FR & WHR & WHHR News

But will be more efficient than the cost of overhead lines or 3rd rails.
Adrian Shooter and Vivarail are making good progress with refurbuishments of old EMUs and battery power, but batteries are still expensive, heavy and limited life.
I doubt if the FR will take up hydrogen or battery technology in favour of steam, , but good to allow controlled tests before being tested on the rural mainline DEMU routes. Although Alstrom in Germany is the leader, but maybe too expensive, the tests by the university of Birmingham will help reduce costs.

 

I can't comment on the technology... but I'm inclined to think 300m gauge would require a very large track!

 

A fire around a cylinder can be pretty devestating, but a fire around a sealed tank of liquid fuel can be pretty devestating as well (do a google search for “bleve”).

There are also alternative non compressed stores of hydrogen, for example absorbed on a metal substrate.

Really, I’m not suggesting hydrogen is perfect, just that the reputation of hydrogen as particularly dangerous is unwarranted.

Probably best to continue this in another thread though.

Tom

 

More efficient, or lower up front cost offset by additional vehicle maintenance requirements and newly introduced inflexibility? I've yet to see anything that will convince me that batteries, hydrogen, or other non standard means of powering an electric train are anything other than either niche applications or attempts to avoid the obvious answer.

 

Ideally add overhead lines to all lines so electric can be used everywhere, but maybe impractical and costly for some rural lines, so the University of Birmingham is doing some research and the FR is the first UK railway to offer help to test the small hydrogen test train, so good on the FR.
Maybe hydrogen is not the right direction but worth doing tests.
I notice Dudley College is also doing some research on flywheel technology which may have some life?

 

I won't argue that, but when I see the proposed uses being natural infill lines like Windermere or Uckfield, I get very suspicious over where these ideas are going.

 

Sorry, looks like the "Hydrogen Hero" test train is currently 260mm or 10 and quarter inch gauge, so will needs it's own track or be regauged.
Does not look like it has a cab and will need careful handling.

I agree worth discussing alternitive power developments in a seperate thread, but where?.

 

Maybe this existing thread talking about using hydrogen in converted EMUs?
https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/class-321-emus-to-be-powered-by-fuel-cells.1159736
So far not much progress in the UK compared to Germany, but if the FR mini test works might restart the EMU testing?

 

Perhaps we're all barking up the wrong tree and Boston Lodge is secretly building a hydrogen fuelled boiler for Earl of Merioneth?

 

Lighting up will be interesting

 

Question one morning at Boston Lodge: "Which one is the fireman for EoM?"
Answer: " The one without the eyebrows."

 

Certainly go like a BOMB! If things went wrong, mushroom soup anybody.

 

The Isengard site appears to be back and running - a couple of updates today

 

I'd heard it was going to be fired on meths and renamed "Mamod".

 

Very nice to see the photo of K1 our and about on Isengard.

 

I heard this was an April fool as overhauls normally tsk 5 years

 

The image was posted on the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways Insider Facebook page on 13th March https://www.facebook.com/festrailinsider/photos/a.1529068524077778/2556865564631397/?type=3&theater

So no, it isn't an April fool.

 

Looking at the festipedia
https://www.festipedia.org.uk/wiki/K1
Has taken 6 years but has a description of how Statford Barn finished it

 

K1 to a degree strikes me as somewhat of a "Dainty" little machine. Compared to even the other Garrett's that are in use on the Welsh Highland.

 

It's great news. Wonderful to see K1 steaming again.

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