Brighton Atlantic: 32424 Beachy Head

My misty shot's from Monday : -
Atlantic Mist by Paul Simpson, on Flickr
Atlantic Mist 2 by Paul Simpson, on Flickr
I processed two diferent ones because the first appears a lot darker when viewed on my phone, compared to my PC.

 

A phone photo processed in snapseed with HDR scape filter

 

Atlantic Dawn by Paul Simpson, on Flickr

 

It's a great photo but could you rotate it a bit? I'm sure the signal should not be leaning over like that.

 

Another from the charter : -
Atlantic at Horsted by Paul Simpson, on Flickr

 

It looks sensational Ivatt would have been proud. What a wonderful recreation. Now to make the long long journey

 

Marsh would have been even more proud ......
Ray.

 

And perhaps Lawson Billinton as well!

Tom

 

Is it to early to tell the waiting faithfull wich is the better Schools or Atlantic?

 

Little longer to wait for the direct comparison!

 

Define "Better". There are all sorts of ways you could rank steam locos and different people will be inclined to prioritise different metrics over others. The crew might prefer the loco which is more forgiving for the fireman or more free running for the driver, the accountant may prefer the loco that consumes less coal in a typical day's use, and the passenger may prefer the loco in a particular paint colour or which makes a particular noise.

 

No, because you’ll just want to butcher the least favourite loco.

 

You cannot eat steam locomotives ,but most can be improved.
Ever heard of Chapelon?

 

The performances of both types were well documented in pre-preservation days, and you aren't going to learn much more from operating either type on a steeply-graded, twisty heritage line at low speeds, far removed from the types of duty each was optimised for. From their original usage, I'm sure most would agree the Schools was the better design as a mid-size express passenger loco, but it is also a generation more modern in concept, so it would be odd had it not been.

As a loco for preservation operations, Beachy Head has been massively positive for us, generating a huge amount of favourable publicity, putting the railway on the front of several magazines, on TV etc, and creating both a very happy feeling around the railway and lots of goodwill more widely in the heritage railway movement. You can't say better than that. I'm looking forward to the return of Stowe in due course, but I suspect the bounce you get whenever a locomotive or item of rolling stock returns to traffic will likely be smaller.

(Purely subjectively, I'd say in terms of the "bounce" each has provided, of recent locomotives 32424 > 72 > 34059; and amongst carriages Car No. 54 >> the Bicester Mark 1. I'd suspect the Schools will probably create a similar splash to Sir Archie. Car No. 54 was another remarkable introduction in terms of what it bought to the railway in goodwill and publicity. The Hastings brake 3rd will likely be better than the Bicester Mark 1, but less than Car 54 in impact).

Tom

 

Thank You for answering and I was not aware of Stowe being under revision
It is still of interest to some how the two different solutions would have compared in daily use.
Slipping tendency and behaviour at low speed was just as important then as now.
The question of suitable balance factors for two and three cylindered 6feet 9 locomotives was not resolved before steam went out of use.
How much daily lubrication bother between Beachy Head,Stowe and a BRstandard 4 for example.
I dream of standardizing UK post WW2 steam around 5 feet drivers with two compound cylinders.
The 0-6-0 will look stranger than Bulleid Q1

 

I need to get to the Bluebell to see this loco...

Oh, and had a look at some pics of the Bicester Mark 1, a superb restoration job

 

Let's not forget that direct comparison is impossible as the former GN boiler as fitted to Beachy Head runs at a lower pressure than a Brighton would have.

 

This photo really highlights what a nicely proportioned loco Beachy Head is. Thanks for sharing.

Simon

 

A generation apart. The Eastleigh interference in the Schools design I.e utilise the then latest
S15 design boiler rather than a cut down Lord Nelson boiler was undoubtedly a major
contribution to the Schools, arguably becoming Maunsell’s finest design.

Examples of the H2s and Schools. working the same turns are comparatively rare.
The 4-4-2s spent most of their life on the Central Section. Both Classes did
work the Eastborne services between 1931 and 35, although the Schools had
the majority of the workings. Post WW11 both classes worked some Newhaven
Boat train duties

The transfer of the Atlantics to the Eastern Section during WW11 does afford
a comparison. Thanks to the late E.W.Ewbank there are some details of working
between London Bridge and Tonbridge. I think in Performance terms they
indicate the relative abilities of L 4-4-0, H2 and Schools. Inter alia they remind us
how good the Wainwright/Maunsell inside cylinder 4-4-0s were. The Wainwright L
class at this time incorporated many modifications incorporated under Maunsell’s
aegis, effectively bringing them very close to the L1s. ( some suggest better than )



Michael Rowe

 

Maddingly interesting to have the L along.
Two outside-,two inside-,three simple cylinders and not much difference in timing.
A norwegian 1938 four-cylinder compound used up to 18% less steam than a three cylinder simple german locomotive of same size and age.
An up to date 4-4-0 two cylinder compound with good balance could probably beat the simples without exeding 70 mph (6 feet drivers or smaller) and still within schedule .
With a Midland three cylinder - and a von Borries/Worsdell two cylinder- compound there could be a racing weekend more fun than Le Mans.
A modified simple L(1) can have two outside connecting rod like balance things on driver outside crankpins and thus run sweeter with smaller wheels and mainbearing loads much less.
We now have 6 four- driving- wheel contestants.
Q1 and 4f and J38 0-6-0s modified likewise run on saturday and the noble four drivers on sunday.
Over Shap or S&C
More fun than reading about Tornado and P2s