Do you like double-heading at Galas

OK so we'll have a winter gala then with just a 2p or 4f on two coaches....that'll go well

 

And what would be wrong with that?

 

Nothing except the crowds would be expecting double-headed everything (oh we'd have to build a 2p , which is basically a bad idea.....hang on, no it isn't)

 

Ideally a longer a rake, but some lines are limited by loop length among other things,

 

Agreed.

 

it also depends on memories !!

I can still remember the wheezing 49443 piloting an 8F on the Ebbw Vale - Corby Steelworks climbing the bank from Geddington to Corby South which I heard for nearly 10 minutes during its run from Glendon junction yet I have never seen a photograph of such a combination. There are many double-headers which operated but never photographed hence the scheduling of double-headers at heritage lines shouldn't be criticised because "it never happened in reality".

Bear in mind also that some crews enjoy the experience of double-heading and surely that's the main purpose of galas - to entertain the passengers. It appears many enthusiasts have failed to acknowledge the transition to a leisure facility where "entertainment" is the name of the game and "playing trains" is now a business enterprise providing employment and support to the local economy.

 

Doesn't sound that unlikely if a heavy load and gradient was involved, a B12 and Hall for example though...

 

I notice that there are currently 15 votes for “Yes, but only if the pairing is needed to give enough power to pull the train.”; but, aside from Foxfield and the Moors, where is this ever actually the case?

 

Chu

Churnet Valley line to Ipstones 5 miles of 1 in 40 - 1 in 59!!

 

Depends on the size of the loco used and the rolling stock its is pulling. On the Bluebell E4 B473 cannot haul the full 6 coach Southern set or a 6 Coach set of Mk1's & Bulleids on its own.

 

Depends on the engines you have available, relative to the loads and gradients! For the Bluebell's opening festival to EG, in order to run a four train service of 300+ seats per train on about 7 - 8 miles of mostly continuous 1:75 with a finish at 1:55, 92212 and 1638 could manage the load on their own, but the other two trains needed double heading with smaller tank engines (E4 + P and H + P).

For me, I don't mind combinations that are either operationally necessary (as above), or historically appropriate. I must admit some of the silly combinations leave me a bit cold. I remember going to a gala in which there were triple-headed pannier tanks and was just left feeling a bit "so what?" But these days, increasingly I find motive power is a relatively small component in whether I would attend a gala or not, so putting double headed pacifics or whatever is unlikely to prove attractive to me. But equally, other people have they down views - in the end, I guess gala organisers probably have a feel for what attracts the punters in their specific circumstances.

Tom

 

Double heading is really for photographers and passengers.. not operational.


Photographers was scenic accurate combinations.
Passengers want the experience, and probably some degree of accuracy.

Given there aren't too many double headers on the mainline (apart from black 5's what else really does, 61264 was a real exception)… so this is one area preserved lines can excel and when it's a guest with a member of the home fleet it's all part of the fun.

 

I not a fan of double heading of large locos. I did not go to the Midhants Gala last October because of the amount of double heading.
Double of Truro and the Dukedog, Dukedog and 5526, Coal Tank and Super D, and where it is needed such as H & P, E4 & P are fine but Pacfic's & 9f's no.

 

World of difference between "cannot" and "does not"!

Yeah, I'll give you that one!

 

TBH I wish there was more galas focused on tank engines appropriate to the region.. If SVR did a gala with several praries and panniers that would suit me more than 2x Brits running tender first..

LLangollen SSS gala had it for me a few years back with the Panniers, Praries etc.
most lines are Branch lines.. lets have some more branch engines..

a pair of double headed jinties with 8 coaches, white buffers and an SLS headboard to me would look fantastic.. especially if there was a fairburn tank on commuter coaches going the other way.

 

The SVR spring gala this year will feature three panniers, a 14xx and a prairie along with two manors and a Hall. Pretty much exactly what you're after?

 

Put it this way, it's beyond the published load limit, which is based on what is prudent / achievable day in, day out, while meeting the timetable, regardless of railhead conditions, and taking into account the loco's fairly limited water supply and the fact that the engine is nearly 120 years old! In an emergency, I suspect it could probably handle the six coach Southern set on its own (about 185 tons) but would definitely struggle to keep time (and might be very marginal for water) with a six coach Mark 1 / Bulleid set (say 210 tons).

The H class definitely couldn't manage a six coach train on its own, so double heading with a P tank is essential to take that load to time without running out of water.

There are emergency loads for each engine on each section in each direction that are rather larger than the normal load limits, but I think they are very much to advise what is possible if engine X had to rescue a failure of another train in section, and whether it could take a given train in one go or would need to divide and take in parts; rather than what is possible for regular use.

Tom

 

Come to the Bluebell on pretty much any operating day...

Tom

 

Aha.. thanks for the heads up ! time to do some research..

 

Possibly Great Central / GWR meeting at Woodford Halse ? Not sure how far B12s travelled but "Halls" have been noted at Leicester Central.