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The Jacobite 2020

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by NeilL, Jan 7, 2020.

  1. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    Had a great run behind it to Maillaig in think 2006. Then had 5 days of clear blue skies and circa 25c on the Isle of Skye. It can happen although even the locals commented it was rare! Happy days.

    Probably last time the 8f ventured up there.
     
  2. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    I was thinking more of the punishment an eight coupled loco would get from the curves on the Mallaig road
     
  3. LMarsh1987

    LMarsh1987 Part of the furniture Friend

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  4. W.Williams

    W.Williams Well-Known Member

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    It’s already been up there a few times at least by the looks of it, I for one would be keen to see it back.
     
  5. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    Wrong engine for the line, I know Black 5s didn't work to Mallaig but they did work on the WHL.
     
  6. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    That was then, this is now and if WRC use the 8F or Galatea then so be it.
     
  7. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Maybe so but the curves on the West Highland up to Fort William and beyond would cause problems for a loco with 6ft 9in drivers. So if Galatea were allowed up there then West Coast might regret it. Ditto the Scot.
     
  8. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    More the gradients than the curves. I don’t think many of the engine crews would be happy with a Jub on Beasdale Bank with a wet rail and wet rails are fairly frequently encountered up there. I remember Alec McDonald telling me a Black 5 was a wee bit high in the wheel for the Mallaig road. The perfect engine is the K1
     
  9. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    The K4 isn't bad either - but that's another story.

    Peter
     
  10. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    I left out the K4 as it never was a regular and sadly unlikely to be seen again. When my Euromillions comes up you can have a side window cab K2!!
     
  11. W.Williams

    W.Williams Well-Known Member

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    This is a view that goes back through the ages. The ex LNER fireman that taught me most of what I know said this exact thing to me over 20 years ago. Black fives went, but the smaller wheeled machines were far preferable. A Jub would not be good on this line going by that.

    The K1 is good, but let’s please all find agreement here. The K4 is the peak.

    Then again, the V4 will be some sight!
     
  12. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    Well I'm going to disagree with you there. The K4 is fine on a good day but they were notorious for being fickle machines back in the day and 61994 is no different in preservation. I've had plenty of good days with her but also some real rubbish ones. The K1 on the other hand - well I never recall having a bad day yet with her.

    Then Im going to disagree with @Johnb about the K4 not being regular on the Jacobite. Over the years I've had a few weeks on it around the 2010/11 period. I was on it the day Mr Portillo travelled. I remember another day when we arrived back at the Fort and there was a new issue of Steam Days on sale at Bill's Place (the station book stall) featuring a colour feature of K4s on the Mallaig line taken some 55 years previously, when the line was only half as old as it was then in 2011. Who could have guessed in 1956 that a K4 would still be working to Mallaig in 2011.

    That the end of me disagreeing with folk for today:)

    Peter
     
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  13. W.Williams

    W.Williams Well-Known Member

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    Hey happy to take it so long as the original point about 5's not being the ideal machine stands.... ;)

    Id be interested to hear your thoughts/experiences on what makes the K4 a little more sensitive/temperamental by the by
     
  14. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Probably the wrong thread for this but I'm told that whilst it is powerful and surefooted its main issue is steaming. Get the firing wrong and it turns up its nose or you run out of steam. Control of the fire running TF is also a knack and any fireman used to dampers for each direction might struggle. So you need to be familiar with the loco and know what you are doing. True of all locos of course but apparently the K4 is less forgiving.
     
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  15. class8mikado

    class8mikado Part of the furniture

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    Ideal loco ? S160 - but none approved for NR.
    Reckon the Crab might do the job and its got film star credentials...
     
  16. Apollo12

    Apollo12 New Member

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    Extra cylinder, less boiler pressure to play with, perhaps the draughting isn’t as good as a k1 boiler. It’s probably a combination of this and more and helps make it more susceptible to suffer with poor coal or not quite fired how it likes it.
    The k1 is fairly forgiving but as Pete will probably agree, it still requires a bit more technique and thought than a Black 5 which will pretty much burn anything you throw in it.

    The K1 definitely has the edge on 7 coaches no doubt about it, you’re at least a turn further out on the reverser by the top of the climbs on a 5. Take a coach off though and it makes such a difference, you can still be doing 30 by the top of the climbs on a Black 5 if you really want.
     
  17. Apollo12

    Apollo12 New Member

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    Just no.
     
  18. Mike Wylie

    Mike Wylie New Member

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    Would be nice to try a Grange, be well suited. K1 is the machine for it, no doubt about it.
     
  19. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    How about just keeping to locomotives that belong on the line. That means K1, B1 and Black 5, although I know the latter only worked south of Fort Bill
     
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  20. henrywinskill

    henrywinskill Well-Known Member

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    Very interesting post from someone who knows the score!
     
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