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FR & WHR & WHHR News

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by AndrewT, Jul 17, 2012.

  1. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    But will be more efficient than the cost of overhead lines or 3rd rails.
    Adrian Shooter and Vivarail are making good progress with refurbuishments of old EMUs and battery power, but batteries are still expensive, heavy and limited life.
    I doubt if the FR will take up hydrogen or battery technology in favour of steam, , but good to allow controlled tests before being tested on the rural mainline DEMU routes. Although Alstrom in Germany is the leader, but maybe too expensive, the tests by the university of Birmingham will help reduce costs.
     
  2. pmh_74

    pmh_74 Well-Known Member

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    I can't comment on the technology... but I'm inclined to think 300m gauge would require a very large track!
     
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  3. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    A fire around a cylinder can be pretty devestating, but a fire around a sealed tank of liquid fuel can be pretty devestating as well (do a google search for “bleve”).

    There are also alternative non compressed stores of hydrogen, for example absorbed on a metal substrate.

    Really, I’m not suggesting hydrogen is perfect, just that the reputation of hydrogen as particularly dangerous is unwarranted.

    Probably best to continue this in another thread though.

    Tom
     
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  4. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    More efficient, or lower up front cost offset by additional vehicle maintenance requirements and newly introduced inflexibility? I've yet to see anything that will convince me that batteries, hydrogen, or other non standard means of powering an electric train are anything other than either niche applications or attempts to avoid the obvious answer.
     
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  5. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    Ideally add overhead lines to all lines so electric can be used everywhere, but maybe impractical and costly for some rural lines, so the University of Birmingham is doing some research and the FR is the first UK railway to offer help to test the small hydrogen test train, so good on the FR.
    Maybe hydrogen is not the right direction but worth doing tests.
    I notice Dudley College is also doing some research on flywheel technology which may have some life?
     
  6. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    I won't argue that, but when I see the proposed uses being natural infill lines like Windermere or Uckfield, I get very suspicious over where these ideas are going.
     
  7. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    Sorry, looks like the "Hydrogen Hero" test train is currently 260mm or 10 and quarter inch gauge, so will needs it's own track or be regauged.
    Does not look like it has a cab and will need careful handling.
    [​IMG]
    I agree worth discussing alternitive power developments in a seperate thread, but where?.
     
  8. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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  9. LesterBrown

    LesterBrown Member

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    Perhaps we're all barking up the wrong tree and Boston Lodge is secretly building a hydrogen fuelled boiler for Earl of Merioneth?
     
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  10. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

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    Lighting up will be interesting
     
  11. RLinkinS

    RLinkinS Member

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    Question one morning at Boston Lodge: "Which one is the fireman for EoM?"
    Answer: " The one without the eyebrows.";)
     
    Last edited: Mar 5, 2020
  12. 2392

    2392 Well-Known Member

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    Certainly go like a BOMB! If things went wrong, mushroom soup anybody:eek::Chillout:.
     
  13. MartinBall

    MartinBall Guest

    The Isengard site appears to be back and running - a couple of updates today :)
     
  14. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    I'd heard it was going to be fired on meths and renamed "Mamod".
     
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  15. Mrcow

    Mrcow Member

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    Very nice to see the photo of K1 our and about on Isengard.
     
  16. City of truro fan

    City of truro fan Member

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    I heard this was an April fool as overhauls normally tsk 5 years
     
  17. Paul.Uni

    Paul.Uni Well-Known Member

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  18. DcB

    DcB Well-Known Member

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    Looking at the festipedia
    https://www.festipedia.org.uk/wiki/K1
    Has taken 6 years but has a description of how Statford Barn finished it
     
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  19. 2392

    2392 Well-Known Member

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    K1 to a degree strikes me as somewhat of a "Dainty" little machine. Compared to even the other Garrett's that are in use on the Welsh Highland.
     
  20. andrewshimmin

    andrewshimmin Well-Known Member

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    It's great news. Wonderful to see K1 steaming again.

    Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk
     

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