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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by gwr4090, Nov 15, 2007.

  1. Forestpines

    Forestpines Well-Known Member

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    Attempts to fuel locos with anthracite are what gave rise to the "camelback" form of locomotive in the USA. See http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/camelback/camelbk.htm
     
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  2. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Exactly. I spent about an hour writing about coal classification last night and, at the click of a mouse, it disappeared! One of the things I said was that the Welsh Anthracite belt was west of Llanelli. Swansea is a good alternative marker. Unless I'm very much mistaken, Ffos y Fran is well to the east of there. I may be wrong but I don't think there are any sites in Wales mining anthracite at the moment. Being called anthracite and being anthracite aren't exactly the same thing.
    I'll have another go at a coal M.I.C. today.
     
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  3. Snifter

    Snifter Well-Known Member

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    When coal merchants are describing it as such (see earlier link), it's no surprise that there is some confusion. Mr Aberdare may be along soon to give a definitive view.
     
  4. Faol

    Faol Member

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    This coal is a strange old business. Many years ago I had a guided tour around the Meeth and Merton Clay works. Every now and then they unearth a black patch which is well on its way to becoming coal. This is highly sought after as an ingredient in the finest of white bone china. Don't worry I'm going now. LOL
     
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  5. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    Fascinating coal discussion.

    Why do I have a mental image of a group of coal cognoscenti sniffing a few granules in a wine glass and saying meaningful things like:

    ‘Ah Dowlais top seam No.3, I think. Just catch that hint of fruit and wet pebbles in the after-smell of the volatiles...’

    Robin

    526F165F-3F74-42AA-811A-74F29AB4ED35.jpeg
     
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  6. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    I wouldn’t underestimate the impact that aroma (coal, with a soupçon of warm oil vapour) has as one of the intangibles that we are selling.

    Tom
     
  7. Maunsell907

    Maunsell907 Member

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    Although not closely relevant to the WSR this thread did commence with the projected visit of 35028

    I agree report 10 is less than enthusiastic wrt thermic siphons, hence my "Thermic siphons ?". The report does however include the statement wrt removal of the Thermic siphons "such differences as were observed may have been due as much to the different brick arch as absence of the siphons"

    The removal of the siphons led to an arch of a quite different geometry. The tests without the siphons were carried out 12 months later, the detioration of the coal was noted. The loco would have run a higher mileage perhaps, be ex works etc etc (advantageous or disadvantageous ?)

    Test No.20 ( on the rebuilt MN) specifically notes that there were "two siphons" and identifies this as a difference to the boiler recently installed on the recent 8P (ie 'Duke of Gloucester)

    The running depots were convinced the siphons were a bonus, both on the MNs in air smoothed form and rebuilt, but perhaps this was a case of 'brand loyalty'

    I have always thought they are the reason why Mr.Bulleid's boilers have the edge up....

    However it will be good to see Clan Line visiting the WSR.

    Michael Rowe
     
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  8. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    Mock ye not. The best bottle of red wine I have ever drunk had distinct aromas of tar amongst those of coffee and chocolate that wafted out of the glass. Sounds revolting but was sublime.

    PH
     
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  9. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    No mocking intended. I always admire folk who know / can do things I don’t /can’t.

    I had an uncle who was a master paper-maker. Give him a sheet of paper and he could talk for hours.

    Hmm. Come to think of it, that might describe me as well...:rolleyes::confused:

    Robin
     
  10. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    When I was sent on a Method of Instruction course I received the notification of my subject.
    30 minute lesson on the inside of a Ping Pong Ball.

    When broken down into Admin, Recap on last lesson, Subject matter and look forward to the next lesson, it still meant I had to go on for 20 minutes about it.
     
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  11. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

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    I must say that the recent discussions about types of coal and the operational factors in the last few pages of this thread have been the most interesting of any on the WSR threads. Good to know folks are happy to share their knowledge here and that others are not afraid to ask questions.
    However like a good tv film it was jarred by the adverts. ;)
     
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  12. jnc

    jnc Well-Known Member

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    Reminds me of Lapsang Souchong tea; for those of us with a nautical heritage extending back beyond the modern era of synthetic-material ropes, the smell of wet tarry ropes is sublime! :)

    Noel
     
  13. Paul Kibbey

    Paul Kibbey Well-Known Member

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    Dreadful to use in
    Dreadful to use in a non nautical setting , holds the water too long .
     
  14. Snifter

    Snifter Well-Known Member

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    There are some firemen on the WSR who are a joy to watch. I have seen a loco make 20lb on 3 shovels which was explained to me as a result of it landing the right way up (my leg was being well and truly pulled). The normal Welsh product is very low in volatiles but can from time to time, contain a lot of pyrite and even bands of rust. We usually save the worst for the signal boxes but stop short of giving them a bucket of dust. (only kidding). I did see a lump of amber in Britannia's tender which was the size of a goose egg, it probably came from Russia or the Baltic. My kids now have it in their bedroom beside their fossil collection.
     
  15. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Ochre was the usual term! Once considered to be a nuisance, it now has a good use. https://www2.groundstability.com/services/ochre/
     
  16. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    There's an old Chinese maxim which states "All which exists can be turned to advantage - if only one can work out how". Today's waste is frequently tomorrow's valuable resource.
     
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  17. Mogul

    Mogul Member

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    If all three shovels land in the one hole in your firebed the effects can be quite dramatic. ;)

    Not saying that was the case in in this situation. Just my experience:(
     
  18. Geoff May

    Geoff May New Member

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    Deleted
     
  19. CH 19

    CH 19 Well-Known Member Friend

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    When I was doing my Leading Hands course I had to do a 2 minute, on the spot, lecture of exactly that. No advance warning, 120 seconds is a bloody long time.
     
  20. Robin Moira White

    Robin Moira White Resident of Nat Pres

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    WSR Board summary.

    A link to a summary of the recent WSR plc Board meeting has appeared on Steve Edge’s excellant site. www.wsr.org.uk

    It’s a curious document.

    The co-option of two Directors appears buried as a throw away line in the wrong tense. But, no doubt we shareholders will have the chance to consider that at the next WSR General Meeting, along with the other co-optees.

    Richard Maw, for whom I have the greatest respect, seems even more remarkable for the things he has been able to do while away, according to the document.

    We have, it seems, a new major event to look forward to in September which does not appear in the 2018 leaflet.

    And finally, as a member of the WSR Heritage Committee, which has never met, I look forward to hearing about the new arrangements.

    Curious, as ever.

    Robin
     
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2018
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