RHDR webcam - Black Prince sighted!

If those locos were built for the stone traffic, why were they designed as roughly scale models of standard gauge locos rather than as conventional narrow gauge ones?

 

Irt was originally Muriel, a non-scale Heywood 0-8-0T. She had a certain charm but was not conventionally attractive.

The 15" R&ER passenger services were at first operated by a scale Atlantic and Pacifics.

Esk was built to be both functional for the stone traffic and attractive for the passenger traffic (then as now mostly tourists, although then as now the R&ER serves a useful transport service function for walkers etc). The idea was instead of having either/or you could have both.

The RHDR locos were built with the same ethos (but with a bit more emphasis on their aesthetics).

Muriel was rebuilt as Irt later because a second powerful but attractive eight coupled loco was desirable - the scale R&ER locos (which were 1/4 scale and hence considerably less powerful and robust than the 1/3 scale Esk or RHDR locos) were being heavily taxed and quickly worn out.

More recently some railways have built 15" gauge locos which are more narrow gauge in ethos - Northern Rock on the R&ER for example.

The Bure Valley, by picking half scale narrow gauge prototypes to base the appearance of its locos on, is another approach trying to balance the two - looks and function.

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Romney rover tickets are back see https://www.rhdr.org.uk/fares/

and 4/9 Black Prince returns https://www.rhdr.org.uk/special-events/black-prince-returns/

 

Thank you for the explanation.

 

Parallel triple header (including number 11) at St Mary's Bay. Not great camera work but hairs on the back of your neck stuff!

 

Are the tracks there normally bi-directional or was parallel running by special arrangement?

 

To judge by the number of 'parallel running' events, there must be an established operating arrangement. Back in the day, the year-round schools service regularly employed 'wrong line running' out of season.

 

I saw, and videoed, them as they arrived in New Romney to a firework accompaniment. That part of the video that I shot over the weekend is still in the 'awaiting editing' queue, but the parts that I've already done are in the 'Galas and Events' forum:

https://national-preservation.com/t...ay-autumn-steam-and-diesel-gala-2021.1420237/

TTFN,

Ron.

 

Went on the RH&DR today for a flying visit and found Black Prince on apparently it's first day back in service? Right place, right time I guess, it looked good, I am beginning to like the DB black and red look.

Question, the driver had a train staff in the cab, is this temporary whilst the track in worked on, or do they usually carry a staff in the double track section?

 

Just been rewatching a couple of clips of the 'Black Prince Returns' runs. Although much of the double track appears in fine condition, some at the Hythe end looks to be giving a ride somewhere between 'lively' and 'can I get out please?'. Ditto part of the single line around Romney Sands. At one (foot) crossing, which looks to be around 1/2 mile from The Warren Bridge, an abrupt change in level sets up a very pronounced rock and roll in both locos and stock. Oh the joys of 5 miles of double track!

It has to be said, the turnout of locos and stock was magnificent. It's disconcerting to realise the first of the RH&D locos hit their 'ton' in a couple of years. My first ever sight, sound and smell of No.5 on a down working at St.Mary's Bay is as fresh as it was nearly 60 years ago. How odd to think of the little attention I paid the green 'Thumpers' in the long vanished BR(S) station at New Romney!