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.

70000 Britannia on Freight

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by ragl, May 25, 2013.

  1. ragl

    ragl Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2010
    Messages:
    1,749
    Likes Received:
    1,637
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Consultant Engineer
    Location:
    Shropshire
    I see in the latest edition of Stean Patroniser that 70000 has been booked for 3 days of commercial freight work at a steelworks in Sheffield. A great idea, but you will not be invited apparently.

    This has got me thinking, any suggestions for a freight train/route on the main line that 70000, or one of the other air braked steam locos, could be used on, in a sponsored form of course.

    I don't know, but there may be too many conflicting issues with such a plan, in which case, I await to be enlightened. However, in the meantime, to start things off, my suggestion would be one of the Chirk timber trains, say, from Chester to Chirk. Your thoughts anyone?

    Cheers

    Alan
     
  2. Ken_R

    Ken_R Member

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2011
    Messages:
    309
    Likes Received:
    177
    A Steam loco, hauling a Timber train.:(

    And when would you suggest it ran?

    November 5th.:rolleyes:
     
  3. fish7373

    fish7373 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2009
    Messages:
    251
    Likes Received:
    79
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    tube lines Northfields railway depot Piccadilly li
    Location:
    london
    HI
    YES good idea when it rains. fish7373 81c fitter
     
  4. ragl

    ragl Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2010
    Messages:
    1,749
    Likes Received:
    1,637
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Consultant Engineer
    Location:
    Shropshire


    Where have you been!! Never seen a wood fired steam train before!!:p
     
  5. GWR4707

    GWR4707 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    May 12, 2006
    Messages:
    18,046
    Likes Received:
    15,736
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cumbria
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    This ties in for my idea of steam taking over all trains on the S&C for a weekend, jubilee's, scots, 5's the black 8 and brits, the motive power is out there.
     
  6. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2007
    Messages:
    35,121
    Likes Received:
    20,773
    Occupation:
    Training moles
    Location:
    The back of beyond
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    A UK Plandampf would be excellent.
     
  7. Enterprise

    Enterprise Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2005
    Messages:
    5,275
    Likes Received:
    3,077
    Need to add some 9Fs but then the idea becomes even more fantastic.
     
  8. Southernman99

    Southernman99 Member Friend

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2009
    Messages:
    894
    Likes Received:
    602
    Is this not just another stunt to prove the power of a loco? 48151 at Tunstead, 92203 on a 1000t stone train, plus more.

    On the UK plandampf. The S&C idea would be fantastic. Just the thought of all the locos in the correct liveries, plenty of either maroon or blood and custard coaches around to be used. The image is one of fantasy.
     
  9. KHARDS

    KHARDS Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2006
    Messages:
    1,276
    Likes Received:
    75
    Occupation:
    Train Planner
    Location:
    Errr......in front of a computer?
    Timings and load wise, you could also do something with the Bedford to Bletchley line and some panniers.
     
  10. ADB968008

    ADB968008 Guest

    Problem is getting photographers to pony up and keeping the timings quiet.
    Neither will happen.

    Best you would get is several railtours on the same day, problem again with that is, it isn't really a plandampf and the passengers wouldn't really feel part of it as everything would be pre-booking end to end journey.

    The European steam model wouldn't really work in the UK, unless say it included incoming/outgoing operations on a preserved railway during a gala.
     
  11. GWR4707

    GWR4707 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    May 12, 2006
    Messages:
    18,046
    Likes Received:
    15,736
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Cumbria
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I meant Plandampf but didn't want to say as much as worried I would spell it wrong!
     
  12. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    Messages:
    35,446
    Likes Received:
    9,144
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired-ish, Part time rail tour steward.
    Location:
    Northwich
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Ammunition used to be carried by rail and there was only steam to haul it.
     
  13. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,103
    Likes Received:
    57,432
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    What's wrong with that? How do you think loads such as timber, petrol, gunpowder, ammunition etc were hauled pre ca. 1960? By magic? Or by good old spark-throwing steam engines, and railwaymen who understood the correct way to protect such loads from accidental ignition?

    Tom
     
  14. agalpin

    agalpin Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2006
    Messages:
    292
    Likes Received:
    12
    Location:
    Bleeding 'ell Essex
    Such as Soham 1944.....

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soham_rail_disaster
     
  15. std tank

    std tank Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2005
    Messages:
    3,808
    Likes Received:
    946
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Liverpool
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    At the enquiry, the cause of the fire was inconclusive. Given the fact that the wagon had prevoiusly carried sulphur and had been "cleaned", it is possible that it was still highly volatile.
     
  16. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,103
    Likes Received:
    57,432
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Without wishing to minimise that disaster, or the bravery of the railwaymen concerned, literally millions of tons of ammunition, petrol etc were transported behind steam engines, with very few accidents. And to put it in context, there have been train fires with e.g. petrol tankers since when hauled by diesels. So I hardly think a single accident proves that the practice is dangerous.

    Tom
     
  17. agalpin

    agalpin Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2006
    Messages:
    292
    Likes Received:
    12
    Location:
    Bleeding 'ell Essex
    The point I was trying to make was the professionalism of Railwaymen who know how to protect their loads and the public at any cost. Those men did both and they were not believed to be the cause either.
    It is certainly not a dangerous practice when that level of professionalism is present.
     
  18. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,103
    Likes Received:
    57,432
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Ah, I see what you mean - I read it the other way. Apologies!

    Tom
     
  19. ragl

    ragl Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2010
    Messages:
    1,749
    Likes Received:
    1,637
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Consultant Engineer
    Location:
    Shropshire
    Oh dear, what have I started?? this thread has gone all "incendiary"!!!
     
    agalpin likes this.
  20. Corbs

    Corbs Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2008
    Messages:
    1,713
    Likes Received:
    727

Share This Page