How not to drive a steam loco..............

Doubt it.

 

They would have to be very large drain cocks to make much difference!

 

i thought that the thing to do would be to open drain cocks, put engine in mid gear then close the regulator, i remember an incident on 34105 when the water carried over, once the driver realised the regulator wouldnt close , he did exactly that, but it did take 2 of us on the regulator to close it, but then, he started to pump the regulator to control the slip, once the carry over was under control , he was a very experienced driver, but to a novice like myself it was scary.

 

Whatever you do, it takes time and isn't going to be instantaneous so a big slip is going to last a while as you fight to get it under control. I've only ever been involved in one big slip and the fireman was actually in the seat when it happened, re-starting 75029 on Goathland bank. You first try shutting the regulator and realise nothing much has happened. It takes courage to open it again and have another go when all hell is let loose. Then you try for the reverser, which is going to be another fight - it took a lot of muscle power to wind it back out of full gear. I'd applied the steam brake which is about all I could do not being sat in the driver's seat. It really only lasted a few seconds but it seemed like an age whilst it was going on. Those that are critical haven't been there.

Blue Peter at Durham was different. The driver did nothing when it happened.

 

Well spotted - solved it for me too!

I thought Google and YouTube had some connection, so why does Crome block it?!?

Steven

 

Assuming a standard reverser rather than the Spam Can variant, isn't there a risk if turning the reverser, the pressure could force the reverser into full forward gear as allegedly happened on 60532 and worsen the situation ?.

 

The reverser catch wasn't in place on 60532, nor was there any hand holding it. Trying to grab a spinning reverser handle isn't an easy task but if you have hold of it you stand a chance of doing something.

 

Correct, but it still doesn't make a great deal of difference! Compare the size of the opening in a drain cock with that of a main steam pipe and you will see why.

 

I'm pretty sure the theory behind owning the cylinder drain cocks is to save the cylinder end covers from destruction. In the case in the video. I'm pretty sure it hasn't taken the water as the loco still has a beat to it (albeit a fast one) when an engine primes it roars and loses any beat it has. And if "that's just how they used to do it" then they deserve the title of Mechanical Assasin!

 

Stanier loco drain cocks are usually stuck open anyway!

Opening the drain cocks would have at least shown that the driver was actually trying to reduce the slip......