FR & WHR & WHHR News

I'd suggest you find out how to use the "ignore" feature and start a list....

 

Well aware of how to use ignore lists. ;o)

 

I'm with @45669 (and Sir Thomas Beecham) here, being of the firm belief everyone should try everything once ...... excepting wanton acts of violence, incest and country dancing.

Looking at the C2, the thing which struck me was the size of the coupled wheels, which clearly indicate these locos weren't built with express passenger work in mind. Images of the class at work, on track of standards only really familiar to authentic industrial settings, it's obvious they've no shortage in the pure grunt department, though it'll be interesting to see whether any undue speed restrictions on the manicured PW of today's Welsh '2 foot' are dictated by the design.

Other things I'll be looking for is which of the several variants on cab and tender design the team settle on ... or whether they take their cue from the pragmatic Chinese approach of which best suits the loco's deployment (which seems to fit the hints on their website).

Here's a thought ..... on the line where NG steam locos first appeared, will having one of (if not "the very") last to be built anywhere for workaday use attract more custom from the burgeoning numbers of Chinese tourists? Anyone for Welsh fusion dim-sum?

 

To add, very few of us have the time or the money to travel to China, South Africa etc to experience these engines. We are lucky that i) those countries have allowed the locos to be exported and ii) that there are groups to restore and maintain those locos and lines for them to run.

And yes, the irony of someone who would have a peckett running every where and anywhere it wouldn't have ever run complaining about things 'not looking right'.

 

While the wheels might look small they are actually only half an inch smaller then those on Prince - and while the ride on the latter at 20mph is "lively" its not a real problem. So the C2 should be a fun machine. Time will tell...

 

Well, many years ago when accompanying a visiting engine to the FR I had the opportunity to drive "Prince". She (he?) did not not seem anywhere near as uncomfortable a ride as commonly held.

 

Whilst I would have thought that the C2 volunteers have looked into it, will it's fixed wheel base be a factor?
As a small diameter 0-8-0 loco, is the WB less than or more than, that of Alco or Lyd?

 

C2 has its axles at an even 750mm spacing - so 2.25m overall (7ft 4 - and a half). A L&B tanks have a coupled wheelbase of 6ft 6 and the Alco 5ft 6. The Englands for comparison are 4ft 6 or 5ft depending on the individual loco. So yes, its a bit longer - but the tech spec says the design can cope with 2 chain radius curves. The tightest curve on the FR is Tyler's which is (officially at least) 2.4 chains so that should be OK. I seem to recall being told that the centre drivers have thin flanges but I am happy to be corrected on that point.

 

Okay thanks for that info, from what you have said, the C2 should hopefully be good to go!

 

Third driver originally Flangeless on this loco here :http://www.chinesemodeltrains.com/webpics_c2_xingyang10.html
Better picture: http://www.chinesemodeltrains.com/webpics_c2_xingyang18.html

 

its simplicity and ease of maintenance

Thanks for those links. According to the write up, they were (are?) very popular because of their 'simplicity and ease of maintenance'. That must make them attractive to railway operators, even if not to unaccustomed western eyes.

Anyway, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

Perhaps thinking of W&L No.10's eight coupled wheelbase being rather shorter than the six coupled originals?

Given the original purposes of the C2 design - and the sheer numbers built - you've got to suppose there weren't any undue problems getting 'em to go round corners!

 

The C2 chassis has successfully negotiated the curve into Minffordd yard which is tighter than Tyler's.

It's a modern design with roller bearings on everything but the axle boxes. The drivers prep is to fill the two lubricators. There's a comfortable seated driving position, spacious cab, electric lights. It is pretty much everything a double engine isn't. The biggest problem will probably be adhesion, but it should be capable of 10 coaches up the FR.

Tim

 

The less time anyone anyone has to spend in the pit under any loco the better.

Just a personal view but I always found the Hunslets rougher ride than the Englands. My suspicions were that the wheels on Linda's tender were actually hexagons.

 

I'd have thought having the boiler right on top of the driving axles with only the cab behind the rear axle would give it decent adhesion? I am looking forward to watching tear up through the wooded stretch between Tan y Bwlch and Dduallt one day in the near future.

 

It only weighs about 16tons though compared to 32 for the Earl. I imagine the small wheels will help with getting the train moving.

Tim

 

That huge thing only weighs 16 tons?

Can you feed the drivers some pies in case it's windy?
That does seem very light - presumably the tender helps a lot there. I guess that is a key metric for forrestry railways.

 

Paul, I have a question, how big was the loco you were accompanying? Because most locos that visit the FR are smaller than FR locos. This isn't an undiagnosed bout of 'Big Chaufferitis' when you drove Prince is it?

You know you want to have a go on the Garratts really.

 

It was Quarry Hunslet "Cloister" which performed very well. Subsequent visits produced opportunities to sample Single Fairlie "Taliesin" , a lovely thing which was as softly sprung as a Citroen 2CV without the roll.

Garratts don't really appeal but then I have retired from the footplate anyway!

 

Prince and Taliesin are definitely big chuffers compared to Cloister. Taliesin is a very fine loco.

Next you'll be revealing the time you drove a King.