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Chevalier

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by paullad1984, Feb 3, 2010.

  1. lynbarn

    lynbarn Well-Known Member

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    last I heard the deal to sell her to Romainia had falled and she is now going to be kept at the flower mills
     
  2. jamesd

    jamesd Member

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    Couldn't they do some sort of swap? Keep Chevallier at the W&L and send the Resita back to Romania?!
     
  3. 76079

    76079 Member

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    Vlad is a hellfire machine and can comfortably manage anything the railway can throw at it. Go to the gala and stand on the balcony of the coach directly behind the engine on a departure from Welshpool. Golfa bank really does make that engine work.

    I confess since its had the lempor mod is not as loud, but when you feel the speed dropping back and you think oh dear there is nothing left to give, the driver just notches down and gives it the lot, the draw bar is snatched to the limit of travel and the surge of sheer power is something really to be savoured.

    The loco is absolutely awesome. Much like Orion before it, sorry for my money you can keep the Earl and Countess they do absolutely nothing for me.

    Vlad and the Mavs is the way to do the W&L
     
  4. jamesd

    jamesd Member

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    I agree the resita is an awesome machine although it's not as loud as it used to be. I was on it's first passenger train and it just roared up the banks. However, I wouldn't like to see chevallier go abroad. The only answer is to keep them both at llanfair! Interesting what you say about the earl and the countess though, they do look nice - I have one in 16mm scale but I've had them so often they've become a bit boring.
     
  5. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    This thread seems to be getting ever more gricerish! The Resita is unpopular with a large proportion of its crews and is proving to require a great deal of maintenance. Currently it is "stopped". An ideal W&L locomotive would have the adhesive weight (hence haulage capacity) of the various 0-8-0 tanks but with the mechanical quality of the Beyers. As a bonus it woukl have the pleasing handling qualities of S.L.R. No. 85 but that, like the sort of chuffing noises to be enjoyed from the carriages or whether it "does nothing" for onlookers, is a lesser matter. Needless to say such a machine does not exist.

    Back to "Chevallier" (the spelling in the heading is incorrect) she was, I believe, named after a notable as were other Chattenden locos. Whether the person pronounced his name "Chevaleeay" or "Chevalleer" I don't know. R.E.L. Maunsell insisted on being called "Mancel" after all!
     
  6. SillyBilly

    SillyBilly Member

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    You guys have clearly never meet any W&L footplate crews.
     
  7. jamesd

    jamesd Member

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    Would you care to enlighten us on what we're so obviously missing out on?!
     
  8. SillyBilly

    SillyBilly Member

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    I think there may be some of them on here, but from what I've heared most of them hate it, the quote "i s**t myself every time i negotiate a corner" from the train's Facebook page must show one of the reasons, I am also told that the engineering standard in Romania isn't exactly the greatest.
     
  9. jamesd

    jamesd Member

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    Yes, I'd heard it's not the most popular with crews, that's why when I made my initial comment I thought it would get more support!

    Anyway, back on topic, does anyone know what the plans are for Chevallier after it visits Llanfair?
     
  10. Its going to haul a train thats what the plan is!
     
  11. houghtonga

    houghtonga Member

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  12. 76079

    76079 Member

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    On looker I may be, certainly in narrow gauge circles, I much prefer the surroundings of a class 47 engine room or a duchess firebox.

    Im not saying Earl and Countess arent impressive engines, im just saying that for me on every single (3 times yearly on average ) visit i make to the W&L its always the same engines and the pickerings that are out.

    I always make a point to speak to the crews on any engine I ride behind if possible At least one driver on it I spoke to raved about it. Yes I acknowledge that there have been some serious teething troubles with said locomotive (one has to question why a supposed freshley overhauled klein linder axle fails) and the whole farce with refurbishing the SLR carriages in Romania proved that they have a long way to go before reaching a quality overhaul standard.

    However im sure once it has been through a proper W&L "no bolt left unturned" overhaul it will be a transformed machine.

    Cant wait to see Joan out and about either
     
  13. paullad1984

    paullad1984 Member

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    Ive always thought Sir Drefaldwn(hope ive spelt it right!) is a far better loco, purely from an asethtic point of view, how long since she's been out of service?
     
  14. Nexuas

    Nexuas Well-Known Member

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    Drefaldwyn

    First Loco I ever drove. Awesome machine, hated firing it. Give me 85 or Countess any day...
     
  15. jamesd

    jamesd Member

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    Has anybody got any news on Chevallier? How is it coming on, any idea when it will be arriving at Llanfair, presumably the sooner the better give the problems with 19.
     
  16. houghtonga

    houghtonga Member

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    For info;

    When translated from French the name means Knight, and it is one of the five ranks of the Légion d'honneur (this is the highest decoration in France)
    Probably the better known recipriants of this award to most of us would be Sir Frank Williams and Alain Prost of Formula One fame.
     
  17. Richieboy

    Richieboy New Member

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    Problems with 19 - Not again surely?

    What appears to be the problem now?
     
  18. meeee

    meeee Member

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    A minor issue involving a snapped and bent conrod i belive. I think it managed about 2 days in traffic. Buy cheap rubbish from Romania and thats exactly what you'll get.

    Tim
     
  19. paullad1984

    paullad1984 Member

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    You might very well think that, i couldnt possibly comment!
     
  20. ersatz

    ersatz New Member

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    Has the 'sold' sticker been prepared to apply to Chevallier when it's delivered to W&L metals?
     

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