FAVOURITE LOCOMOTIVES (TRAINS)

[Matt]

I wasn't exactly keeping it a secret... I can change it back if you really want?...

[lambrettalad]

Matt I'm not sulking I just think a quick pm explaining what mods wish to do is respectful,I don't want it changed

[philthehill]

But what is the set up called if a locomotive is hauling another locomotive or locomotives?

[jagnut66]

Something for everyone........[frame][/frame]

Followed by one of my favourites, the GWR Pannier Tank, I think that's a Manor behind her.......[frame][/frame]

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

But what is the set up called if a locomotive is hauling another locomotive or locomotives?

A double header if both are under steam or see if the rear loco has an 'On Tow' label.

[jagnut66]

A double header..............
[frame][/frame]
And another......
[frame][/frame]

[Matt]

And another

[Dean]

My favourite diesel.

[jagnut66]

I heard that BR used to leave them ticking over all night. Some saving in fuel, eh?

Indeed. I've heard of this practice before too, anybody else?

Beeching and Co. have a lot to answer for!

[Dean]

Beeching and Co. have a lot to answer for! [/b][/i]

It would have been more palatable, if the closures had just been mothballed. Unsafe bridges could have still been removed, dangerous or vandalised buildings pulled down, rail lifted. The passageways should have been left through the towns cities and the country side. We could have started to re-use them again in an effort to cut down on vehicle usage, but we can't as that option has now disappeared. Most disused lines had estates built over them. Beeching wanted them gone forever.

[mike.perry]

Many of the branch lines were closed pre Beeching, he just finished the job. Fortunately a few lines survived into the preservation era and many of the locos were retrieved from Woodham's Yard.

[mike.perry]

Favourite Railway
The Great Cockrow Railway. A 7 1/2 in gauge railway situated outside Chertsey near the M25/M3 intersection. About a mile and a half of track forming several interlinked circuits with bridges, viaducts, tunnels etc. There are about 25 scale replica engines pulling sit on carriages, many of which are in steam on Sunday afternoons between May and October.
An enjoyable afternoon for kids and grown up kids.

[MarkyB]

I heard a suggestion that the money for the east coast mainline could be used to undo Beeching instead, I rather liked the idea.

[philthehill]

Even if all the pre Beeching railways were still in place the majority of people would not travel on them. The availability of the post WW2 car (including the Minor) determined the death of the railways as people could travel from 'A' to 'B' without having to travel via 'C', 'L' & possibly 'Z'. Many railway stations were miles from the populations they served. Those station names usually tailed by Road indicating some distance to go/or from your final destination. With a car people valued their independence and the ability to go where they want and at what time they choose. How many times has it been quoted "The final train was packed but on normal days as many as three passengers used the train and if all those people on the last train had used the train daily it would not be the last train". Freight moved by railways prior and for some time after Beeching was very labour intensive and unless the company had a private siding it had to be taken to the local station goods shed/yard, loaded into a railway wagon, moved by rail to the goods shed/yard nearest its destination, unloaded and either collected by the consignee or delivered by the railway drayman which all took time and time is what we do not have today and as a consumer society- WE WANT IT NOW. The use of container trains over longer distances is better but the container still has to be collected from the factory and delivered to the container terminal before being placed on the container wagon and that even before it starts its journey and the reverse at the other end of its journey. That is why you see so many container lorries on the roads today as they go direct from 'A' to "B'. I could go on and on but it is no good blaming Dr Beeching he was only the man who signed off the report. Unfortunatly I have to say we ended up with the railway we deserved. And that is coming from a man who spent more than 30 years in commercial railways and was (and still is) passionate about their retention and growth.
It should also be remembered that is highly unlikley that any railway preservation schemes (other than possibly those lines left out of the 1948 grouping and therefore not owned by BR) would have come to fruition if it was not for Dr Beeching; and not forgetting as well those wonderful trails like the High Peak and Camel Trails and where would Sustrans be if all the railways were in use. So Dr Beeching is not the deamon he is made out to be! We have a lot to thank him and his report for.

[Matt]

Many railway stations were miles from the populations they served.

That reminds me of something I heard on the Bluebell (I think it was Horsted Keynes). In the days when it was running as a regular service (possibly in the "sulky service" era) An Elderly Lady asked the station master why the station was so far away from the village.

The station master responded saying "Well, its traditional to build the station next to the railway"

[philthehill]

Matt
Well done. That set me a laughing.
I like your photo of the double header which I believe is crossing Pont Croeser.

[Matt]

Indeed it is...

I have been involved with the WHR since the railhead had only just reached Rhyd Dhu. The first trip it had been snowing badly and we ended up walking the trackbed from Rhyd Ddu to the far side of the Aberglasyn Tunnels.

I have put down track, taken up track, cleaned sheds, helped restore locos and done maintainance work on carriages etc etc on the WHR. (TBH I have taken up more track than I put down! - when the track bed was 1st put down at the goat tunnel outside Beddgelert, it was too high for the garrets to clear the tunnel! so I helped take up the track again so they could dig the ballast out!)

[philthehill]

Matt

A visit to the WHR is one of my 'Bucket List' wishes. I am very interested in Welsh slate railways and know that the Pont Croesor bridge was first used by the Croesor Tramway in 1864 to transport slate from the Croesor slate mines. Somewhere on the hill around the Croesor slate mine are (or were) the remains of the last steam locomotive not in preservation. It is a De-Winton and only the frames and wheels remain. It is some time since I worked on railway permanent way (PW) but did manage to get on a three week PW Inspector's course organised by the Railway College at Derby a little before I retired. I must say that I did not appreciate being out on the main line with trains flying past over 100mph and only the look out between you and disaster. I am more comfortable with 25mph max industrial/light railways. I still keep up my membership of the Permanent Way Institute (PWI) and attend when I can the local meetings in Southampton. I did manage a visit to the FR in the very early 1960s (yes a long time ago) when the trains only ran to Tan-y-Bylch and the train was hauled by Prince. Went round the FR workshops at Boston Lodge on the same visit and found it mostly derelict.
Keep up the good work on the WHR.
Phil

[POMMReg]

Joining JJ on the RMS Petantic - sister ship of the white star
liner, the Teutonic.

When did Railway stns become Train stns?

Proverbial Sugar Puff on the sock of life!!

[Matt]

Its only a 4 to 4.5 hour drive away Phil (I do it every week from Fareham)and the railway isn't that expensive...

You can now do the complete 40 miles and back in a day! Despite being involved for some time there are still bits of the line I haven't been on.

In terms of passenger trains I have only covered the line between Porthmadog (where I have diggs at the moment) and Snowdon Ranger.

On the PW trains I have done bits of the above and Dinas to Carnarthon