THE KENTISH BELLE ARMISTICE DAY (Tangmere now via Bromley)

Yeah, I meant looking at the schedule, understanding that a standing start from Deal, up Walmer bank, is a potential problem, so providing assistance as an insurance. It wouldn't be the first time that NR have only accepted a particular schedule on that basis. Also suprised that the operator didn't have concerns when viewing the schedule, or, for that matter, the crew.

 

Chat in the confines of a crew cabin where anything can be said no holds barred, is different to a public internet forum when anybody, young or old, male or female, could be looking.

 

No. It is an aide memoire regarding the correct poceedure for dealing with 'dragging brakes'....

 

Unlike some on here I do not actually work in the rail industry but I would have thought that responsibility here really lies with the TOC. I can't believe that the Network Rail train planners can seriously be expected to take into account that "it's a Light Pacific and climbing that bank may be a bit too much for it." Surely as far as they are concerned a steam charter is just another train to be fitted in among all the others, that should be able to maintain a reasonable speed and be capable of re-starting itself from any stop, planned or otherwise.

I would have thought it was up to the TOC to look at the schedule they are given and either raise an objection to it or take appropriate measures to mitigate any risk. If that is the case who at the TOC makes the decision about what should be done? Someone in management or should the driver on the day request diesel assistance if he is not happy with what he is being asked to do?

 

Speaking of "crew". It appeared to me that a relief (driver?) boarded Tornado at Bromley South on the outward run. Tornado's start was certainly very competent, especially in view of being loaded to 13 including what sounded like a generator vehicle near the back of the train. After about five or six coach lengths and nicely on the move she seemed to be opened out quite smartly, and in the posted videos subsequently can be seen to be going pretty well though Bickley.

Tangmere was likewise got moving from Bromley South without any fuss or drama, albeit with about 100 tons less on the drawbar than Tornado. Yet in the videos she seems to be making more of a meal of things around Bickley. I thought I recognised Mr Roberts on the footplate, but not as driver. He can be seen appearing to do something in the video as the train starts to build up speed leaving Bromley. At any rate there would be no lack of knowledge and experience on Tangmere's footplate as far as the loco and the route are concerned.

Possible clues to the later events have been alluded to earlier. Firstly,(Big Al/12-12 09.16am) the sanders. It could have been the case that there had, in actuality, been issues with Tangmere's sanding equipment thoughout the day. Note also a mention of a brake problem later on at Chelsfield (Mike 30027/11-11 08.16pm). So, mechanical issues? Motive Power to explain!

For ease of reference I repeat the video links:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_cdxlEaXYs&feature=related Bromley
http://youtu.be/-Y2GTDewq9Y?hd=1 Bickley

 

The man boarding Tornado at Bromley is Traction Inspector Colin Kerswill. Don't recognise the guy who got off but it looks like a change of TI rather than driver.

Don't recognise Tangmere's driver although I agree that is Pete Roberts behind him.

 

MTU...'s self-appointed job is to provide simple enthusiasts like yourself with the endless knowledge a professional railwayman has. Sadly he's not living up to his own hype...

 

Reservoir isolating cock, distributor isolating cock, pull release cord to release chamber side of distributor / air brake on vehicle, kick brakeblocks to ensure brakes released / wheels free running.

 

How do you work that one out then?

Where has he given you any hype?

He may give you some truths that you'd rather not hear, but hype? I don't think so

Sounds like a bit of green eyed monster going on here

 

You could do an entire seperate thread to discuss forums and their moderation to be honest, this thread isn't the one for it though. I am however convinced that a small minority of users on all railway forums go on line with the sole and singular purpose of being offended and search the forums from end to end looking for things to be offended by, not resting until they have found something..

 

I was merely amused that some of you thought it was some kind of imported in house code...

 

Fair enough

 

Which is pretty fair comment. You would also think that the owners of the locomotive might show some concern as to the use of the locomotive in conditions which may render it liable to damage, particularly on a locomotive on which a fair proportion of the mechanical gubbins is enclosed within an oil bath and therefore difficult to inspect. Prolonged wheelslip carries with it the risk of damage, particularly if the valve gear / side rods / motion is upset by wheels being shifted on axles should one end of the wheelset gain grip before the other. Anyone who has heard a class 08 loco being moved with the rods on and a shifted flycrank will know what I mean.This doesn't appear to have been the case here thankfully which is largely down to the efforts of those on the footplate.

 

Well, unless I've missed something, you are over-reacting, if I have missed something, I'm sure you'll point me to the offending, offensive, post. If, however, you are simply offended bacause someone holds a different view to yourself, then why come on a public forum

 

I've got better ones, but they are best left for railwaymen (paid or unpaid) who are less easily offended!

 

Two vids of the stall, or 2 stalls. Don't think its worth comparing the 2 locomotives or crews. As can be heard in second video there is a recovery from an earlier near stall. The recovery from the stall seems remarkable to me. As for calling steam locos kettles, I have heard worse, and arn't some vertical boilered industrials refered to as "coffee pots"?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jyn-lj4_WiQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P37H6IB9O50