Upgrade to steam....

[Ratbag]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8428097.stm

"Passengers were rescued by a steam locomotive after modern rail services were brought to a halt by the snowy conditions in south-east England."

[Kevin]

Better than Eurotunnel

[Blaketon]

I like it !! Maybe it will get the message accross that it doesn't have to be "Modern" to be any good. OK, Tornado maybe new but I'm sure any other serviceable A4 would have got the job done.

[alanworland]

What a way to travel - lovely!

[aupickup]

it was

allways went by steam when i was a kid

[PSL184]

"Passengers were rescued by a steam locomotive after modern rail services were brought to a halt by the snowy conditions in south-east England."

Oh no - That'll set Roy off again

[Peetee]

As a fan af all things NE that brings a warm glow to my heart.

[bmcecosse]

Lovely Locomotive - wish I could have a go at firing it! Actually - the firebox is quite short, so not very difficult to throw coal right down the front, but very wide! If you watch the TopGear episode with Tornado - you will see they have two firemen - one working right handed and the other left-handed - to keep the box filled up at the sides! Clarkson of course just tips a few miserable lumps of coal inside the door!
Thanks for bringing up the link Ratbag - I had missed it!

[billlobban]

I remember seeing an old black and white film of a steam train with front plough smashing its way through cuttings with 20 feet of snow in them between (I think) Aviemore and Carrbridge in the Highlands. Fantastic site and even more fantastic piece of engineering. I dont think we got the 'wrong type of snow' in those days.

[Kevin]

allways went by steam when i was a kid

Didnt realise curry had been around so long Dennis

[aupickup]

[bmcecosse]

Some steam snow -ploughing at Tyndrum in this one Bill! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl4pJwcE7JI

[ssnjimb]

Just shows that the "Made in England" or *Made in GT Britain* still means something.

[martinf]

try snow drift at bleath gill,on youtube,cracking film!! just shows what can be done when we put our minds to it!!,i missed steam,just!! but have allways prefered them to the other boxes weve got,especilly those foregn jobs!!

[MarkyB]

Looks like a lot of hard graft;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymz6D8eFeUg

[billlobban]

Looks like Gordon the Magnificent's new idea to cure unemployment

[ndevans]

Just shows that the "Made in England" or *Made in GT Britain* still means something.

Hate to disappoint you, but a large part of Tornado was made in Germany-namely the boiler & firebox.

At the risk of being cast to the lions, there is a reason why modern trains are not steam-and it's not because they are better.

There are numerous cases of steam locos being rescued by diesels. Only recently Duke of Gloucester failed to make it up Whiteball and had to be rescued by a 67, much to the disgust of assembled photographers.

I like the sight and sound of steam, but don't tell me it's better. I commuted from Bedford to St Albans for 6 yrs-for all it's faults and flaws, they would never be able to offer the same intensity and speed of services with steam. If Stephenson and Brunel had been able to build electric railways, they would have done.

[mike.perry]

Brunel tried an atmospheric railway....Can't win them all!!!

[chickenjohn]

Great story! I love reading things like this. Old technology is often better than new.


A bit like last year after a band rehearsal one damp cold, rainy night. The bass player got into his newish Clio and had to turn over the engine A LOT to get it started. While it was still churning without catching I got in the traveller, knowing that as it had run three hours previously the engine was still warmish. Just the right amount of choke, one turn of the key "berr- vrumm". Look of surprise on Dave's face and "that started well!" Luckily, the solenoid was still working then.....

I disagree with the above poster, steam trains are better than modern diesels or electrics. The only advantages of the modern trains are due to 60 years of development.

[StaffsMoggie]

While steam locomotives are a pleasure to see, they are very labour intensive and inefficient compared to diesel and electric traction. I like to see a steamer as much as anyone, we get the odd one at work on specials and there are plenty at work on the preserved lines but they are not in the same league as the diesels.

Anyone who is indifferent to diesels should hear a Deltic wound up......What a sound.