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131 Steams again ...over 50 years later

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by Reading General, Dec 16, 2014.

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  1. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Just out of interest how advanced is the rest of 131 ? or was the steam test an unofficial one, ie, boiler ticket not ticking
    its good to think that there is still mainline steam in ireland, and with engines such as 131 coming back into service may it continue,
    another strange thing is this, seing that at the time when railways first came to ireland, i am assuming the whole island was under british rule, why didnt the builders use standard gauge? instead of going for 5ft 3" it would have made sence when obtaining stock from the uk builders
     
    martin1656, Dec 16, 2014
    #21
  2. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    According to Wikipedia;
     
    Martin Perry, Dec 16, 2014
    #22
  3. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Love it. "I know chaps, let's recommend a gauge that nobody is using."
     
    Spamcan81, Dec 16, 2014
    #23
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  4. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Well at least there could be no accusations of unfair bias towards one or other of the companies! :confused:

    Tom
     
    Jamessquared, Dec 16, 2014
    #24
  5. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    Not one of the finest decisions, as wasn't the 3' narrow gauge, where it wasn't specified that the coupling heights should be standardised.

    I think we should have an NP tour of Northern Ireland taking in the D&CDR, Cultra Museum and the operations of the RPSI....you'd love it (and to quote someone) there's more!
     
    Reading General, Dec 16, 2014
    #25
  6. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Cultra is a nice museum and I've done a couple of RPSI trips. Their hospitality is legendary.
     
    Spamcan81, Dec 16, 2014
    #26
  7. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    Do D&CDR next....I was well impressed...everything there has been created bar the trackbed (and even some of that has been built on virgin territory)
     
    Reading General, Dec 16, 2014
    #27
  8. andrewshimmin

    andrewshimmin Well-Known Member

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    Well, if starting from scratch, 5'3" or even 5'6" is a better gauge than "standard". At that early stage, people didn't know how prolific the Stephenson gauge would become.
    It was never a problem, at it is standard for Ireland (the island) and, being as island, no prospect of any change of gauge issues.
     
    andrewshimmin, Dec 16, 2014
    #28
  9. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Wasn't a tunnel mentioned not long ago though? :rolleyes: Anyway, we all know the best gauge really, that one that went from Paddington to Bristol... :)
     
    flying scotsman123, Dec 16, 2014
    #29
  10. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Reminds me of the NCB Barnsley Area, which was formed from the some of the earlier Yorkshire Divisions (I think it was 5 & 6 but not sure; before my time). One had an underground standard gauge of 2'-0" and the other of 2'-6". The new Area couldn't decide which was best so they opted for a new standard gauge of 2'-3" for all new construction! They were a bit daft in Barnsley, though.
     
    Steve, Dec 16, 2014
    #30
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  11. Victor

    Victor Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Ye gods you two, does it matter? mainland, island, call it what the hell you want. There are more important things in the world.
     
    Victor, Dec 17, 2014
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  12. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    ... except between the 5'3" and 3'0" systems of course ... :)


    ... and the Lartigue :) :)
     
    Martin Perry, Dec 17, 2014
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  13. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    would you be happy then to let someone say that your area is an adjunct to Lancashire?
     
    Reading General, Dec 17, 2014
    #33
  14. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Would anybody be happy to say that they live in an adjunct to Lancashire?
     
    Steve, Dec 17, 2014
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  15. Neil_Scott

    Neil_Scott Part of the furniture

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    Does anyone really care?
     
    Neil_Scott, Dec 17, 2014
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  16. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    yes
     
    Reading General, Dec 17, 2014
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  17. Bramblewick

    Bramblewick Member

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    Bramblewick, Dec 17, 2014
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  18. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    The amount of hot air generated in this thread should keep 131 in steam for a few miles. :)
     
    Spamcan81, Dec 17, 2014
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  19. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    Reading General, Dec 17, 2014
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  20. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    but how much difference would it have made if the railways of Ireland were laid to standard gauge? what could have ended up over there?
     
    martin1656, Dec 17, 2014
    #40
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