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Mid Hants Railway Operational Matters

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by NightRail, Jan 11, 2017.

  1. 242A1

    242A1 Well-Known Member

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    No one has investigated the exhaust system? It is the obvious thing to look at when a class has a reputation for needing what might be termed careful management.
     
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  2. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    I believe 88 has been ‘fine tuned’ slightly to 89 with a few subtle mods here and there, goes to show though not all engines from the same class are the same!
     
  3. nine elms fan

    nine elms fan Part of the furniture

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    Whats the matter with the left way!
     
  4. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Exactly. When steam was everywhere loco crews would tell you the differences within the class. For example 35007 always seemed able to steam whatever was done to it and 35003 was quick, despite it sounding like a bag of bits.

    All this talk about possibly 53808 being 'tricky' to fire to may well be true but I'd lay money that if you know what you are doing and learn what is best rather than assume that all steam locos are the same then it will be fine.
     
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  5. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

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    Once again Peter Smith’s book covers firing of different locos. Going slightly off thread once the Carnforth lads had learned how to fire the Jubs especially 45699 these locos performed above their class 5X status
     
  6. Hampshire Unit

    Hampshire Unit Well-Known Member Friend

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    Ropley's finest will also have the chance to fire a Jubilee soon.....
     
  7. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    I hope it fares better than the last time we had a Jubilee on the line, it was so out of sorts, it hardly got up Medstead bank , i can remember cause I was firing it !! with Dave Fewin driving, we tried everything, it just wouldn't go, i had it on the line, plenty of steam pressure, it should have flown up, the front end was out .
     
  8. 242A1

    242A1 Well-Known Member

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    As I recall it the A/S ratios were changed while boiler work was being carried out by taking advantage of the need to renew both tubeplates. Given the nature of the cylinder design and the short travel valve gear (3.25") you have a fair idea of what you are going to experience and this is confirmed by those who worked on the engines. The observations of Andy Norman and Steve are well worth bearing in mind. Not all crews are equal, when 13809 was on the mainline performance could be patchy, but for those prepared to learn and adapt the engines will do what you need them to do. I hope that the Mid Hants crews enjoy their experience with 88.
     
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  9. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

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    From an observers view they are very fine engines. I managed to see them all in one day on the S&D in the summer of 1962 and had at least one storming run with 88 on the WSRly
     
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  10. 6026 King John

    6026 King John Well-Known Member

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    Which Jubilee was it and when did it visit? Must have been more than 20 years ago as I've beem visiting the MHR since 2000 and don't remember one being there.
     
  11. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    5593 in the mid 1990’s, it’s not the first time MHR or ex MHR footplate staff have complained about it on this forum!
     
  12. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    Can you have a STORMING RUN with a 25mph speed limit?
     
  13. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Yes, provided you get a suitable relationship between motive power, train weight and gradient...

    Tom
     
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  14. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    and method of driving especially with position of valve gear. Not that I have any clue as to what does what on a footplate.

    So probably driving uneconomically.
     
  15. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Err yes you most certainly can!
     
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  16. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    especially when departure is delayed and you have to make up time, ,;) if your engine hasn't got a speedo, and there are no marker posts, its estimation on how close to 25 mph you are going,
     
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  17. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

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    It is very possible. I recall a storming run behind S15 506 over the MHR years ago when the MHR used to run a free round trip over the line after the evening AGM. A very loud performance from the S15 which even had the locals of Medstead looking out of their house windows to see what was going on.

    Sent from my I3312 using Tapatalk
     
  18. Cosmo Bonsor

    Cosmo Bonsor Member

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    I drove and fired the 7F that visited the Bluebell a while ago, can't remeber which one it was. It seemed to go alright, I dilike the LMS brake though. Just a preference.
    I can't remember any particular vices other thannot liking to be pulled up much.
    I fired it on a happy snappers charter during which I burnt the most coal I have ever put in a steam engine because of all the run-pasts. It was about 3 1/2 tons by my guess.
    I really don't think MHR crews will have any difficulty at all learning another engine.
    I hope they enjoy it.

    As for speed, well you should always have a very good idea of how fast you are going.
    And as Tom hinted, it's possible to get to use all the boiler power you have with the right combination of variables without going into epic feats of haulage.
     
  19. MattA

    MattA Member

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    I recall a story of one time when someone estimated an ex-industrial loco (with driving wheels of less than 4' diameter) to be doing close to 40mph on a heritage line once, although whether that's merely an urban legend or something close to the truth I do not know!
     
  20. gricerdon

    gricerdon Well-Known Member

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    Yes with a big load
     

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