Railmotor on the Liskeard-Looe branch?

I must admit the same thought crossed my mind,
especially as things seemed to improve as the day went on,
presuimably as the crew got to know the line better.

I think this proves why NR insisted on it being dragged on the mainline.
Stopping for a blow up when you're the only loco on a branch line,
is rather differernt from stopping on the mainline, where,
even at night you could have a freight following you.

 

Are Didcot allowing it to be fired on move as if heard not? Which probably accouts for struggeling with steam?

 

Mike Lewis, a GWS member, reminisces about this issue on the Railmotor's website -

"...Out on the road, contrary to all the Company exhortations about good firing practice, especially the one about only firing when the regulator was open to avoid unnecessary smoke, in the case of the railmotors it was absolutely fatal to steam production to open the firehole door whilst the regulator was open. Having seen official drawings of these boilers I can appreciate the reason for this. The deep circular firebox had a firehole positioned immediately below the tube plate. Opening the door would send cold secondary air straight across the tube plate and up the vertical tubes, hence every station stop brought frantic activity on the part of the fireman to recharge the firebox and recover lost ground in the steam and water stakes before they lurched off on the next stage of the trip. Long runs between stations must have been a nail-biting experience for the fireman!"

Chris

 

some photos of steam motor on looe branch at no 93 steam motor to looe 11-11-12 - keyhamtrain railway photography video now at keyhamtrain's channel - YouTube

 

That makes sense - the air not passing across the firebed to reach the tubeplate. No deflector and arch as you'd have in a conventional 'box.

 

Thanks to everyone for their kind comments about my first video - I really appreciate them all.

I've had a number of comments about the pacing sequence towards the end of the video. Because of this, I decided to make an extended version for you all, which should be going live within the next few minutes. The shots are not necessarily the best, but are there for either the visual or audio element. As mentioned previously, it was not easy filming on the twisty roads, and so will not claim these shots are my best work.

The link to the second video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyhLnuT7TPA
If you would like to see the first video again, then the link is here: Steam Railmotor 93 on the Looe Branch Shuttles 11-11-12 - YouTube

Enjoy, and feel free to comment!

James at SVN

 

Here's my contribution to the party. In contrast to James's video, there are just two locations, on the hillsides around Terras Bridge.

I must say thank you to the good people of Trewith for openning their garden to photographers and on-lookers in return for a donation to the local hospice. If you go up there this coming Sunday, be sure to add to the collection.

Some forum contributors may recognise themselves on the causeway. I've spotted Andover and Spamcan81, and I'm sure there are others.

 

So you're the guy I've had to remove from the hillside.

 

This is also in one of the books about railmotors, along with the fact that alot of the failures are because of leaking tubes, the cold air on the tubes would cause this, hence the no firing while on the move.
I noted that some people (on youtube) seem to think they were failures, but there were about 100 of them, no.93 survived in use for about 30 years so I would not say a failure. I would guess that after 30 years in use the boiler was due to be replaced, but technology in the form of the diesel railcars replaced them. The railmotors also increased traffic in some places to such an extent that they could not cope with demand and were replaced with locos and coaches. It is true that the fact that an issue with the engine meant that the coach wass out of trafic as well though did cause some problems.

 

Heres my video of sunday.. had a great day .. Many thanks to GWS Didcot,FGW,support crew and everybody who made this happen..

GWR Railmotor No 93, Looe Branch Shuttles, 11/11/12 - YouTube

 

I'd like to add my thanks to the many people who made this happen. I do hope it will be repeated next year - I might get my act together in time to get a ticket! I'm guessing, though, that getting the trailer up to Liskeard might be asking a lot.

I spent much of the day standing around in glorious sunlight until the train appeared, at which point it would rain/cloud over but if anyone needs another fix of pics I have a few at :

Railmotor - a set on Flickr

 

Some great images/video coming out. What a great little machine, as with locomotives, steam can even make a simple railway carriage come to life!!

 

Indeed - compare and contrast with the anodyne 'runaway' carriage units that now populate our branches.

 

Was anybody else at Terras Bridge when that white speed boat appeared? I wonder who it was, I thought it might have been PSOV or another video company...
I know one or two by me were not happy when it arrived..you can here somebody on my video shout something to them on board,I dont think it was complimentary either.....

 

Quite so Ralph.. I even posted on here way back in this thread I would love to hire a boat and pace the Railmotor as far as possible..didnt bother me.. he had slowed right down when I started filming.. I think some were after the reflection shot but the wake ruined that..

 

One or two rumours circulating as to who it was and the favourite was that it has been hired by a couple of GWS members. How true this is I know not.

 

I didn't object to the boat per se, but I was cross at how fast it was moving because the wash spoilt some superb reflections. The engine noise probably spoilt the sound-track for those nearer than I was. There's little to be gained by moaning, though, expect perhaps to influence anyone hiring a boat next Sunday to take things a little easier.

 

Seems Torpedo's will be part of the video takers arsenal on Sunday then.