P2 Locomotive Company and related matters

I didn't realise that. It's possibly part of a series, as there was a feature on 4709 in the previous issue. On the valve gear it goes into a fair bit of detail. On the foundation ring, it blames the failures on scale build up leading to overheating in that area, and consequent stress cycle fatigue.

For anyone interested in the P2 it might be worth grabbing a copy.

Dave

 

The excellent organisation for building locos seems not to extend to the newsletters. The Trust has a nasty habit of sending them out months after the "news" that they're reporting.

 

There have been a number of problems producing recent newsletters. The monthly website eShot will now be sent out by a different method, thus ensuring better relevance and timeliness. The Communication Cord has now become the quarterly journal for both A1 and P2 and again, changes in its production should improve the flow of information. Please bear in mind that in order to give the press 'exclusives' and thus generate regular exposure for the project, some news has to be held back until these articles have been printed.

Also, bear in mind that the Trust is mainly run by volunteers who dedicate a huge amount of time on a weekly basis to ensure it succeeds so a little patience would be appreciated, unless, of course, you are putting your hand up for the role?

Foxy.

 

These days you'd think that blogging news at the same time that it's released through other sources would be the order of the day. Newsletters seem like a very arcane way to share information, whether as hard copy or email/online - must syphon money from the organisation that could better be spent on bits of metal.

Simon

 

...provided all recipients are internet connected and able to download. Not all are.

 

True, but the price of not being online is that you have to work to print schedules rather than electronic ones. If you're running a quarterly publication with a one month lead time, an announcement that misses the deadline by one day will arrive on doorsteps 4 months after the fact. I'm not sure how you could avoid that for printed content, without either incurring major expense, and/or having erratic 'needs-based' publishing schedules.

Simon

 

Only a matter of time...

 

1 month lead time seems a little extreme, but even if its two weeks the point is still valid....

 

It's a long time since I had much to do with 'print'…

Simon

 

If only...

 

I have offered to proof-read, to reduce the prevalence of mistakes, but have had no response to that.

 

It's a kind offer but with the compressed timetable we have to work to, out-sourcing proof-reading would only add another layer of complication and further delay production. We are working on a completely revised method of creating the Mikado Messenger, the Tornado Telegraph and The Communication Cord, the results of which we hope to see shortly.

Foxy

 

I had in mind a turn round of a couple of days, which would be negligible in comparison to the two or three MONTHS lateness of some news, in communications that are sent out electronically, without any delay for printing and posting. But still . . .

I look forward to it.

 

Auto correction software has pretty much done away with Proof Reading(Berks) That is why a lot of publications are total Carp*

* ( other specialist magazines are available)

 

Obviously been taking lessons from that scion of lexigraphy - the Grauniad !

 

Hmmmm..... you should see what auto-correct does with railway terms and names like 'Gresley'!

Foxy

 

Would that be what the rest of the English speaking world calls lexicography?

 

Never mind Gresley, it's that mild-mannered man Bullied (*) who is so traduced by autocorrect!

(*). Yes. I know.
Tom

 

Re the reference to the Comet windows, I think you will find that the cracks in the fuselage ran back to an ADF (Automatic Direction Finder) 'window' which was located at the forward end of the passenger cabin roof. Not to be confused with orthodox windows along the fuselage side that passengers could look out through.

 

This was part of the pressure test Comet cabin which resided in our structures and materials engineer training classroom at Cranwell until a couple of years ago and is now at the RAFM Cosford. The cracks along the window frames are clearly shown.