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Saphos 2025

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by NathanP, Feb 19, 2025.

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  1. Oswald T Wistle

    Oswald T Wistle Well-Known Member Friend

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    Just a follow up about Wednesday's trip. It was extremely remiss of me not to specifically mention the locomotive, Sir Nigel Gresley; it looked splendid and I understand performed well throughout the day. My thanks to all at the "Trust" who work hard to keep this magnificent machine running on the mainline. I don't think 60007 has any more booked trips in the north west this year, so looking forward to seeing it in 2026.

    It may have been on the "wrong" line but the memory of sitting in a first class mk1 coach with the A4 on the front, on a sunny evening and a grey haze trailing back down the full length of the train as we sped down Beattock at 75mph will stay with me forever.
     
    Oswald T Wistle, Jul 20, 2025 at 10:35 AM
    #321
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  2. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Part of the furniture

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    Signallers do weird things!
     
    JBTEvans, Jul 20, 2025 at 12:22 PM
    #322
  3. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Part of the furniture

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    My video from yesterday, outward at Parsons Tunnel and then the return at Torre.

    So good to have 5029 back!
     
    JBTEvans, Jul 20, 2025 at 12:37 PM
    #323
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  4. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    Oh, the joys of trying to work in a goldfish bowl:( - so many experts looking on ready to tell you that you're doing it all wrong:eek:.

    Sorry Alan, but that is your - and plenty of other interested bystander's - interpretation of "Standard Practice" and as so often it is only partially correct. The advice with a steam loco is to stop AT LEAST 6 foot short (and certainly not within 3 foot), and there is a very good reason for this. If you stop just 6 foot short and your loco is a bit reluctant to move again you then have to give it a bit more of a "lungfull" of steam. On a locos with long steam circuits it is then likely to move off quite sharply and effectively join the train with power on, especially if the loco is vacuum braked. For this reason it is better to stop 20 -25 feet short, then get going again in a controlled way and allow the loco to gently roll onto the train without steam in the cylinders.

    In the video clip in question you can see that the loco was virtually brought to a stand and then allowed to roll onto the train, just as it should. I suspect that having a GW vacuum brake it worked rather slower than anticipated but as far as I can see the engine was handled entirely correctly. And the sharp impact was no worse than is likely to occur if you stop too close and have to get going again.

    Please give the guys at the sharp end a bit of credit.

    Peter
     
    torgormaig, Jul 20, 2025 at 3:48 PM
    #324
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  5. AlexGWR1994

    AlexGWR1994 Member

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    Here's my footage of 5029 Nunney Castle putting in a very good display on yesterday's English Riviera Express. I filmed at Whiteball Summit, Goodrington Sands, Kingswear and Tiverton Parkway. I hope you enjoy it.
     
    AlexGWR1994, Jul 20, 2025 at 4:04 PM
    #325
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  6. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Peter - It was just a casual observation not a criticism but I'm pleased we do agree that it's normal practice not to roll straight onto the train even though that's what often happened in steam days.

    Sharp contact? Not mentioned by me. I have no view. As for your extended reaction, that's your call I guess.
     
    Big Al, Jul 20, 2025 at 6:38 PM
    #326
  7. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    Alan, the trouble with these casual observation of yours is that there often seems to be an edge to them. Why else comment as you did in post #325?

    Peter
     
    torgormaig, Jul 20, 2025 at 10:32 PM
    #327
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  8. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    I’ve seen a lot sharper impacts with an A4 trying to get a buckeye to close.
     
    Johnb, Jul 21, 2025 at 12:36 PM
    #328
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  9. 2857Harry

    2857Harry Well-Known Member

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    I don’t think it’s overly excessive compared to what I’ve seen previous. Don’t get me wrong it’s not steady steady, but he’s clearly brought it under control 6-10’foot away and it’s just got on top when he’s blown the brake off. Nothing unusual for a western engine. Personally the reaction on here is OTT
     
    2857Harry, Jul 21, 2025 at 5:58 PM
    #329
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  10. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    There will always be a lot of armchair footplatemen I’m afraid
     
    Johnb, Jul 21, 2025 at 6:18 PM
    #330
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  11. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Don't worry, the cognoscenti have piled into the YouTube comments and stated definitively that the chap on the platform was "useless" and you could tell it was going too fast just by watching ...

    Tom
     
    Jamessquared, Jul 21, 2025 at 6:25 PM
    #331
  12. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I won't post the link but I think we have an example of 'too fast' from something that happened in the recent past at Aviemore...
     
    Big Al, Jul 21, 2025 at 6:52 PM
    #332
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  13. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Part of the furniture

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    Yes, indeed? Nothing wrong with my comment on there.
     
    JBTEvans, Jul 21, 2025 at 8:10 PM
    #333
  14. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    5944, Jul 22, 2025 at 6:32 AM
    #334
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