82045 The way ahead?

I'd love to see more locos that aren't class 6-8 express engines running on the national network on routes like this, but I know the costs don't add up!

 

How about double-heading? There are occasional main line runs with two steam locos.

 

Hey up! .... I reckon you're on to something here. I'm sure I've seen old photos of 82xxx piloting 78xx on heavy through workings on the Cambrian Coast.

Irritating, isn't it? Over the water, the usual RPSI rake is 7 strong (i.e. six, plus bacon butty and tea supply), but their most coupled loco is the ex-D&SER Mogul, t'other mainliners being 4-4-0s.

 

Plus the Jeep of course, which has given sterling service all over Ireland. Perhaps the economics of main line operation are somewhat different between GB and Ireland.

 

I've never actually had to chance to fill a Dewar myself, as technicians do it at my current work and previous place. During my MChem, the PhDs and Post-docs were able to do it but of course I was a little lowly to do it.
To use, in some ways I prefer onion dewars as you can tip back excess liquid N2 after use. My current lab has a pressure dewar and often there's a lot liquid nitrogen at the end of the day after people have used it for their schlenk lines.

 

And the new 'W' mogul, at some point. What a pity Maeve's weight precludes the bulk of the network .... still, it's good that one's perfectly safe where it is!

When UK enthusiasts bemoan gaps in the preservation story, they need to glance across the Irish Sea. Another dozen survivors wouldn't tell a fraction of the whole story of even those classes which made it to the end of steam.

 

This is probably going well off thread, for which apologies. Things with liquid nitrogen that absolutely never happened, oh no ...

A nice summer's evening, hot but just after a heavy shower. Bucket of liquid nitrogen used to freeze a puddle on Broad Street in the centre of Oxford for the laugh of seeing people ponder the appearance of sheet ice when it was sunny and warm - unfortunately, while still in progress, along comes PC Plod. Details of miscreant and statement taken, bucket with remaining dregs of liquid N2 taken with the intention to be placed - apparently - in the police evidence safe.

Miscreant is summoned to police station, and charged with "setting fire to puddles". Bucket of nitrogen retrieved as evidence, sadly all the evidence had evaporated away. Custody Sergeant less than amused with PC Plod for wasting half an evening on a charge that sounded ridiculous and evidence that no longer existed. Miscreant released and told not to do it again ...

Tom

 

And you just happened to be passing . . . .?
Pat

 

I may have been in the vicinity …

Tom

 

Other things that never happened with liquid nitrogen, since we're off topic…

During my brief time at Imperial College in London, the physics lab was on an upstairs floor facing out onto Exhibition Road, almost opposite the Albert Hall. Having spent the afternoon doing experiments on conductivity at low temperatures, the traditional end of day routine was to empty the bucket of liquid nitrogen out of the window with, shall we say, interesting consequences for any passing tourists.

 

...of the custody suite?

 

The first time I encountered the stuff was at school... Chemistry teacher (Mr Boddy, we all hated him), did the usual stuff with rubber balls, flowers etc, then we all trooped outside to watch him dispose of the rest of it... He gave the dewar a hefty swing as it threw its contents right down the wicket on our playing field. The caretaker just happened to be in the pavilion at the time getting the mower out. We learned some interesting new words over the course of several minutes of his ranting... Most began with "F", "C" and "W" as I remember. A good lesson in Norse. And he was quite correct in his assessment of Mr. Boddy.

Richard.

 

Wot! No steel toe-capped boots? Just on the offchance you dropped the dewar on your foot?

 

Yes, those as well- forgot to mention them as I wear them all the time in my job anyway!

Richard.

 

same here! Just in case I drop brake discs or batteries

 

I used to wear steel toe capped brouges in the office all the time. Why? Well they were free! Me a cheapskate?? Absolutely!

 

September news update

http://www.82045.org.uk/news/82045_news-sep22.html

 

The team must be so pleased to get the side tank(s) in place - a real visual boost!

 

Reading between the lines, yes it is, but I doubt there'll be too many sighs of relief until all that plumbing mentioned is safely completed.

 

Good to see the new overhead crane in use - just the sort of job it was meant for.