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Snowden Mountain Railway diesels question

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by richards, Aug 21, 2010.

  1. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    Snowdon Mountain Railway diesels question

    Just been watching this Youtube video:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UXi6DgiFsg
    and was wondering why the Snowden diesels don't have any covers on their engines. Is it to ensure engine cooling on the long slog up the mountain? Wikipedia claims "engine covers were omitted to give a good view of the Rolls-Royce diesel engines, chosen for the prestige of the name"!

    Were these locos new-builds or rebuilds from existing locos? They certainly don't look very pretty, particularly with the extra superstructure to take the exhaust silencer. Judging by the amount of noise and smoky exhaust created at Llanberis at the beginning of the video, it can't be a very pleasant ride for the passengers.

    Richard
     
    richards, Aug 21, 2010
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  2. kscanes

    kscanes Resident of Nat Pres

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    They were new-builds. The comments on Wikipedia about the design features tallies with what I heard when they were new. Pretty they may not be, but nobody could accuse them of being boring square boxes!

    PS Snowdon not Snowden.
     
    kscanes, Aug 21, 2010
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  3. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    Re: Snowdon Mountain Railway diesels question

    Thanks, Ken. IMHO these locos are *ugly* square boxes with the sides missing!! Can't think of any other diesels which have their engines on full view like that.

    Richard
     
    richards, Aug 21, 2010
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  4. rough-shunter

    rough-shunter Guest

    the iomsr diesel viking is sometimes no more than a frame that goes out for a jaunt its worse than these
     
    rough-shunter, Aug 21, 2010
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  5. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    It's certainly a contestant for ugliest diesel, but at least it keeps its insides covered up:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/trolleyfan/3115348085/

    Richard
     
    richards, Aug 21, 2010
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  6. rough-shunter

    rough-shunter Guest

    thats it complete if the weather gets hot im led to belive they take the panels off the engine compartment to aid air circulation . it looks worse then
     
    rough-shunter, Aug 21, 2010
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  7. houghtonga

    houghtonga Member

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    Re: Snowdon Mountain Railway diesels question

    Maybe clutching at straws as I think they were petrol, but the County Donegal railcars usually ran with with their covers up and they are the cutest internal combusition engined vehicles ever to run on the narrow gauge IMHO.
     
    houghtonga, Aug 22, 2010
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