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.

Flaman Speed Recorders

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by rreed, Aug 14, 2018.

  1. rreed

    rreed New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2018
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Australia
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Hello All,

    I'm just wondering if there is any organisation in the UK with the capability to test/calibrate and certify vintage type Flaman speed recorders.

    This seems to be a gap in Australia and I'm wondering if there might be somewhere in the UK to assist.

    Best regards.
     
  2. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2007
    Messages:
    4,440
    Likes Received:
    6,546
    I wonder if you might have more luck in France where their use was far more widespread than it was in the UK.

    Peter

    BTW Welcome to the forum!
     
  3. rreed

    rreed New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2018
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Australia
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Thanks for that. Any ideas where to start?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  4. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2006
    Messages:
    16,510
    Likes Received:
    7,753
    Location:
    1012 / 60158
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Can they only be calibrated on a loco, where the exact driving wheel diameter is known?
     
  5. rreed

    rreed New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2018
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Australia
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I have an old picture showing how the old Victorian Railways did it.

    Just wondering if anyone in the UK has the capability

    [​IMG]


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  6. paullad1984

    paullad1984 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2007
    Messages:
    918
    Likes Received:
    428
    Not seen anything like that tbh! Most locos here I think use the stones(Or is it smiths?) equipment so favoured by BR.
     
  7. gwalkeriow

    gwalkeriow Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2009
    Messages:
    1,703
    Likes Received:
    1,727
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired.
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Are you confusing speedometers with Flaman speed recorders as used in Dynamometer cars?
     
  8. paullad1984

    paullad1984 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2007
    Messages:
    918
    Likes Received:
    428
    Weren't /aren't they also used as speedos on some locos (victorian railways Na class have them?)
     
  9. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2007
    Messages:
    4,440
    Likes Received:
    6,546
    Not a field that I know much about, but I understand that it is a French devise and was widely used in France up until the end of steam. It was also the standard speed recorder used on Victorian Railways in Australia. I have a hunch that it might have been used in Canada as well. I do not know much about its use in the UK apart from the fact that it was fitted to pre-war A4s - Mallard at the NRM has on fitted, and when Dominion of Canada received its cosmetic restoration at Shildon I seem to recall that you could clearly see where the recorder was once fitted to it. While it served as a speedometer, it is called a speed recorder and it recorded the speed on a graph that could be analysed later - an early version of OTMR. I understand that it could easily be doctored with the aid of a few matchsticks if you did not want to be caught overspeeding.

    Peter
     
  10. Nigel Day

    Nigel Day Member

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2015
    Messages:
    270
    Likes Received:
    689
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Steam loco engineer
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Yes they are on the Puffing Billy Na locos.

    I suspect that is the reason for the enquiry and post.

    As an add on I was also asked where twin vacuum gauges could be recalibrated for an Austrailian railway. If any one has a contact I would be pleased to know even if it's UK based.
     
  11. paullad1984

    paullad1984 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2007
    Messages:
    918
    Likes Received:
    428
    I thought that the pre war A4s had them and was checking when I saw your reply
     
  12. paullad1984

    paullad1984 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2007
    Messages:
    918
    Likes Received:
    428
    Puffing Billy is air braked as is the majority of Australia.
     
    Nigel Day likes this.
  13. Nigel Day

    Nigel Day Member

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2015
    Messages:
    270
    Likes Received:
    689
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Steam loco engineer
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Yes it is hence why the one I have worked for in the past is having problems getting their vacuum gauges serviced for there vacuum brakes and hence the question. There must be a place here in the uk which dose do them for the U.K., but who is it?
     
  14. paullad1984

    paullad1984 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2007
    Messages:
    918
    Likes Received:
    428
    There was someone who advertised on traction ads but can't see them in this months one.
     
  15. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2006
    Messages:
    11,930
    Likes Received:
    10,088
    Occupation:
    Gentleman of leisure, nowadays
    Location:
    Near Leeds
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    S M Gauge Co is just one of several who will supply/overhaul pressure & vacuum gauges.
    https://www.pressuregauge.co.uk
     
    paullad1984 likes this.
  16. Nigel Day

    Nigel Day Member

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2015
    Messages:
    270
    Likes Received:
    689
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Steam loco engineer
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Thank you Steve.
     
  17. DR73202

    DR73202 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2009
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    40
    paullad1984 likes this.

Share This Page