I had a footplate trip on the VoR in the last years of BR control, & again a couple of years ago. In BR days the lococ were in a rather run down condition & needed to be opened out well into main valve to get the train up the top section. More recently, the ease with which the loco handled the train was a joy to see. A touch of main valve was sufficient to maintain the schedule & the loco didn't seem to be extended much at all. BR neglected the VoR for years in the run up to privatisation.
I'm really not sure, it was a long time ago, & I think that it was just that the loco was tired & needed some TLC. These days they seem to be getting it, which is great. Steaming wasn't a problem as I recall. And now coal is back, which is great news. No more drumming in the first coach from the oil burner.
It's a shame that the narrow gauge Lynton and Barnstaple railway was closed down in 1935 by the Southern Railway. Watching with interest as they try and re-open the entire line a bit at a time.
You're suggesting that BR invested in maintaining the line? I'm afraid that's not true. By the time BR sold the line, very little of the track was in decent condition. And the two working locos are in much better condition now than they ever were in BR days.
I wonder if steam locos will come back with a better fuel source. Oil's one, what about diesel or carefully regulated aviation fuel? Great vid. Thanks very much. Liked the informative bits from the driver.
+mark carey I believe, with modern technology, it's too inefficient compared to diesel-electric motors. But, technically, steam power is still primarily used everywhere. Every power plant around that isn't solar uses the heat from burning coal, or gas, or even nuclear power. All they do is produce steam to turn massive turbines.
Sorren Peak Yes. People are astonished when I tell them a nuclear power plant is another kind of steam engine. Well, as you say, a different power source.
+mark carey When this film was made, our locomotives burned oil. This was the case from the late 70s until 2012. We have now converted back to traditional coal firing.
+Vale of Rheidol Railway Thanks for the info. I asked one of the drivers at Devil's Bridge in April 2014 whether the trains were oil or coal fired and he said the one he was driving that day was oil fired. So have all the engines been converted back to coal firing or are still some oil fired? I'm asking as we'd like to visit the railway next year. Thanks.
+ds1868 That is strange, we've been entirely coal fired for several years now. Oil firing is very much a thing of the past - it is much better that way! Maybe its time to make a new video!
Why oh Why is it necessary to put a classical music track over a working steam engine or someone talking, obviously not edited by an enthusiast. This spoils what could be a good film.
Very good production, it's really impressive what these guys have been able to do on this and other railways.
Love it. Especially the esplanations of the engine driver, and Ry owner/historian!
I had a footplate trip on the VoR in the last years of BR control, & again a couple of years ago. In BR days the lococ were in a rather run down condition & needed to be opened out well into main valve to get the train up the top section. More recently, the ease with which the loco handled the train was a joy to see. A touch of main valve was sufficient to maintain the schedule & the loco didn't seem to be extended much at all. BR neglected the VoR for years in the run up to privatisation.
That was wonderful, thank you! :-)
I'm really not sure, it was a long time ago, & I think that it was just that the loco was tired & needed some TLC. These days they seem to be getting it, which is great. Steaming wasn't a problem as I recall.
And now coal is back, which is great news. No more drumming in the first coach from the oil burner.
It's good to see a young fireman!
Excellent film.
Which is the gauge of this track?
It's a shame that the narrow gauge Lynton and Barnstaple railway was closed down in 1935 by the Southern Railway. Watching with interest as they try and re-open the entire line a bit at a time.
You're suggesting that BR invested in maintaining the line? I'm afraid that's not true. By the time BR sold the line, very little of the track was in decent condition. And the two working locos are in much better condition now than they ever were in BR days.
that was nice and crispy with a grat flavour
i like you
Kevin kouling in the diesel at 2:28
Excelent!
I wonder if steam locos will come back with a better fuel source. Oil's one, what about diesel or carefully regulated aviation fuel?
Great vid. Thanks very much. Liked the informative bits from the driver.
+mark carey I believe, with modern technology, it's too inefficient compared to diesel-electric motors. But, technically, steam power is still primarily used everywhere. Every power plant around that isn't solar uses the heat from burning coal, or gas, or even nuclear power. All they do is produce steam to turn massive turbines.
Sorren Peak
Yes. People are astonished when I tell them a nuclear power plant is another kind of steam engine. Well, as you say, a different power source.
+mark carey When this film was made, our locomotives burned oil. This was the case from the late 70s until 2012. We have now converted back to traditional coal firing.
+Vale of Rheidol Railway Thanks for the info. I asked one of the drivers at Devil's Bridge in April 2014 whether the trains were oil or coal fired and he said the one he was driving that day was oil fired. So have all the engines been converted back to coal firing or are still some oil fired? I'm asking as we'd like to visit the railway next year. Thanks.
+ds1868 That is strange, we've been entirely coal fired for several years now. Oil firing is very much a thing of the past - it is much better that way! Maybe its time to make a new video!
Aspect ratio malfunction!
Seems to be shrunk sideways
Mark Carey. Diesel is oil firing.
Why oh Why is it necessary to put a classical music track over a working steam engine or someone talking, obviously not edited by an enthusiast. This spoils what could be a good film.
hey, shut up