GWSR General Discussion and Operations

I suggest that airbrushing will not deal with the problem.


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Agreed, but first we need to accept that there is a problem to be dealt with. Simply accepting that it's what Deltics do is unlikely to be an acceptable response to future environmental compliance requirements.

 

Stick a kettle behind it and then we can have some show pony diesel….

 

Steam locos will emit black smoke was the norm. However, heritage railways are rapidly realising that this can no longer be the norm and smokeless fuels will be the future.

 

To what extent is nasty exhaust inevitable with 2-stroke diesel engines? Do any road vehicles have them?

 

I understand it's inevitable because of the nature of two stroke operation involving lubricating oil being ejected from the exhaust. Despite their advantageous power to weight ratio that's why in many countries they have been phased out e.g for motor cycles/lawn mowers/outboards etc.
Although it could be argued that continued use should be determined by regulations in force at the date of manufacture that's not inevitable. For example an historic building would be expected to have electrical wiring complying with modern standards. Workplace safety practices have to meet current requirements not heritage ones. The point I was trying to make is that heritage is not a magic potion that can be relied on to ward off changed standards and expectations.

 

@Lineisclear has mentioned the role of lubricating oil in a 2 stroke engine. Deltics are also prone to collecting oil in the exhaust area when idling, and on a preserved railway are unlikely to run hot enough to fully mitigate that build up and resulting exhaust smoke.

Some diesel preservation groups are using pre heaters and other techniques to mitigate clag, and I understand that Deltics frequently run on one engine only to help mitigate the problems of under utilisation.

More than almost any other type of locomotive, the answer is to allow them to run as designed, under load and at main line speeds. They are also, however, almost the only 2 stroke design out there, meaning that their problems are far from representative of all preserved diesels.


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If working members don’t know, the council monitors the railway for emissions, air, ground and water.

 

It is perhaps worth pointing out that 2-stroke diesel engines (the Crossley type excepted, I believe) do not use crankcase compression to function, (as used in your average chain saw or moped). The big EMD engines use a Roots blower, or a geared turbocharger. Are Deltics different, then?
Pat

 

2 stroke diesel very common in big construction plant such as bucket loaders.

 

I believe 55022 has pre heaters fitted, I could be wrong but I think several of the 50 Alliance machines also have pre heaters fitted.
Whilst I sort of see where @Lineisclear’s coming from I really think they should get things into some sort of perspective, yes a photo of a Deltic momentarily emitting a pall of black smoke it’s only for something like a 2000th of a second.
Speak to my Mum about trying to do her white washing when she has to cope with the likes of 2857, 7714 and 43106 raising steam on shed at Bewdley. She’d be more than happy to tell you what she really thinks!

 

And Swanage neighbours in Gilbert Road think there is a problem!

 

There's a new blog relating to the GWSR that has just gone live:
https://ratstrust.blogspot.com/

This is about the Railway Archiving Trust, an associated trust to the railway that has a little museum that you can visit from P2 at Toddington. The RAT is principally a photographic archive, but next to that there is a little restoration activity of railway related artifacts, and the new blog is about that. The blogger is one of the RAT trust directors, Greg, so he's still feeling his way with blogging.

Hope you like it!

 

So if I understand correctly, 2023 could potentially see quite a shake-up within the GWSR's steam fleet.

4270 is due for withdrawal in January i.e. the end of the current operating season, whilst 7820's ticket expires towards the end of 2023, although the owning group anticipate the next overhaul to be a quick turnaround.

2807's overhaul was set for completion by mid-2022, however this will have inevitably been set back due to the events of the last two years. There was also talk a while ago of 3850 possibly entering service during the 2023 season, although that'll depend on the progress of it's own overhaul.

Is this all correct?

 

Possibly so, but alas, I won't be able to see such things happen as I'm off to the USA for my big brothers wedding.

 

For all of 2023? That's a long wedding...

 

You just try a Catholic wedding in the West Coast of Ireland
One I was rather happy to swerve a few weeks ago

 

Matt37401, ruddingtonrsh56 you joke, but in boiling heat with my dad constantly have a go at me and my mum for not being prim and proper on his favourite child's big day is going to feel like forever.

Anyway, it's more to do with the second May bank holiday, need I say more?

 

But the gala isn’t on that weekend now, it’s earlier in May, dates to be advised soon

 

I see... well, I might be able to do Glos Warks and my brother's wedding, BONUS!