34028 and going Main Line

I would have thought your S160 would have been ready to pull trains by now?

 

As noted, not a pleasant experience, but entirely possible as long as the motion is in the right place and the man going in is thin enough.
Back in the day (would not be allowed these days) I got in-between the frames of a Castle to examine one of the inside big ends whilst on a station stop.

 

One has to crawl under the A frame of the Bissell Truck. Then crawl forward under the frame stretchers and brake rigging tie bars.
Once in the area of the big end and eccentric strap, there is reasonable space to stand up to do oiling.
Same at the front of the con-rod for the remainder of the oil points.

Quiz time: how many oil points are there underneath a rebuilt WC / MN (excepting the 4 bogie axleboxes)?

 

I know that Mr twr12, but I think I am at a bit of an advantage!!

 

Probably about 10% of the number on a GWR Castle.

Edited to make it a more realistic figure

 

All roads at Southall are equipped with pits. https://www.flickr.com/photos/loose_grip_99/3098111011/

 

My experience was at Bold Colliery in 1980 where there were no pits at all. There had to be someone on the footplate that you could trust - there was no quick escape!

Just about the only way in on a Castle is between the drivers, just in front of the ashpan.

I was thinking more of the provision of pits (or lack of) when on tour.

 

Your mention of Bold colliery brings back memories of a visit a day or so before Rocket 150 event. Not sure what the exact arrangement was in terms of entry but it was amazing as a 14 year old to get close up to so many locomotives in the yard. In terms of steam had only been to Dinting, York and a brief visit on a school trip to KWVR before that. Oh and Talyllyn on day trip whilst on holiday at Barmouth.

 

It's a shame you wasn't able to try your luck at places like Newton Heath, Crewe North or Holbeck 20 years before!

 

Yeah that would have been something else even in 1966/7 but not sure a zero to 1 year takes in. Around four I do remember we briefly lived in a flat somewhere in Hyde that had what I would imagine were 16t mineral wagons behind it. Then soon after in Limeside Oldham, I used to think I could hear trains occasionally, and it was only many many years later it I realised it was the Calder Valley line at Ashton a couple of miles away.

 

The Calder Valley line goes nowhere near Ashton. I think you mean the LNW Standedge line.

 

oh that’s funny!

 

I haven’t asked yet! I just trust we get a fully supported Black 5 with crew and leave the details to them