West Somerset Railway General Discussion

R.H.N. Hardy did quite a lot of footplating in France and remarked how the pyrometer was used to detect the onset of water pickup.

 

I've missed a few comments, but that was the drop as read on the tender gauge (I can't say how accurate this is). On one run it used around 3000 gallons Gt-Pg but as we were sat around blowing off at Goathland waiting for a late running down train, as such I ignored that value.

 

Volunteer carriage cleaning crew at Minehead today and the difference they are making.

They have dealt with rather more area than this shot shows but this shot was chosen to illustrate the difference clearly. A coat of varnish is being contemplated, I understand.

Robin

 

As all great Western engines are basically the same, its only the names/class that make them heavy.

Why not rename it Lady of Legend Hall?

Job done

 

Halls are red too! Lady of Legend Manor would do it though

 

If I remember rightly, the early Saints actually weighed less than a Manor, although I feel Lady Low-Carbs doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

PS I can confirm that the '22.5 ton' axle load of the Kings was a product of the Swindon Fiction Office...

 

Interesting - is that on the basis of modern weighing, or original documentation?

I'm reminded of the famous quote attributed to TS Finlayson about the supposed disparity in TE to weight ratio of a Castle and a King Arthur, ("the specific gravity of the steel was different at Swindon") and wonder whether a Castle was also subject to the Hollywood starlet style reporting of weight!

Tom

 

Things must be quiet in Somerset at the moment. We're having some interesting diversions.

 

I believe it was always unofficially recognised that they were overweight, but certainly the weighing of 6023 two or three years ago proved this beyond doubt. The main offender is the rear axle. I don't really want to quote figures, partly because my memory may be wrong, but at the risk of being a bit naughty I seem to recall an extra ton and a half on the rear axle. Of course every time you weigh it you get a slightly different result!

The comment about the steel is a classic! But having never been involved in the weighing of a Castle, I couldn't say whether the weight diagram was for display purposes only.

PS For anyone interested in GWR weight diagrams, there are quite a few here, although bear in mind it isn't exhaustive. Note how the 'full' weights for the King drivers are all conveniently the same! http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/loco_draw.htm

 

Sir, I must ask, is this an extreme sport you enjoy?

 

You mean peace has broke out?

 

No, far from it, and just usual thread drift, and an anodyne post suggestive of a 'gagging order' imparted on those 'high up' by those 'higher up' still.

 

From Peto's Register of Great Western Railway Locomotives Volume One King 4-6-0s, Page 31. The weighing of 6023 King Edward II was observed in 1952 and the weights were recorded as follows: diagram weights first and actual second:


Diagram Actual

Bogie 21 Tons 10 Cwt 21 Tons 4 Cwt
Leading 22 Tons 10 Cwt 24 Tons 17 Cwt
Middle 22 Tons 10 Cwt 24 Tons 17 Cwt
Trailing 22 Tons 10 Cwt 25 Tons 0 Cwt

Adhesion 67 Tons 10 Cwt 74 Tons 14 Cwt

Finlayson was right and I bet the Civil engineer had a headache.

Best regards

 

The calm before the storm perhaps.

 

Well, I for one am very pleased that the coaches are being cleaned. Well done to those involved

 

The new group are enthusiastic and need to ‘eat the elephant’ one bite at a time. I know they have been boosted by the positive comments about their first steps.

I’m sure further assistance would be valued.

Robin

 

Thanks. I'm pleased that my memory is still fine, even if the rest of me is gradually succumbing to the ageing process.

 

Come on down then

 

Surely, if it is to work on roofs it should be ‘come on up’?