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West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by gwr4090, Nov 15, 2007.

  1. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    Any idea about the weight and Axle load for the UP Big Boy?
     
  2. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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  3. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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  4. gwilialan

    gwilialan Well-Known Member

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    Anyone else having trouble viewing the web cams? All I get is a grey screen.

    Or have I missed them going private or something?
     
  5. staffordian

    staffordian Well-Known Member

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    All six looking ok to me
     
  6. Maunsell907

    Maunsell907 Member

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    For the Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Bruce gives 543,000 lbs on drivers, which I suspect is the ALCO’
    figure as built in 1941 i.e in Imperial tons an average of 30.4 tons per axle.

    There were locos with higher figures.
    Some examples may interest.
    Pennsylvania 6-4-4-6 RR Shops 1939 281,400lbs i.e. 31.4 tons
    Milwaukee Road, 4-4-4 ALCO 1935 142,000 lbs i.e. 31.7 tons
    Delaware & Hudson 4-8-0 ALCO 1933 313,000 i.e. 34.9 tons.

    The 4884 ‘Big Boy’ however was I think the heaviest USA tender built loco i.e. engine weight 772,000 lbs.
    Also Tractive Effort. 135,400, 68inch drivers, so perhaps 25MT :)

    I would also add ( not wishing to teach how to suck eggs ) that whilst maximum weight on a
    coupled axle is invariably the figure we all concentrate on there are other criteria which should
    be taken into consideration eg. cylinder(s) geometry, overall weight and distribution, design speed,
    hammer blow etc.

    Michael Rowe
     
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2022
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  7. Windsor branch line

    Windsor branch line New Member

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    Many thanks for the reply . I know it’s gone too the nymr for two years . Most think it’s staying there longer which is no bad thing earning money for the depg and hopefully a return to main line duties if required . So any loco of that axle weight would be unable to run unless there is a track upgrade.
     
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2022
  8. bluetrain

    bluetrain Well-Known Member

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    Another to add to your super-size list, from the Chesapeake & Ohio:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake_and_Ohio_class_H-8

    Said to have the highest axle-load of any steam loco - 39.3 tonnes (or 38.7 Imperial long tons).
     
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  9. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    That's basically because it didn't work when it arrived and still doesn't. Hopefully the work to sort this out is coming to a conclusion, though.
     
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  10. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    There’s a reason why Class 47’s are known as ‘Duffs’
    :)
     
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  11. alexl102

    alexl102 Member

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    Given that it was late arriving and still isn't in service, I'd imagine the loan will probably be extended - otherwise at this rate NYMR will do well to even get 18 months' work out of it before it's due to go back.
     
  12. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Sort of, they have made an exception for 9466 to run, due to its low hammer blow meaning despite exceeding the axle loading it’s deemed okay to run.
     
  13. Another Yorkshireman

    Another Yorkshireman Member Friend

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    Interesting map in my newspaper today, showing all the Network rail lines expected to be running a [reduced] service during the forthcoming strike, in blue, and all 'closed' lines in red. So the main lines to Taunton and then on to Plymouth are shown in blue but all the branches in red. Which includes the Minehead branch! I presume this is because the rail replacement bus service 28 is still operated by rail union members? If this is so, I wonder if the locals know there won't be any buses??
    Or is it just an aberration?
     
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  14. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I think you may be on to something there. If you're so minded, do please keep us informed.
     
  15. Snifter

    Snifter Well-Known Member

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    The bus can have a replacement train service. :)
     
  16. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    There is precedent. The Isle of Man, Manx Electric and he Leadhills and Wanlockhead Railways have all provided just such services within the past decade. The L&W was to mitigate the effects of a road closure, but the Manx lines were operated to cover a bus drivers' strike.
     
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  17. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Didn’t the ELR once provide a service during a bus strike?
     
  18. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Haven't heard of that one. I do seem to recall the Ffestiniog providing Red Star parcels services to cover for either CCL or Conwy Valley line (can't recall which) being shut
     
  19. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

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    I wonder where they "lifted" the map from as it is not like that on the GWR strike page of the website.
     
  20. Steve B

    Steve B Well-Known Member

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    I think at the time (1980's) the Ffestiniog was a regular part of the Red Star network - not to cover the other lines, but to join them up. There is a reference to it in this entry in Festipedia, also with a picture of the coach carrying the Red Star logo - https://www.festipedia.org.uk/wiki/Carriage_100_(1964)

    Steve B
     
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