MHR steam galas March & Sept 2009

I have added a photoguide for the MHR.

You can find it here http://railways.national-preservation.com/viewtopic.php?f=82&t=17793

If anybody would like to offer additions please do.

Regards

 

Thank you for that. Stanier must have brought the design from Swindon.

Regards

 

Type bluepeter1994.avi in the youtube search box, andy.

There is some footage of 73096's failure on Youtube too, but I am not going to post the title here as the faces of the loco crew involved could be identifiable from the film.
Nothing there to get too excited/upset about (depending on your point of view). It was taken from the opposite side of the train so don't really see what happened. You first hear the locomotive working hard then the beat changes and the regulator immediately shut and train came to a gentle and controlled halt - No loud bangs, no emergancy brake applications, no people running around or any other indication of drama at all.

 

Thanks.

Blue peter video is quite shocking.

What exactly happened?

 

From Wikipedia

Source

 

Having observed this video I have to wonder about the standard of some of the so called drivers at the Mid Hants. In particular the driver that has bittern repeatedly slipping running light engine and the driver who has the Met tank sliding with the driving wheels locked up for a fair number of yards. Not the signs of somebody in control of a loco. Makes you wonder if it really was a core plug on 73096 or if that is just a convenient mechanical excuse for damage caused by poor driving?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDacsfuQXG0

 

It was most definately a core plug that went as I saw it with my own eyes, I suggest you engage your brain before making such a spiteful post such as this one, are you a driver that has ever driven an A4, have you even been on the footplate of an A4? If so you'd have known that they can be very light footed especially on a slippery rail first thing even light engine. To say that 73096's failure was a drivers error is to show your shear ignorance and you obviously have an axe to grind with the mhr

 

The Met slide is quite impressive.

 

Also 8RPH if you dont believe it was a core plug have a look at these pictures of the core plug missing

http://www.watercressline.co.uk/tw/index.htm#Cyl

 

Occasional poor driving is a fact of life on most heritage railways, and I'm sure that the Mid Hants has it's share. However, having spent Sunday afternoon watching the Mid Hants crews coaxing their mounts up Chawton Bank I'd say they have some damn fine drivers - especially the guy who was on Nellie.

From all that has been said and from the images available, this looks like a straightforward mechanical failure - no blame to be attributed to anyone.

 

I have no axe to grind with anyone. I have looked at the pictures you posted and I agree that from seeing these it is a good chance it was a core plug that caused the damage.

With regards my comments on the other locos. I am fully aware of how light footed pacifics such as A4s can be at times. That slide with the Met tank is totally inexcusible though.

 

The driver of 73096 when she failed is a personal friend of mine and he's a very experienced footplateman and engineer on steam locomtives, working on steam in the UK and in South Africa. I've seen the photos he took after the event including the damaged core plug which was found by the lineside. This was going to happen no matter who was driving the loco. It isn't a very nice thing to happen to any driver, so pointing the finger at him is really out of order and he can be forgiven for taking your comment personally.

 

I've no axe to grind here regarding driving etc., purely a technical interest - I thought the offending core plug was supposed to have come from the piston head; looking at the pictures on the Watercress Line web site its not obvious to me that there are gaping holes there. Please can someone explain exactly where the missing plug came from?

 

re the video, the A4's driver looks to have the slipping under control quite competently, controlled slipping was allowed in the design tolerances.

The met tank, maybe is less forgiveable? I don't know I'm not a driver, but as a guest loco there is probably a good chance that the driver had never handled it before and doesn't quite know how the brakes would respond.

A plea, can we please stop this 'Everyone hates us at the MHR' cry that goes up every time you are mentioned. Half the issues raised are blown out of proportion by the fuss you make over it. Either don't rise to it, or if you have a genuine concern then PM me with sensible reasons... Hissy fits don't get the result you want or any credibility.

I'm not intending to lock the thread, but please wait for info beore passing judgement

Ben

 

If you look at the 3rd pic down on the left hand side there are 6 holes in the piston head. If you look carefully you can see that the bottom one has the plug missing.

 

I wonder sometimes whether those who are so ready to criticise footplate crews have ever tried doing it themselves. I did the advanced footplate experience course at the Mid-Hants a few years ago and found that it wasn't as easy as it looks! I've had a lot more respect for the engine crews ever since.

 

I agree with you there King John, the old saying of "never critisciise until you have tried it" applies here.

Regards
Chris

 

If so, contact PhotoMatt for details?

 

I agree with you there King John, the old saying of "never critisciise until you have tried it" applies here.

Regards
Chris

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What exact times is it? I've got the track inspec...

 

I have posted two videos of the weekend's gala on YouTube. They can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/PenrithBeacon

Hope you will enjoy them!

Regards