45699 Galatea

5.2.83, northbound/12.2.83, southbound. If I had a time machine, those would be 2 of the first dates I'd visit

 

Really? I'd go back to the 30s and see the same sight several times in the day

 

Steve

I was only floating a what if.

The load is the imponderable.

What about the rolling resistance? Would it not be fair to assume that after being on the road for a good while as the lubricant does its work?

We never will know what really happened but curiosity is a natural trait.

One thing I know for sure a Jube flat out makes a hell of a noise and emulates a mini volcano.

Cheers Dave

 

Dave, I was simply showing the unlikelihood of the legend, as told. Something doesn't fit into the equation. Either that or gravity was turned off.

As for rolling resistance, I doubt that you'd get better than the figure I've used and, even if it was zero, it is still an impossibility. One person who may be able to shed a bit of light on things, though, is James Shuttleworth at West Coast. They will know the cylinder bores of 45699 as it was when withdrawn. The only problem is that the event happened whilst the loco was at Bristol and almost certainly before its last overhaul.

 

After being at Barrow Rd she was based at Salop and used on Shrewsbury - Swansea passenger services until the huge changes on the Central Wales route in June 1964.

I have a dvd of Galatea hauling a Swansea - Shrewsbury train filmed from the train at various places including the climb to the Sugar Loaf.

Cheers Dave

 

Evening everyone,

This might prove to be of interest:-
Vale of Neath Line and Central Wales Line - 26th May 1964.

 

I am reading through today's posts listening to Galatea climbing hard in the background.
It certainly doesn't sound like a loco on its uppers months away from withdrawal.
Brilliant, thanks for posting this link.

 

Great find! Thanks for the link...

 

Very much so; fascinating, thanks for posting that!

Not only that, it didn't sound like it was finding it that difficult, either! Working, yes; straining, not at all!

Noel

 

Fantastic find there! Excellent website with some great recordings. I did wonder what was going on at one point in one of the recordings: I thought she had had a jet engine fitted in the tender!

 

Seems there's a loaded test run booked for Tuesday according to one of the gen groups, usual times round the Hellifield circle.

 

That path is booked every day up till mid December according to realtime trains so who nows for sure .

 

I really like those recordings. Great sounding locomotive, but that was to be expected given that she is a Jubilee!

 

I'd be very surprised if Galatea was pushed onto GB duties so soon after her loaded test run, if the test runs on Tuesday.

Granted she will most likely pass the loaded test run but will still need a steady running in period and being placed onto such an important train over a challenging route may well be pushing it a touch too far so soon.

 

Solo yes, but with one of the fives perhaps not... think thats unlikely though

 

Hope you don't mind a question from a "newby" (though I've been lurking on this thread for some time):

If she is running tomorrow, what would be the best place to view her? I'll be coming up by train, so is Carnforth best, or Hellifield, or where? I don't know those areas very well, but would like to get some photos for my website.

Thanks in advance.

AN106

 

But what's the pathing assume - 75 or 60mph?

 

Good point, though i imagine two fives get the train up to 60 quicker and keep it there longer than any single engine.... and a completely irrelevant thought occurs, how do crews communicate the need to brake /accelerate on double headers, do they just listen to what the lead engine does and follow suit ?

 

If you want to see her in action, try one of the stations between Carnforth and Hellifield. IIRC, there's a nice view, including a low viaduct, a short walk from Clapham station. High Bentham looks promising on the map, too.

Later in the day, Whalley is good. There are several footpaths on the hilside south of the long viaduct, and also between the railway and the A59 by-pass, that give good views.

Or try Langho, half way up Wilpshire bank. The view from the station is rather head-on but the line is fairly open and there are probably views to be had from the surounding fields.

Of course, you are taking a bit of a risk with these test runs. They don't always keep to the schedule and sometimes they don't run at all. The Realtime Trains web-site is a real boon in those situations.