North Yorkshire Moors Railway General Discussion

Tom has saved me the effort and I agree completely with what he has said. When running tender first uphill you can run with the water almost out of site in the knowledge that when you get to the top of the climb it will go up.
However, as 21B has said, if you have climbs in both directions you can only run tender first uphill in one direction unless you have ‘tables at both ends.
Keeping on-topic, on the NYMR the norm is to run chimney first uphill on the 1 in 49 to Goathland in the belief that it is the best thing to do in terms of water management but I don’t agree for the reasons given. Heading south, as you run into Goathland there is a substantial change in gradient and you shut the regulator leading to a significant change in water level. Braking would add to that so drivers try to avoid this by shutting off at the ideal point to simply coast to a stop without braking to reduce speed. Running in the opposite direction up through Newtondale the changes in gradient are less severe and you aren’t combining it with braking to a halt so there is no sudden significant change in water level and it is easier to avoid the water disappearing from view.
All part of a drivers knowledge and skills.