GWR Steam Railmotor

Hi chaps, all this talk of a Plandampf everywhere had a wondering about what happened to this? I know it went on a few branches and was said to be quite sensational. Are there issues we don't know about as to why it isn't running now? Surely an obvious candidate for branch Plandampfs. If there are issues perhaps the heritage community could assist with?

 

When I rode the Brentford brach with it, talk amongst the Didcot guys on board was for a number of future runs on various branch lines but it's all gone quiet of late.

 

They managed to get it all the way down to Cornwall to run on the Looe branch, and there are surely several suitable branch lines nearer than that to Didcot.

 

I travelled on it at Didcot last August - the exterior condition was very poor. Didcot seem to have given up on maintaining locos etc in favour of new builds.

 

Network Rail will only allow the SRM to operate on self contained lines with no other traffic operating at the same time. This was fairly straightforward with no winter weekend service on the Looe branch or weekend trains Southall to Brentford, and no conflicts with main line traffic at both junction stations. Unfortunately there aren't many other branch lines with similar conditions.

 

It's a lovely little beast, but I agree, the condition is really disappointing, particularly as Didcot has a fair amount of scope to keep it undercover.

I'd love to see it on the Looe branch, nice and neat and tidy.

Simon

 

On the Brentford branch....

http://simonwhittinghamphotography.zenfolio.com/p789673913

 

A lack of resources - people - perhaps?

Cheers,

Alan

 

The Looe excursions were phenomenal - one of the best steam trips I have ever been on. I do worry about Didcot in general - operational steam seems to be getting more and more limited there.

 

Henley would work as would Marlow and handy for Didcot in both cases. Just replace the regular trains for the day or weekend

 

Hasn't it got its own shed at Didcot?

 

Yes .The completed shed - Frank Dumbleton - 17-Dec-2010.

 

I think there are deeper problems re the exterior condition than lack of poor maintenance, or lack of covered accommodation.

 

Say more................

 

Well I once got a phone call from Llangollen about this, whilst wandering around Sainsbury's to pick my brains.

Something to do with movement of the bodyside mouldings if I remember correctly.

My reaction was I wouldn't have used that timber for those as it's not very dimensionally stable.

Sawdust.

 

For the benefit of increased knowledge, what timber wouldn't you use?

 

Fowey was one brach mentioned but can't recall the others that came up in he conversation.

 

Your wish is my command. It was a fun ride too, especially the climb up from Coombe Jct.

 

Is it just as simple that Didcot needed the SRM at home. I understand there was a problem with Locos negotiating curves on the (now relaid) branchline. Presumably the railmotor had few issues so was it a first choice?

 

I'm not saying what I would have used as I'm not familiar with the vehicle and the sections used thereon.

I just know I would have advised against kiln dried oak.

However if that tin shed is uninsulated then I suspect that might be causing some of the trouble. It's not protecting the vehicle from the extremes of temperature and the shrinkage caused in summer will be massive.

Sawdust.