MellishR's Recent Activity
-
MellishR replied to the thread GWR four-cylinder arrangement?.
It is nonsense to say without qualification that compounding is good or compounding is bad. The choice between simple and compound expansion is like many choices in engineering, with each having pros and cons. Two factors in France, the high cost...
Jul 6, 2026 at 7:42 AM -
MellishR liked MarkinDurham's post in the thread GWR four-cylinder arrangement?.
Well, the Midland compounds seemed to do OK, but yes, the UK loading gauge was/is pretty restrictive. I do wonder how Fowler's proposed compound Pacific would have turned out - hopefully with decent axleboxes, but that's another discussion... Mark
Jul 6, 2026 at 7:18 AM -
MellishR liked RAB3L's post in the thread GWR four-cylinder arrangement?.
I think that you will find that the match between Churchward's locos and the French Atlantics was fairly equal but only because the former had advanced large, long-travel valves whereas the latter had narrow steam passages and slide valves for...
Jul 6, 2026 at 7:17 AM -
MellishR liked 26D_M's post in the thread RTC: Tynesider - 4/7/26.
"Asthmatic figurehead" is cruel but also perfectly accurate. In defence of WC, I dont think they've ever succumbed to using 3 diesels to assist one steam loco on a charter like Saphos LSL did yesterday ....
Jul 6, 2026 at 7:04 AM -
MellishR liked henrywinskill's post in the thread RTC: Tynesider - 4/7/26.
Isnt it strange that the 10 year olds seem to respond to the posts though.
Jul 6, 2026 at 7:04 AM -
MellishR liked Sheff's post in the thread RTC: Tynesider - 4/7/26.
I have every sympathy with @Big Al’s views, I wouldn’t want to be shoved around in a coffin by a diesel with an asthmatic figurehead up front. However, my solution is simple - I save my money and no longer book any tour that involves WCRC.
Jul 6, 2026 at 7:04 AM -
MellishR liked Johnb's post in the thread RTC: Tynesider - 4/7/26.
There is an old saying when thing go right you tell a couple of people, when they go wrong you tell everyone. In the case of the Tynesider things went wrong and it’s created a lot of comment but let’s look back at the Great Britain a complex...
Jul 6, 2026 at 7:02 AM -
MellishR liked Johnb's post in the thread RTC: Tynesider - 4/7/26.
Unfortunately the criticism is aimed at the wrong target. When things go wrong and it looks as if there were problems with the service trains too, our threadbare rail network seems unable to cope with it. In addition to that I do wonder about how...
Jul 5, 2026 at 9:55 AM -
MellishR liked 26D_M's post in the thread RTC: Tynesider - 4/7/26.
It betrays a very peculiar mindset to suggest somebody goes to the trouble and expense of travelling with the aim of being disappointed in order to criticise the operator! On the broader points about 'performance', it seems to me that the heart...
Jul 5, 2026 at 9:55 AM -
MellishR replied to the thread West Somerset Railway General Discussion.
Very often exactly right, but in the case of the WSR a few years ago it was the railway's own management that were telling us how bad things were.
Jul 3, 2026 at 9:24 AM -
MellishR liked Bikermike's post in the thread SVR General Discussion.
It's not how it's taught in schools, but how it is twisted by those with an agenda. At this distance we have generally lost those who were maimed physically or mentally, so the survivor bias is worse. When Dad's Army was written, it was seen by...
Jul 2, 2026 at 4:52 PM -
MellishR liked Nathanjw032's post in the thread Nene Valley Railway.
Hi all, As chairman of the newly formed European Steam Preservation Society, I thought I’d address the points made above to clarify our position :) Firstly, the group is made up of volunteers who have been involved with heritage steam and...
Jul 2, 2026 at 3:25 PM -
MellishR liked The Green Howards's post in the thread Nene Valley Railway.
Something a lot of people seem oblivious to - and I'd also suggest that once you've steamed it, that's when it becomes a different sort of expensive.
Jul 2, 2026 at 3:24 PM -
MellishR liked 21B's post in the thread North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion.
Back when I worked on the W&L in the late 80s there were several locals who used the train every market day to go shopping in Welshpool. The last return was often late while we waited for them to struggle back with their shopping. And one old...
Jul 1, 2026 at 10:50 AM -
MellishR liked Jamessquared's post in the thread North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion.
I think “serious financial trouble” is too much, but it is not a secret that for many years the Plc has run at a loss, cushioned by transfers from the Society membership subscriptions and donations. There is no imminent crisis brewing, but...
Jul 1, 2026 at 10:44 AM
