Non - Stop BRISTOLIAN 17/4/2010!

I remember that one. I think they also published photo's of the 'Trial Engines' if I remember right a class 47 and a class 50.
The explanation of how it would work went something along the lines of every shed entrance and every signal box would be fitted with a barcode reader so that the precise location of every engine on the network would be known at all times.

 

Its a good idea! Though I disagree with magazines putting in April Fool "jokes", after all, their purpose is to inform us, not fool us.

 

Oh i dunno, nothing wrong with a bit of occasional light relief, the Mixed Traffic column being a permenant feature suggests the odd giggle is rather popular.

 

I don't mean I want magazines to be blunt and boring, I just wish they wouldn't do these things. To make magazines fun, they can use Caption Competitions, funny letters and so on, and report on unusual and fun stories of course, but I just don't think they should make up these stories and effectively lie to their readers. But I'm always a fan of the light - hearted and fun in the media.

 

would 5029 keep up with 5043?

 

Very funny... Yet another person doubting 5029...

 

Obviously did not witness the performance a couple of years ago to Bristol,i wasn't on it,but heard about it.

 

That was a very errr 'spirited' run indeed!

 

5043 probably has slightly more owing to the Double Chimney, but 75 on Brunels Billiard table woulden't exactly tax Nunney.

 

I think 5029 has always been a slightly better loco than 5051, certainly in the past 10 years or so (this isn't a biased opinion, I have experienced both engines). But 5043 is without doubt even better with it's double chimney and 4-row superheater, 5029 and 5051 only having 2-row superheaters.

 

having experienced 5029, 5051 and 5043, do agree that 5043 has the margin on the the others been double chimney, but would not say theirs much betwween 5051 and 5029 myself, just remember that 5051 was towards the end of it,s ticket, she was still a good performer.

 

I think in terms of reliabilty and performance 5029 has always had the edge over 5051 in recent years.

 

You need to define performance, for years (pre preservation) 5051 was known as powerfull and could tackle anything, while 5029 was known as an engine that could not pull as much but could go faster. This is information passed down by word of mouth, but has been repeated many times.

 

Like I said... "...in recent years."

5029 has only failed twice on railtours since 1996, and it has regularly hauled heavy trains (11, 12 and even 13 coaches) at high speed. I can only recall 2 occassions when 5051 has taken more than 10 coaches on its own and that was back in 2007 on it's final solo run, and in 2005 when it went over Berks & Hants with 12 on... and had to stop for a blow-up. 5029 took 12 coaches over Savernake in 2001, and in 2005 took 10 coaches with a dead Diesel at around 45mph. Then on May 3rd 2003 both 5051 and 5029 were to doublehead from Plymouth to Bristol. 5051 was failed at Plymouth so 5029 plus a 47 went from Plymouth to Exeter. Then from Exeter 5029 went alone with 13 coaches over Whiteball and carried on to Bristol.

 

I would be interested to hear from any of you Tyseley types comparing how 5043 and 7029 compare.

I had an incredible run with 7029 on the Welsh Marches in the 80's and was also on the Shap run last year (when you doing the S&C) so would be interested what people think.

I too had heard about the differences between 5051 and 5029, are they identical in terms of superheat etc. Whats the superheat of the other preserved ones (4079/7029/5080 etc), also out of interest what bolier does 4073 have fitted, as didn't she have double chimney at the end?

 

That was the Swansea - Padd ''St. David's Day Special''. It had to stop for a blow up in the Bristol area and didn't recover until well after Chipping Sodbury (or is it Sodding Chipbury?) tunnel. The load on that occasion was 11 coaches. <BJ>

 

All three locos have the same boilers. 4073 retained a single chimney for it's entire working life.

I must admit I too have heard these things about 5051 and 5029 (which are more or less identical) but I'm a 'seeing is believing' kind of guy, and 5051 has never made me go 'wow'. I've also heard that when they doubleheaded the crews used to fight over 5029 (in a light-hearted fasion of course)....