Current and Proposed New-Builds

I would expect that DCR has some very heavy overheads, they only lease the site, they unless it's changed have to pay Rent to NR, then there is insurance, i would imagine the risk assesments for the site must be interesting, plus if i'm honest there isnt that much they can do to attract extra visitors without it costing them money to get anything in

 

Ah I didn't realise they only rented, that must take a fair chunk out.

 

I thought there had been a change in the status of the Didcot site a couple of years back?

 

The accounts are rather complicated with all sorts of ring fenced funds.
*If* I read it correctly this is a reasonable simplification spectacularly rounded up and down.

In
===
donations/legacies 453K
entrance and subs 528K
fundraising 70K
gift aid 108K
------------
1.1M

out
====

repair & maint staff 81K
repairs & maint 361K
rent rates 29K
coal + oil 28K
elec 17K
depreciation 27K
cleaning/security 11K
promotion &
special events 231K
Support costs
& governance
(staff ) 127K
(other) 53K
-----------
1M

 

I think you will find that 42xx have a reputation for being good at "for and aft" shaking of crew.

 

But it's when it's transmitted to the first carriage.....

Part of me would love to see working water troughs somewhere suitable or, more accurately, the effect of the resulting spray on unsuspecting passengers with windows open in the first carriage. Aren't I a rotter?

 

It would indeed be great fun, but don't they only work over 60mph or so?

 

No, about 20 mph minimum, but the amount you'd pick up would be small.

Troughs represent a large capital outlay, and it's difficult to see how it could be recouped on a preserved line, especially when you add in the damage to the p-way.

 

Garsdale?

 

Wouldn't this be a brilliant HLF scheme? Do any preserved lines have a former trough location?

 

It doesn't look like it, there is a list on the internet. They are all on trunk routes - for obvious reasons. There was a set near Loughborough, I was wondering if these were on the GCR, but they are near Hathern which is on the MR route.

 

Killjoy! 'Spose lineside hoses would just have to be arranged to perform the requisite historic soaking function.

 

It’s worth noting that you need to find a straight and level bit... which rather limits your options.


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You will need to have a look on the "Gradient Profiles" thread.

 

OK, so that's the RH&DR sorted then. Unless something major has changed since my last visit, the Bluebell could just pause it's trains at the northern end of Sharpthorne Tunnel. With tank filler lids open, it shouldn't take too long to collect a couple of thousand gallons!

It's a pity recreating such an iconic part of railway history looks likely to stay on the "not possible" list, but the costs, coupled with troughs not actually being close to essential, or for that matter, to where anybody much would see them in action, means those old Pathé clips will probably remain the closest we're likely to get to witnessing the lost art of picking up water on the move.

 

Are there any locomotives, or perhaps I should say tenders, which have workable scoops?

 

I think there's a fair few around that would only require repairing to work again, the stuff's still there.

 

The Super D had one, the last time I looked.
The NYMR has a short section of level track, at Fen bog, near the summit, which could probably be lengthened with a lot of ballast. Whether sufficient to get a good fill, I don't know. Not sure of the quality of the water around Fen Bog, either.

 

Thats another issue, with more railways going for treated water, water from an untreated site could have an adverse effect on the boiler take a railway that uses RO water, how much untreated water would it take to cause impurities in an otherwise pure water situation? then the cost would be astronomical, so sorry but its just another WIBN, , plus imagine how rancid, and smelly that water would be, do you really want to bath your customers in it,

 

My response was a bit tongue-in-cheek. I'm well aware of the impracticality of it.
Wouldn't it be nice though.............