Steam Railways

[Gordon]

The driver, Bill Hule [sp?] was known to one of my friends

#17: Bill Hoole Sal, top link at Kings Cross and a bit of a racer!! He was more used to A4 pacifics.

Some of the rail journeys mentioned here are not "preserved railways" [he said pedantically] although the S&C was saved and is now thriving it never actually closed and was a Godsend during the WCML over-runs. If we are allowed still open NR lnes then the Central Wales is worth a trip, Craven Arms to Swansea look you - via Anna country too!!

[MrGongGong]

That's 31 messages without the phrase "Dawlish Bank"

amazing

[Anna]

I was just about to log off - when I noticed Gordon was posting on the steam trains thread! Gordon is a friend of Thomas the Tank!
Gordon was built experimentally by Sir Nigel Gresley at Doncaster Works between 1920 and 1922 as an "A0" Pacific. When Gresley was finished using Gordon for designing his A1 Pacifics, he sold Gordon, along with a spare boiler and firebox, to the North Western Railway.

Gordon is mainly used for passenger duties, pulling the North Western Railway's express, the "Wild Nor' Wester", but has occasionally pulled goods trains. He has been known to run into ditches and stop on hills to get out of doing these jobs, as he believes that these are below him.

In 1939, Gordon went to Crewe for a rebuild. His conjugated valve gear was replaced by a two-cylinder chassis (designed by the Fat Controller), he received a smoother running plate, Stanier underframes wheels, cylinders, squared-off side windows, rectangular buffers, and a Fowler tender.

Oh, Bless Him. Having his conjugated valve gear replaced .......... (Sorry! couldn't resist)

[salymap]

Oh, I don't know! At the risk of grit in one's eyes..... Here are two I took earlier. One at the weekend, and the other - for saly - five years ago at the BF in Wales.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/59411788/KWVR.JPG

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/59411788/BF.jpg

Thanks mangerton. Friends and I would have a week at the various Three Choirs Festival cities and then a week in Wales. It must be nearly 60 years since the BF ride in the cab but, as you say, it is special.

[salymap]

#17: Bill Hoole Sal, top link at Kings Cross and a bit of a racer!! He was more
used to A4 pacifics.

Some of the rail journeys mentioned here are not "preserved railways" [he said pedantically] although the S&C was saved and is now thriving it never actually closed and was a Godsend during the WCML over-runs. If we are allowed still open NR lnes then the Central Wales is worth a trip, Craven Arms to Swansea look you - via Anna country too!!

I can't believe someone has heard of Bill and why do I remember his name after all those years.? Sadly, John, who knew him slightly, died a few years ago. That's amazing. Then why was he just in the little mountain railway thatday?

[mangerton]

I can't believe someone has heard of Bill and why do I remember his name after all those years.? Sadly, John, who knew him slightly, died a few years ago. That's amazing. Then why was he just in the little mountain railway thatday?

Quite a bit on Bill Hoole on t'internet. GIYF. You might like to see this

[salymap]

Thanks so much mangerton and Gordon. So Bill Hoole was on that railway as a sort of retirement hobby and I met him all those years ago. I don't know why I mentioned his name but pleased I did. I'm glad he didn't race the train too much while we were in the cab.

[arancie33]

Years ago we used to go to Woodstock by train from home in North Oxford and, one time, I was allowed to ride back on the footplate. The line is long gone, but for many years my mother lived in a flat which was exactly in line with the extinct railway. The old pop song (Alma Cogan?) "The Railway Runs Through the Middle of the House" was much quoted.

Just thought you'd like to know

[LeMartinPecheur]

Please allow a small voice from the West to speak up for the Bodmin and Wenford Railway (standard gauge) and the Launceston Steam Rly (substandard gauge ). Lovers of the Ffestiniog and other Welsh slate lines will feel at home at the latter as their engines came from that part of the world, usually as blocks of rusted metal barely recognisable as steam engines. The line is NG but laid on a few miles of the trackbed of the LSWR Launceston to Padstow line, a Beeching closure.

Salymap might like it: the owner/ main engine driver is a lady (widow of the original mad-enthusiast founder I understand). One of her own loco restorations has won big prizes in the no doubt pretty exclusively male steam loco-engineering circles.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Please allow a small voice from the West to speak up ...

I've always had a fantasy of a reconstructed broad gauge railway somewhere in the west of England. Those lost lines in Cornwall might be a suitable place to start.

[Vile Consort]

As a former Secretary, Chairman and Director (and current volunteer) of one of the preserved lines, I couldn't possibly say. But it's definitely the best, and only the Bluebell comes close to it.

[salymap]

We live within striking distance of two excellent preserved railways: The Bluebell, and the Kent and East Sussex. They are both thriving, and indeed extending, the former to East Grinstead by next Easter and the latter to Robertsbridge in the foreseeable future.

The best bargain, which we indulge in fairly often, is to get platform tickets (now called ‘station access’ – ugh!) at Sheffield Park, on the Bluebell. These only cost something like £1.50 each for ‘seniors’ and give access to all areas (platforms, restaurant, engine shed, museum, and soon carriage shed, and, of course, shop), but not the trains. So you can have a great time watching, photographing, eating, etc with all the comings and goings of the various locos and stock. Let’s face it, the only place you can’t see th
e engines and trains is on board one, so it seems little loss once you have ridden on another occa















A little further from us, but an easy day trip, is the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch, which should be experienced by all who are interested in steam. The 15 inch gauge locos, at one third full size (ten mainline models, as well as the ‘Bug’ and a couple of diesels) are beautifully maintained and a joy to behold.

http://www.rhdr.org.uk/pages/locos.html

Yes, have visited The Bluebell and Kent and East Sussex and the lovely gardens at Sheffield Park several times. I got carried away by the fact that people remembered the man driving the BF railway that day.

I am now conmvinced that if one mentions anything on these boards, SOMEONE will have an answer.

r

[salymap]

Apologies to Don Petter whose post somehow got savaged in my attempts above.

[kernelbogey]

Not long ago I was waiting for my train at Bristol Temple Meads and one of those steam excursion trains came in, the passengers descending from the antique carriages. I went and stood by the engine for a while. It is a powerful experience to stand by a large steam engine, hissing gently in its massive stillness, and observe the great wheels, pistons and drive shafts gleaming with oil: not just nostalgia, but a kind of vision of tangible power.

The Alresford Watercress Line is not far from me here. Enjoying a similar experience at the platform a few months ago I asked a uniformed volunteer about exactly why a steam engine goes 'chuff-chuff-chuff' as it starts up. After about two minutes of detailed references to pistons, fireboxes, condensers and other engineering arcana he must have noticed my eyes start to glaze over and politely asked if that was too much or too little information. 'Just enough thanks,' I said sweetly.

[Gordon]

#33: Whilst it may be true that I have had some [ahem] reconstuctive surgery my time I can assure you that my valves conjugate perfectly well thank you and am happy to oblige anytime with a demonstration. That Edward was always jealous of my staying power, me being a big engine. He should have been sent to Dai Woodham at Barry Docks long ago.