles in fifty eight years of pre-preservation service, pretty good value for money for the railway company that built it.

    Tom
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2017
  6. ross

    ross Well-Known Member

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  7. Copper-capped

    Copper-capped Part of the furniture

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  8. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    W.Stroudley?
     
  9. Hermod

    Hermod Member

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    Many.
    This one was bult by Neilson for Danish State Railways and the valve gear is Allen/(Trick)
    http://www.jernbanen.dk/Fotos/Damp/DSB_K501_1894.jpg
     
  10. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    Not the same thing I am afraid.With Gooch valve gear the link is stationary. As you say, the DSB machine has Allan valve gear. The original query by @Steve was whether any locomotives other than Bellerophon survive with the Gooch arrangement.

    PH
     
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  11. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Totally different and just another form of link gear of which some 36 were designed up to the year 1870, mainly to get around patents.

    Links.jpg
    (taken from an I Loco E paper.)
    With Gooch valve gear, the expansion link is carried by a link suspended from a fixed point and the radius rod is lifted and lowered as necessary to give the desired direction and cut-off. It was much lighter to operate than Stephensons as there was only the radius rod to lift . The arrangement gave a constant lead but the direct line of action between the eccentric rod and valve rod gave poor valve events.
     
  12. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Best locomotive or favourite locomotive? There is a difference, I suggest, and my choice has to come from the earlier days of steam. Given the date that the class came into being I suggest that this is a contender. (With apologies to @Jamessquared and his choice of loco which, in a slightly different category, I also agree with)

    ACE Sept 11 025.jpg
     
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  13. Dag Bonnedal

    Dag Bonnedal New Member

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    This is the only loco with Gooch valve gear that ever existed in Sweden.
    To make it even more curious it has the odd gauge of 43" (1093 mm), which is said to be the result of a combined misunderstanding of imperial and Swedish inches together with someone measuring rail c/c "gauge".
    Resulting in a railway ending up with locos, waggons and track, all with different gauges!
    This loco is preserved in a local museum in Surahammar, Sweden and it was built by Kristinehamn as their No. 1 in 1867.

    Vaulunder Surahammar 2009 Ola Almquist 2.jpg
    Photo by Ola Almquist.
     
  14. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Now I just know you're not seriously expecting any of us to own up to that Al!:D:D:D
     
  15. Tuska

    Tuska New Member

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    "Best" British locomotive is a purely subjective view and a vague question. Best in terms of what?

    Objectively speaking, the best designed steam machine on the mainline was the 9F. The best designed Diesel engine was the Deltic. I don't know many who would argue otherwise.
     
  16. LMS2968

    LMS2968 Part of the furniture

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    Er... me! I knew many men who were not fond of the 9Fs. They were too big for much of the work they were doing and very coal hungry in those circumstances. Most preferred an 8F for the more normal goods workings.

    Deltics - not the most reliable machines. The engines were designed for marine use, and didn't take too kindly to constant changes in rpm and power demand. I knew the men at Lime Street, from where some of them worked across the Pennines. Again, they weren't too impressed, although by then not only did they have the 3,300hp electrics and also the Class 87s as well.
     
  17. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    Some things seem not to change. I met someone recently from a preserved railway who complained bitterly about what coal scoffers 9Fs were.

    PH
     
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  18. LesterBrown

    LesterBrown Member

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    Haven't the HSTs been the best diesels?
     
  19. Tuska

    Tuska New Member

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    You are talking about a separate issue altogether. The best locomotive to drive.

    I'm talking about design.

    @ Lester Brown, debatable. The HSTs are like the Class 37 in terms of longevity, but they are not the most reliable. Powerful, yes. But I've seen many a train broken down, and have to be rescued by a Class 66. A "shed" of all things.
     
  20. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Whereas Deltics had an exemplary reliability record, of course :rolleyes:

    Tom
     

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