S&D Superpower

Double headed 7Fs were not a common sight on the S&D but Ivo Peters has a few photographs of such happenings and it does make an impressive spectacle. A few images from a charter on the West Somerset on Friday

 

Nice set but hardly representative of the old S&D. Clean and shiny 7Fs were as rare and hen's teeth and chocolate and cream Mk.1s on the line were even rarer but it's 2016 and beggars can't be choosers.

 

True, if I could be bothered I suppose I could digitally repaint the coaches, as for clean locos just pretend it was an enthusiasts special

 

There never was a double headed 7F railtour. The Home Counties tour of 7th June '64 was, I believe, booked for such power but in the event 53809 did not quite survive long enough to participate as it was withdrawn a week or two earlier. But a genuine S&D combination was achieved with 53807 and 44558. As you say John, it is a very good recreation of what it could have looked like. Those of us who witnessed the demise of the S&D 50 years ago could never have imagined that the two rusting hulks then languishing in Barry scrap yard would one day create such a commemorative spectacle. Thanks for posting.

Peter

 

Pity there wernt another 10 or so coaches on the back to make them cough a little.............. Or a stone train or two

 

One of the compromises of trying to recreat a bygone age. Some double heading on the S&D and elsewhere was done to save a path rather than load considerations.

 

My own images from both days of Don Bishop's charters with nos. 53808 and 53809 are now online at my Zenfolio website here: - http://mickrogers.zenfolio.com/p48738784

Many thanks to Don and the train crews for some excellent photography.

Cheers,

 

Johnb must have had a big set of ladders for the shot at Castle Hill. Nice set of pix.

 

Thks but no ladder just standing at the top of Castle Hill with permission from the farmer

 

A 7F on its own was allowed 10 unassisted over Masbury so one assumes a pair could have taken double that.

 

I remember being on one of the S&D Trusts annual trips with 53808 load 10 on a cold november day we slipped to a stand on washford bank and after several attempts at setting back and having a run at the bank we needed diesel assistance the wet rails proved to be 88 undoing. 1989 i believe.

 

I'm not sure that's correct, others may be able to confirm or otherwise but I don't think the rolling resistance of 20 coaches is more than twice 10 coaches.

 

I'll dig out Ivo's books and check but I'm sure he mentions in at least one of them that the limit over Masbury for a 7F was 10.

 

Sorry you misunderstood me, it was 10, what I meant was it doesn't follow that two 7Fs could take 20. I may be wrong but those with better knowledge will no doubt correct me if I'm wrong.

 

I see.

 

Peter Smith in his "Footplate over the Mendips" has a load limit table in the Appendix. It shows a 7F as limited to 310 tons unaided from Bath to Evercreech Junction. This may be equal to 10 older bogie coaches but would only equate to 9 more modern and heavier Mark 1s. Incidentally 310 tons is also the limit for an 8F over this route.

Peter James

 

Good point but holiday extras tended not to be formed of the latest stock but older stuff that resided in sidings for much of the year so I suspect anything with a 7F on the front on a summer Saturday would be of greater vintage than a Mk.1.