Steve's Recent Activity
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Steve replied to the thread Oswestry Update.
My Mars Bar is backing Robin with this. I’ve just been out. Back now. Edit: SWMBO disagrees with me. :(
Aug 8, 2026 at 9:10 PM -
Steve liked Thompson1706's post in the thread The Dinting Railway Centre.
Why did he move to Ingrow following his death ? Bob.
Aug 8, 2026 at 1:24 PM -
Steve liked Dag Bonnedal's post in the thread Oil Firing.
As many of the participants in this discussion has pointed out, oil firing does not have a strong tradition in the UK, still it is viewed by many as the eventual way forward. What often is lost in the debate is the actual role of coal firing in...
Aug 7, 2026 at 10:59 PM -
Steve liked LMS2968's post in the thread SVR Loco Newsy News / discussions.
We don't know why but it is; the older SVR drivers who worked both it and Black Five 5110 will tell you the same. Both these engines worked eight-coach trains southbound over the Central Wales line and the difference in speed is notable; 2968's...
Aug 7, 2026 at 8:48 PM -
Steve liked LMS2968's post in the thread SVR Loco Newsy News / discussions.
As I said, Steve, we don't know why but it was a common comment from several drivers, and these were BR men and not from preservation. It applied to all the class and not just 2968; they said the same about the Horwich Crabs too. Remember that...
Aug 7, 2026 at 8:47 PM -
Steve liked Flying Phil's post in the thread 34039 Boscastle WC class.
The shareholders of Boscastle Locomotive Ltd received excellent news recently that there has been a full and final settlement of the insurance claim following the theft of parts three years ago. It is said that this will cover about 90% of the...
Aug 7, 2026 at 7:04 PM -
Steve liked Jamessquared's post in the thread Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development.
And in tomorrow’s episode of “Lynbarn states the bloody obvious”, we examine the issue of “rails - why there is no substitute for ensuring they are laid everywhere the trains need to go”. Tom
Aug 7, 2026 at 7:01 PM -
Steve replied to the thread SVR Loco Newsy News / discussions.
2968 'on spec' is a theoretical 4.5% stronger loco than an 'on spec' Black 5 but that's only a simple analysis. If hauling a train, the balancing force of the Black 5 was (say) 23,000 lbf, that would leave 2,455 lbf lf available for...
Aug 7, 2026 at 6:51 PM -
Steve liked 3855's post in the thread SVR Loco Newsy News / discussions.
I was privileged to be rostered driver on 2968 during it's post gala appearance at the ELR last autumn. I was impressed by it, a very nice machine. Having driven 42765 on many occasions i would describe the Stanier version as being sure footed...
Aug 7, 2026 at 6:23 PM -
Steve replied to the thread The Dinting Railway Centre.
That's the one I was referring to. Couldn't remember what name it went by. I think that, between Peniston and Meadowhall, there as a plan to operate a line along the Rother Valley in South Yorkshire through the proposed Rother Valley Country...
Aug 7, 2026 at 2:31 PM -
Steve replied to the thread The Dinting Railway Centre.
Theee was a short lived scheme at Penistone which later moved to a site in north Sheffield (Chapeltown?). Didn’t Harry Needle have some of his locos there?
Aug 7, 2026 at 8:27 AM -
Steve liked 26D_M's post in the thread The Dinting Railway Centre.
I'm not intentionally minimising the standing of the 2 GW sites but for this northern child of the 70s Steamtown and Dinting reigned supreme. It was inconceivable they'd close to the public. I'd agree with your analysis of Dinting's limitations...
Aug 6, 2026 at 10:03 PM -
Steve liked mikehartuk's post in the thread Rother Valley Railway.
Having first checked with our engineers I hope the following reply to your questions is helpful; 1. What is the Black material? Road Planings / Tarmac? RVR: The material purchased is Type 4 sub-base. 2. How thick 150mm ? RVR: Correct. C150mm...
Aug 6, 2026 at 7:05 PM -
Steve replied to the thread North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion.
926 was originally pencilled in to haul the Moorlander on Tuesday but was pulled due to the dry weather. 2253 covered this turn on Wednesday but not used on Thursday. I'm guessing there has been sufficient rain to allow 926 to be used today...
Aug 6, 2026 at 7:02 PM -
Steve liked Jonnie's post in the thread Bluebell Railway General Discussion.
Preservation is all about working together. Yesterday evening, I popped over from the Spa Valley Railway and spent some time at the Bluebell, re-familiarising and assessing two of their Driver Inspectors on Hastings Diesels Limited's Class 201...
Aug 5, 2026 at 7:39 PM
