Torbay express, diesel assisting.

[BestWestern]

Evening all,

I happened to be enjoying the sunshine in Weston on sunday and decided to have a gander at the Torbay kettle as she passed through on the down. I was surprised to see that on depature most of the work was being done by the 47 which was coupled directly behind Nunney Castle, it was quite ovbiously powering the train out of the platform with full sound effects and clag (very enjoyable too ). Is this normal practice, Weston is pretty flat and the weather was dry and fine? Any thoughts from those more clued up than me on such matters?!

 

[CC 72100]

I read somewhere else on the forum that the heat was having an impact on steam charters, with them being assisted/ replaced with diesel haulage instead, quite how I can't remember now, sorry!

 

[Bevan Price]

I read somewhere else on the forum that the heat was having an impact on steam charters, with them being assisted/ replaced with diesel haulage instead, quite how I can't remember now, sorry!

Probably happens when there is a risk of lineside fires caused by sparks from the steam loco.

 

[BestWestern]

I did think that, but then Weston is hardly surrounded by swathes of forest! It'd be a bit of a letdown to think the train ran the whole trip with the kettle just sat on the front simmering while the type 4 did the work!

 

[455driver]

The kettle does do a little bit of work but its mainly the box that gets the train moving.

 

[BestWestern]

The kettle does do a little bit of work but its mainly the box that gets the train moving.

Interesting. Always, or just if there is a particular reason?

 

[Darren R]

Just spotted a story on Railway Herald:

HOT WEATHER HITS MAIN LINE STEAM WORKINGS
Railway Herald has been told that due to the continuing hot and dry weather, with little immediate project of any significant change, that Network Rail has implemented a ban on steam operations.

However, RH also understands that wise counsels interceded and a more workable arrangement has resulted which will involve some steam operations continuing, albeit with a diesel tucked inside to provide assistance when deemed necessary. The zones affected are the Southern, Western, North east and part of the North West.

West Coast operations manager James Shuttleworth told RH that as a consequence of a positive dialogue with Network Rail Special Trains Unit, the 'Scarborough Spa Expresses' which starts its 2013 season on 15th July, and Wednesday's 'Fellsman' which is slated for haulage by LMS 'Jubilee' No. 45699 Galatea will both operate as advertised, but with a diesel tucked inside the steam locomotive. The 'Shakespeare Express' on 21st July, is also likely to operate similarly to last week's train, with a diesel in the consist.

There is no firm news yet of Pathfinders' 'Tyne-Tees Streak' which is scheduled to operate on Friday, 19th July, but with the North East zone included there must be a huge question mark whether any high speed running would be permitted.

http://railwayherald.com/uknews/hot-weather-hits-main-line-steam-workings

Bad news for photters!

 

[455driver]

Most sparks are thrown at low speed when the loco is working hard, its to do with the way the draughting works and it pulling on the fire in pulses releasing the sparks.
As speed builds the draughting through the fire is more even (a lot more even on a Lord Nelson Monty ) and so there is less chance of sparks being thrown out the chimney.

The best engines are ones that have the most "beats" per rev so that is a Lord Nelson with 8 beats per driving wheel rev followed by any 3 cylinder engine which will have 6 beats per rev. The worst ones are big 4 cylinder locos where the cylinders are arranged in pairs and so only have 4 (very sharp) beats per cylinder.

 

[Bedpan]

Also if you're putting the engine under a heavy strain, such as when starting off, you've got the regulator wide open with higher (or should it be lower) cut off such that there is significantly more steam going into and then being ejected from the cylinders, creating more draught pulling the heat from the fire through the tubes.....especially, as 455driver says, which its a 4 cylinder loco. Just as 455 driver says, except the best firework display takes place if the wheels lose grip and spin as the train is starting.