If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Steam Ban Nationwide

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by Western Venturer, Jun 26, 2018.

  1. Bean-counter

    Bean-counter Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2007
    Messages:
    5,844
    Likes Received:
    7,688
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Former NP Member
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Many thanks Brian - my good friend, Harry, who is acting as Chauffeur to the Bride (he has a Porsche - least, I hope he said Porsche and not Porch!) keeps asking both of us if we've changed our minds and has checked with the Vicar what to do if Joyce changes her mind! ;):eek::D

    Steven

    (Almost on topic - just stopped raining here now and menat to keep that way until the ceremony is over - another favour asked of the Lord, who, having brought Joyce and me together, seems to have had all the hard work to do on this wedding! :))
     
  2. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2016
    Messages:
    14,118
    Likes Received:
    7,644
    Occupation:
    Layabout
    Location:
    Naughty step
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Best wishes to you both :) Today reminds me of my own wedding day - sunny but unseasonably windy, all the photos were taken outside the church wall as it offered some shelter!
     
  3. burmister

    burmister Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2008
    Messages:
    283
    Likes Received:
    281
    Looks like the breakdown has been very localised. We watched the planes into Gatwick dodging the the thunder and lighting to the West of Tunbridge Wells yesterday afternoon but not a lot of rain came nor much evidence of it along the A26 and A27. Tomatoes wilting today and strong wind has evaporated any moisture scorched grass and straw as dry as it was on Thursday. Only thing that has altered has been temperature
     
  4. John Casingena

    John Casingena New Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2012
    Messages:
    72
    Likes Received:
    2
    Was volunteering on the railway sunday and people asking why it's raining and where running diesel people don't know that railways plan there loco roster a week or more in advance so by the time rain is on the forecast the loco roster is already done
    We m issed the thunder storms Friday night but got a small 5 minute storm on Saturday around 4pm but on Sunday I was coming back from the station on my motorbike and the heavens opened I got soaked never seen so much rain now it's drying up again and heatwave back and end of week and they say all August looks good weather so where back at square 1
     
  5. John Casingena

    John Casingena New Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2012
    Messages:
    72
    Likes Received:
    2
    On the GCR today its a dmu shuttle between Rothley and Leicester North due to fire risk.
     
  6. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2007
    Messages:
    2,505
    Likes Received:
    3,248
    Location:
    Powys
    Had a trip behind 1501 on 7 teaks yesterday. 1501 is a loud engine, but it fairly 'whispered' up Eardington. Clearly it was being driven with fire risk in mind and was a superb example of enginemanship and the power of this little loco, as it still managed to get the load up to line speed.

    Shropshire is still tinder dry compared to here in Mid-Wales, which has greened up in the last couple of weeks.
     
    240P15 likes this.
  7. jsm8b

    jsm8b Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2014
    Messages:
    2,895
    Likes Received:
    6,172
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Escapee from the corporate bear-pit
    Location:
    Shropshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I'll vouch for that.
     
  8. hatherton hall

    hatherton hall Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2007
    Messages:
    1,057
    Likes Received:
    351
  9. jsm8b

    jsm8b Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2014
    Messages:
    2,895
    Likes Received:
    6,172
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Escapee from the corporate bear-pit
    Location:
    Shropshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Wonderful picture !

    Today's version of the forecast for Saturday it does look like the August monsoon is on it's way - the only thing you can guarantee is it will probably be different by then!
    I hope the irony won't be lost on anyone with a 120 ton steam whistle on the front of their train .
    Here's hoping NR are confident enough to relax the restrictions at least in the north.




    Screen Shot 2018-08-06 at 11.17.06.png
     
  10. 26D_M

    26D_M Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2009
    Messages:
    4,416
    Likes Received:
    1,681
    Guess it all depends in how dynamic the risk assessment process can be.
     
  11. The Green Howards

    The Green Howards Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2016
    Messages:
    14,118
    Likes Received:
    7,644
    Occupation:
    Layabout
    Location:
    Naughty step
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2018
  12. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Messages:
    6,078
    Likes Received:
    4,893
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Swanage
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    And I guess how big a risk they want to take.
    To us on here it is of course a very important and significant weekend. To those trying to run a semi broken railway on a daily basis it may be a risk too far. A fire on Shap that delays to mega minutes of delay and numerous regular passengers inconvenienced may be a risk too far. That is apart from risk to crops, lineside equipment and maybe property etc.
    My bigger concern (and that is probably because my wife will tell you I only ever see the negative in things) is that someone in NR thinks actually it has worked really well with diesel behind steam and that is the way forward. I can not think of any tours running late since this was introduced and even when the diesel failed on the S & C there was a handily placed 8F to help out to get to Hellifield.
    I am sure people will scream open access but rules (and laws) only apply until they are changed.

    I hope nothing does change because I for one would not want to spend the rest of my life behind a "show pony"
     
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2018
  13. 26D_M

    26D_M Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2009
    Messages:
    4,416
    Likes Received:
    1,681
    Hallelujah, a sane voice. Couldn't agree more.
     
  14. Kylchap

    Kylchap Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2015
    Messages:
    463
    Likes Received:
    840
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    East Anglia
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Yes, that encapsulates my concern precisely. I completely accept the need to restrict/curtail steam operations during drought conditions and I can keep amused by switching to other interests for a few months. Beyond that it's a different matter. Steam haulage without steam doing the haulage makes gardening look more attractive. Being a glass-half-full man, I think there is sufficient interest in real steam to stop this happening.
     
    Jerr Grey likes this.
  15. 26D_M

    26D_M Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2009
    Messages:
    4,416
    Likes Received:
    1,681
    Agreed but there is a vocal and, in my view, misguided group which keeps trumpeting the palpable nonsense that show ponys do no harm becauae it keeps the customers happy enough. Presumably the same people would argue against NR imposing it as a condition on the basis it was damaging to business?
    If its too dry for steam run the train with a diesel, apologise to customers, offer some recompense and start running proper trains when its cooler.
     
  16. peckett

    peckett Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2006
    Messages:
    726
    Likes Received:
    549
    Yes I wondered. Where I worked orders were if the track was flooded ,go slow as possible but if water goes into the ash pan ,stop and reverse out. .This was in ironstone quarries.
    I was riding behind a New Zealand oil burner (KA942 )that slipped on a steep grade ,the sparks from the wheel slip caused a embankment fire. That was noticed from the train a few minutes later ,we reversed and put out the fire with fire fighting equipment which was carried on the train. As mentioned before brake blocks rubbing on wheels will also create sparks.
     
  17. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Messages:
    6,078
    Likes Received:
    4,893
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Swanage
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    And of course Saturday is a big risk assessment as consists of 2 Northbound runs over Shap, 1 Northbound run over the S & C and 3 Southbound runs over the S & C.
    Rather glad I am not part of that decision making process.
     
  18. hatherton hall

    hatherton hall Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2007
    Messages:
    1,057
    Likes Received:
    351

    I thought it looked like a GWR 22xx in the Devon countryside, but caption says “Remarkable steam locomotive showing its teeth going through flood caused by heaviest rain of the season Boston, photo by Leslie Jones during the Boston floods of 1915”
     
  19. Johann Marsbar

    Johann Marsbar Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2016
    Messages:
    1,588
    Likes Received:
    1,998
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Suffolk
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The Boston floods 1915 photo would actually appear to be this one, and it refers to Boston, Massachusetts, not Lincolnshire...
    https://superretro.com/boston-steam-locomotive-on-submerged-tracks-during-the-floods-of-1915/

    The picture you posted seems to have been taken in floods in the Melbourne, Victoria, area, and is shown as such on the couple of versions I found of it (South Yarra floods)
    That explains why the loco looks rather British, but the coach behind is an odd clerestory design (look at the end nearest the loco) and the buildings in the background are rather "Colonial" in their style!

    It was in 1907 according to the original postcard....
    https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/598be51621ea8d19dce721ea

    .
     
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2018
    hatherton hall likes this.
  20. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2011
    Messages:
    25,493
    Likes Received:
    23,731
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Grantham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Glad you clarified that, I can’t remember any cuttings near the real Boston!


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     

Share This Page