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GWR Steam Railmotor

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by D6332found, Feb 14, 2017.

  1. D6332found

    D6332found Member

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    Hi chaps, all this talk of a Plandampf everywhere had a wondering about what happened to this? I know it went on a few branches and was said to be quite sensational. Are there issues we don't know about as to why it isn't running now? Surely an obvious candidate for branch Plandampfs. If there are issues perhaps the heritage community could assist with?
     
  2. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    When I rode the Brentford brach with it, talk amongst the Didcot guys on board was for a number of future runs on various branch lines but it's all gone quiet of late.
     
  3. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    They managed to get it all the way down to Cornwall to run on the Looe branch, and there are surely several suitable branch lines nearer than that to Didcot.
     
  4. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

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    I travelled on it at Didcot last August - the exterior condition was very poor. Didcot seem to have given up on maintaining locos etc in favour of new builds.
     
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  5. Nick Gough

    Nick Gough Well-Known Member

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    Network Rail will only allow the SRM to operate on self contained lines with no other traffic operating at the same time. This was fairly straightforward with no winter weekend service on the Looe branch or weekend trains Southall to Brentford, and no conflicts with main line traffic at both junction stations. Unfortunately there aren't many other branch lines with similar conditions.
     
  6. goldfish

    goldfish Nat Pres stalwart

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    It's a lovely little beast, but I agree, the condition is really disappointing, particularly as Didcot has a fair amount of scope to keep it undercover.

    I'd love to see it on the Looe branch, nice and neat and tidy.

    Simon
     
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  7. simon

    simon Resident of Nat Pres

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  8. ragl

    ragl Well-Known Member

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    A lack of resources - people - perhaps?

    Cheers,

    Alan
     
  9. Platform 3

    Platform 3 Member

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    The Looe excursions were phenomenal - one of the best steam trips I have ever been on. I do worry about Didcot in general - operational steam seems to be getting more and more limited there.
     
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  10. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    Henley would work as would Marlow and handy for Didcot in both cases. Just replace the regular trains for the day or weekend
     
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  11. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Hasn't it got its own shed at Didcot?
     
  12. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    Yes .The completed shed - Frank Dumbleton - 17-Dec-2010.

    [​IMG]
     
  13. nick813

    nick813 Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    I think there are deeper problems re the exterior condition than lack of poor maintenance, or lack of covered accommodation.
     
  14. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    Say more................
     
  15. Sawdust

    Sawdust Member

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    Well I once got a phone call from Llangollen about this, whilst wandering around Sainsbury's to pick my brains.

    Something to do with movement of the bodyside mouldings if I remember correctly.

    My reaction was I wouldn't have used that timber for those as it's not very dimensionally stable.

    Sawdust.
     
  16. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    For the benefit of increased knowledge, what timber wouldn't you use?
     
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  17. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Fowey was one brach mentioned but can't recall the others that came up in he conversation.
     
  18. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Your wish is my command. It was a fun ride too, especially the climb up from Coombe Jct.
    IMG_0590[CROP].jpg IMG_0583[sepia-usm}.jpg IMG_0567[usm].jpg IMG_0593[USM].jpg
     
  19. Jimc

    Jimc Part of the furniture

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    Is it just as simple that Didcot needed the SRM at home. I understand there was a problem with Locos negotiating curves on the (now relaid) branchline. Presumably the railmotor had few issues so was it a first choice?
     
  20. Sawdust

    Sawdust Member

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    I'm not saying what I would have used as I'm not familiar with the vehicle and the sections used thereon.

    I just know I would have advised against kiln dried oak.

    However if that tin shed is uninsulated then I suspect that might be causing some of the trouble. It's not protecting the vehicle from the extremes of temperature and the shrinkage caused in summer will be massive.

    Sawdust.
     
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