Cumbrian Mountain Express - Oct 4th 2014

Thanks Big Al for those two clips. Although the difference in speeds makes a comparison difficult, I have to say that the slower of the two, Galatea, does sound more like the traditional "Jubilee" valve events that I recall from the 1960's.
I think I had better let that subject rest now, memory can play tricks.

As an aside, does anyone think like me that there is maybe a question mark over elderly ex-Barry ( but well overhauled no doubt to be out on the mainline) locos being worked hard, maybe to the limit of their power, does it not invite problems to arise, and the machinery to wear out that much quicker?

I'm not saying wrap them in cotton wool and have them pottering about on light duties on Heritage lines, but as the earlier conversation in this thread implies, having engines of an adequate power rating does mean they don't have to be worked quite as hard.

 

I don't. I believe any type of machine that has been properly overhauled should as a minimum be capable of achieving its designed performance.

 

...and having been involved in an ex-Barry engine for over 40 years, and which has done a lot of hard work both on the SVR and main line, I'm with Enterprise.

 

I think it always makes sense to provide a loco with sufficient power for the task ahead of it. When such a loco is available!

And I get the I impression these days that most, maybe perhaps not quite all, main line steam locos are kept in pretty good condition.