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Accounting for Steam Locomotives (ex Flying Scotsman thread)

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by green five, Dec 21, 2025.

  1. Hermod

    Hermod Well-Known Member

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    Cox is your friend
    Locomotive panorama Vol 2 Table 7
    Max rate of evaporation
    DoG--------------30250lbs/h---750degree F--eta boiler 44%
    Britannia--------31410 lbs/h---737 degree F--eta boiler 66%
    Merchant Navy-34000 lbs/h--679 degree F--eta boiler 61%

    DoG with Britannia boiler 2533 ihp
    DoG with Merchant boiler 2741 ihp if superheat could have been upped
     
  2. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    The figure for DoG's own boiler is presumably as built with the poor draughting. I suspect that the maximum rate of steam production from that boiler in its present condition is very similar to that of a Merchant Navy.
     
  3. S.A.C. Martin

    S.A.C. Martin Part of the furniture

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    Much appreciated, thank you.
     
  4. Jimc

    Jimc Part of the furniture

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    Hmm, I fear I'm going to need to read that and try and understand it. How did you source the volume?
     
  5. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    I failed to find a copy of Newton looking quickly online, but an interesting article by John Glynn entitled “Development of British Railway Accounting: 1800-1911” came up in the search.

    Reading it quickly as a non-accountant, it’s clear how far removed from modern practice railway accounting was, and how much emphasis there was on how shareholders capital was being used. The revenue and capital account provisions, backed up by legislation, make a lot more sense in this context.
     
  6. huochemi

    huochemi Part of the furniture

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    ebay I suspect, but possibly Abe. I bought it a few years ago.
     
  7. huochemi

    huochemi Part of the furniture

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    Which legislation / clause(s) are you referring to?
     
  8. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    In this case, the Regulation of Railways Act 1868.
     
  9. huochemi

    huochemi Part of the furniture

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    Thanks, any particular clause? I could not see anything from a quick skim. The first section seems to deal mainly with the broad obligation to produce accounts.
     
  10. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    I only read the article, and that quickly.
     
  11. Dunfanaghy Road

    Dunfanaghy Road Well-Known Member

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    I suspect that the ghost of George Hudson loomed large over railway accounting for a long time.
    Pat
     
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  12. RAB3L

    RAB3L Member

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    So when/where did I willfully "misinterpret" someone else's post? Dr Martin surely doesn't have a problem understanding English!
     
  13. RAB3L

    RAB3L Member

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    From Swindon Steam, page 50:

    "Contemporarily, Collett was designing the Castles. There was a definite need now for a more powerful express passenger locomotive to relieve the Stars which had been at work for fifteen years........."
     
  14. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    And in a happy juxtaposition of operational need and accounting practice, it was possible to frame this as a “repair” rather than a new investment.
    Or, in other words, just the same sleight of hand and exercise in judgment that businesses the world over follow when trying to work out the business case behind an investment.
     
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  15. S.A.C. Martin

    S.A.C. Martin Part of the furniture

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    I just want to clear up something: I passed my “upgrade” not my “Viva” - it is still “Mr” and not “Doc” Martin, I am afraid, but I am in final write up!

    Mr, and no, but you are really taking issue with something that shouldn’t be so big a deal.

    I made a point about the financials, ultimately, rather than maintenance, and both should be considered when writing about CMEs, directors and railway accountancy together with organisational structures and decision making.
     
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  16. Enterprise

    Enterprise Part of the furniture

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    Perhaps you could also clear up whether you are back with us or not?
     
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  17. S.A.C. Martin

    S.A.C. Martin Part of the furniture

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    A timely reminder of why I went away in the first place.

    Why was that necessary?
     
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  18. Enterprise

    Enterprise Part of the furniture

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    Simple curiosity.
     
  19. S.A.C. Martin

    S.A.C. Martin Part of the furniture

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    No, I think not.

    It’s frustrating isn’t it? All the research and reading I do, checking in every so often for interesting discussions, and feeling like I can’t post without getting targeted in various ways.

    Last year it was Gaza and the fallout from the discussions here (is it genocide yet?) and the year before it was, frankly, bullying. This year I’ve mostly stayed away.

    No, I’m wary and I am weary of putting my head above the parapet.

    Think I will go back to the ether.
     
  20. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    I took your "Same old, same old...." in post #43 to be an allusion to Simon's rebuttal of the old notion that Thompson sought to do away with as much of Gresley's legacy as possible. Did I get the wrong end of that stick?
     

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