Darjeeling in Cornwall

Advanced notice for anyone interested - Adrian Shooter's Darjeeling B Class will be enjoying a Cornish summer holiday this year in Launceston. She's likely to be in Cornwall for most of August and September; more info will be coming nearer the time on the website, in the local press and in the national railway press.

 

Dates for diaries - it is planned she will arrive on the 8th August and will probably stay until the end of the season. On selected weekends the DHR society will be transforming Newmills station into an Indian station, as they have done in the past on the Ffestiniog and Leighton Buzzard.

 

Coooooooooooooooooooool! I might go and visit my girlfriends Nan (in Saltash) around this time then.............. \/

 

Quick "bump" with the colour ad - a reminder for anyone in Cornwall this summer!

 

No. 19 is scheduled to arrive in Cornwall on Saturday afternoon and should be on display on Sunday. She will be in steam on the 19th/20th August for the Darjeeling gala but more steaming dates are yet to be decided - once she has completed trial runs on the railway (early next week) more details on when she will be running will be available on the LSR website.

 

Saw the Darj engine in steam on Friday last week, but was only passing through so did not have time to ride. Kay said they were a little worried by the engines weight and the effect this would have on the track. It look fantastic, if sounding a little off beat as it left with the 4pm train. Will check the camera for a decent pictre later.

 

There is a growing photo gallery of No. 19 on the website, now complete with video.

No. 19 weighs around twice the weight of a Quarry Hunslet, hence the concern about her weight and the effect on the track.

She will definately be in steam tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday and in use on some (not all) trains. Due to some unresolved issues, further limited steaming dates are now to be confirmed. We are keeping the website as up to date as possible with regards No. 19's steaming dates - so if anyone wishes to visit and ride behind No. 19 after this week, keep a close eye on the website.

Charlie

www.launcestonsr.co.uk

 

I'm on holiday in that part of the world at the beginning of September what are my chances of seeing the Darj in steam then?

 

No19 Nice but cold

I went to Launceston yesterday. I was a little sad that she wasn't in steam but given how big she is and the overhang I can see that No19 would pound the track to bits.

It is a disappointment that she was parked outside the big engine shed behind security fencing which made decent photography impossible. Given that her visit is being pushed in publicity, it is a shame she wasn't parked outside the small shed by the passing loop so evenyone could have good look at her.

 

No idea I'm afraid. At the moment the LSR do not wish to commit to any steaming dates after this week. As soon as "the boss" has confirmed any further limited steaming dates they will be available on the Darj page on the LSR website - if you check that page nearer the time of your holiday there should be some more definite info on when she will be in steam.

 

Unfortunately it would be impractical to move No. 19 to outside the smaller shed on a daily basis. As it is, she is pulled out of the main shed on days when she is not in steam so at least she is on display, rather than hidden away in the shed. On polite request, it may be possible to be allowed into the yard to take photos of her, provided there is a member of staff around who is available to let you around the fence.

Dates No. 19 is in steam are available in advance on the LSR website - although at present the last confirmed steaming date is tomorrow, with more information to follow shortly.

Charlie

 

Many Thanks from the LSR to any who came to the Darjeeling gala today & yesterday - it was a resounding success. The railway knows visitors had come from as far as Denmark to see No. 19 - and maybe even further afield!

At present No. 19 will definately be in steam this coming Sunday.

Provisionally, further steaming dates will be Sundays and Tuesdays with No. 19 used on two trains per day - the final plan will be confirmed after the weekend and will be available on the website.

If anyone is interested, the local BBC News has covered the visit of No. 19 - an article and video can be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/8210754.stm .


Charlie

 

On an unrelated topic, whats the purpose for the tender, why isn't the "saddle bunker(?)" used?

 

I came to see no.19 working on Thursday - good to see full trains. Looking forward to another helping before too long!

John

 

The tender is mainly for housing the various strange air compressors, and other stuff I don't understand that the loco requires for triple(?) brakeing! The loco bunker holds yet more crap.

 

The tender has the air for twin line air breaking , and the air supply for the sanders, as well as coal and water, as well about three different method of crating air. But I would say the main thing is coal and water to keep the axle loading on the loco down. As well as the air tanks.

 

I was curious because on the DHR, the Class B's don't seem to run with tenders, all coal and water appears to be carried over the boiler?

 

These locos also have a sizeable well tank between the frames, so 19 carries a LOT of water in its three tanks.

Coal is carried in the bunker on top of the fire box in India, with two chutes provided either side of the firebox in the cab to allow the fireman to get coal for the firebox. On 19 the two chutes are full of electrical/electronic equipment, pipework and valves that controls the dual braking system. Also, it is missing the "greedy boards" around the top of the bunker making the back end seem a bit low, and emphasised further by the raised cab roof.

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