Golden Arrow Statesman

Caught this one at the 1st station after Tangmere took over from a Diesel. See

 

It has bad history on that route, so for this trip, yes.

And as for not being welcomed round east anglia, let us just say this.

Its putting in more reliable miles than two certain native locos.

 

I saw Tangmere when she passed through Ashford at lunch time. Looked remarkably clean, sparkling even - good clean or paint job ?
57 on the back sounded quite noisy - a gentle push perhaps?

 

The return run seen climbing up the bank near Martin Mill.



Dave

 

I think the Diesel on the back of this tour has more to do with the regular stock Statesman use, which I'm sure you will of noted despite all the pullman regalia, are basically Mk2 air cons "coffins", a type which most of the electrics, heat and air con are non functioning without a powered up Diesel or Electric loco plugged in.

Given I need steam round Kent and it's difficult to get from up here, I did briefly toy with the idea of this tour, glad I didn't in the end, a steam tour with air con stock is completely pointless, no smell, no noise, may as well have a clapped out claggy 47 upfront.

 

I think the 57 was providing gen power, but not traction.

When I saw it climbing Denmark hill yesterday it definitely looked like Tangmere was doing all the work, the 57 was noisy, but didnt look like it was shoving.

 

Isn't that said more in hope than certainty?

After all, short of strain gauges through the train, with rigidly-coupled stock, how can you tell from the lineside whether the diesel is actually putting any forces into the train or not?

Tom

 

Engine note/revs usually, with a 37 for example, the difference between idle and under power is quite obvious, 47's are slightly more difficult as idle can sound like low notches, but certainly not enough to shift 10 coaches and a loco upfront, GM's (57's and 67's), are the hardest to tell as they sound like a washing machine whether on idle or wide open.

 

It is difficult to tell, but when I filmed the train on the climb at Martin Mill, the diesel was certainly making a lot of noise and producing a lot of fumes. Far more than I would have thought for just being a generator. Not easy to see on my video (post# 5) because of the noise/exhaust from Tangmere.

Dave

 

If that rather nice video clip is near the top of the climb , and with that load and at that speed the box must have been doing a lot of work.

For Tangmere to have taken the equivalent of 15 cars up the 6 miles of that climb as shown, without help would be beyond belief.

And as may be known I am a lifelong Bulleid fan.

 

Ah so that's why WCRC bought 57s... so anyone watching wont have any idea if it's applying power, I knew there was a reason.

 

They've also had extra silencers fitted, and the exhaust rerouted down the train brake pipe to the steam loco chimney. Simples!

Richard

 

Barkers?.......

 

I'll have to check that out as I don't take much notice of diesels.......do any diesels go Rmnumnumnum?.....they could be nicknamed "A Corporal Jones".....

 

That post should be removed immediately .

Someone will end up doing it .

Buseng perhaps?

 

Oi! I'm trying to develop a steam railtour consultancy business here, advising the industry on efficient and reliable operation while keeping the passengers, photographers and videoists(?) happy.

As the Stealth Cloaking Device doesn't seem to be working on Galatea anymore (the guys in the support coach didn't like the huge stack of AA batteries anyway), I'm working on some new ideas.

The Holographic Livery Switching Device is nearly ready to trial. Think of lots of ipads held together with cable ties covering the loco and tender, and you've getting close. The railtour operator can flip the livery at any time, either for the whole loco, or even different liveries on each side. Early/late BR roundels on the tender can change every few seconds. Anything is possible for a suitable fee.

Just having a few issues with heat insulation for the ipads. Asbestos doesn't seem very popular for some reason.

Richard

Sorry - thought I was on the Galatea thread ...

BACK TO TOPIC!

 

I was told when the first (57601) went into traffic with FGW, it had that rather garish purple and white livery, and got the nickname Purple Ronnie after some cartoon, after it moved on to WCRC and got repainted it became just Ronnie and the name ended up being applied to the whole class, personally I prefer bodysnatchers given they are ex 47's.

That concludes todays lesson on GM c**p