If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

VSOE 19TH MARCH.

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by green five, Mar 18, 2011.

Page 2 of 2
  1. buseng

    buseng Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2005
    Messages:
    4,801
    Likes Received:
    349
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Tilehurst, Reading, Berks.
    Not laying any blame, but I know 46115 had vacuum brake troubles last year, than had a middle big end failure a week or so later. Don't know about 44932 though.
     
    buseng, Mar 22, 2011
    #21
  2. Enterprise

    Enterprise Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2005
    Messages:
    5,472
    Likes Received:
    3,302
    I only know what has been reported on forums like this (sometimes by you) and in the heritage press. What's your point? I am not knocking WCRC; I've enjoyed many good runs with them. Did I imagine what happened on the two Cotton Mill Expresses that I was on?
     
    Enterprise, Mar 22, 2011
    #22
  3. Mikem

    Mikem Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2007
    Messages:
    292
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Guildford, Surrey
    Ah Tree fellas..............!!!!!


    Mike M. (70c)
     
    Mikem, Mar 22, 2011
    #23
  4. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    22,599
    Likes Received:
    22,731
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I think that all this shows is that maintaining a steam locomottive isn't straightforward. Any good motor mechanic should be able to overhaul a car. But if you are a good mechanic and also with extensive expertise of a particular marque, it makes life a little easier on that car because you (should) know all the 'wrinkles'. Steam locomotives present the same or similar issues but with extra complications, I would suggest. The folk who maintain Clan Line (mentioned earlier) focus on one engine, many of them have first hand and detailed knowledge/experience that goes back longer than they would like to admit and that must count massively in their ability to keep the engine in top condition. Other 'single loco' groups will have the same advantages. Common sense tells me that if you are working on a pool of locomotives that are different - and Tangmere isn't exactly a conventional build - sometimes things may not be perfect the first time around. I'm just grateful when a locomotive gets to main line standard as make no mistake, it is definitely a few notches up from engines that only spend their life on preserved railways and even that's a challenge for loco engineers in itself.

    So I'm all for laying off any criticism, indirect or otherwise, of our locomotive engineers. I'm sure that they don't feel good when things are not perfect.
     
    Big Al, Mar 22, 2011
    #24
  5. Shoddy127

    Shoddy127 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2005
    Messages:
    1,905
    Likes Received:
    330
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Portsmouth
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Osprey, please try and use some common sense here!

    Tangmere travelled down from Carnforth to Southall the day prior to working the tour. A long day for the support crew so they're not then going to spend the evening and majority of the night cleaning the loco when this tour also required a very early start off Southall on Saturday morning so plenty of ZZZZ's were essential. Plus this being 34067's first proper run it will still be under the microscope for other teething troubles.

    Can't remember exactly when Clan Line had its last main line outing but no doubt the support crew would have cleaned the engine numerous times as it's been sat in Stewarts Lane awaiting this run so no engine movement the previous day to working this VSOE tour. Ok, only an FTR to take place but still ample amounts of time for cleaning and preparation and a later start as well with a considerably earlier finish.

    I can see why you have commented the way you have but unfortunately you've not seen the bigger picture and totally missed the obvious.
     
    Shoddy127, Mar 23, 2011
    #25
  6. osprey

    osprey Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2007
    Messages:
    10,498
    Likes Received:
    2,857
    Occupation:
    semi-retired, currently doing R&D for my patents
    Location:
    Halifax
    By no way am I suggesting the crew clean the loco after a day such as that, indeed sometimes I don't think people realise what the crews do. Looking at videos on it,s trip down from Carnforth it seems to have left there looking externally a bit uncared for. Rust on buffers for a start. Considering the time it has been up there, surely they could have made it a bit more presentable. My outlook on life is if the job is worth doing it,s worth doing right.
     
    osprey, Mar 24, 2011
    #26
  7. Mikem

    Mikem Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2007
    Messages:
    292
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Guildford, Surrey
    Also bear in mind no doubt the same support crew assisted with 44932 from Southall to Carnforth on another long day only two days before coming back with 34067.

    Mike M. (70c)
     
    Mikem, Mar 24, 2011
    #27
  8. osprey

    osprey Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2007
    Messages:
    10,498
    Likes Received:
    2,857
    Occupation:
    semi-retired, currently doing R&D for my patents
    Location:
    Halifax
    I don'nt think in anyway that the crews were responsible for the appearance of Tangmere. I would have thought the parties who carried out the repairs could have turned it out looking a little smarter, but in any case i am not party to the contract arrangements.
     
    osprey, Mar 24, 2011
    #28
  9. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2005
    Messages:
    5,626
    Likes Received:
    3,618
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired Rolls-Royce engineer
    Location:
    Bath Green Park / Mangotsfield
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    It looked just fine to me. I can count on one hand the number of steam locomotives that I saw running in BR steam
    days that were anywhere near as clean as Tangmere on Saturday. It is a working steam engine after all. <BJ>
     
    free2grice, Mar 24, 2011
    #29
  10. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2005
    Messages:
    4,751
    Likes Received:
    1,124
    Location:
    Oxford
    I agree with Shoddy. People complaining about the cleanliness of the loco, lack of nameplates, etc. are missing the point. It's great to see her back in action, especially on Southern metals. I'm sorry she's suffering steam leaks on the driver's side, and hope that's something that can be cleared up without too much difficulty. There's a busy season ahead and I'm sure there's room on the support crew roster for anyone determined that a job should be done well ;-)
     
    Steamage, Mar 24, 2011
    #30
Page 2 of 2

Share This Page