Katie is performing superbly! Tom, in your experience, what is the secret to getting the launch-type firebox to steam well? Tradition says that the Heywood boilers didn't steam well, but she seems to be unaware of that tradition!
Perrygrove is very similarly set out like one of the estate railways Heywood built and marketed, 3/4 mile long with sharp curves and short steep gradients. Katie settled right in and worked incredibly well with the box filled up at the bottom and left well alone until we were at the top. The more draw on the fire on the uphill bits the better it steamed. I believe they have had issues with it elsewhere because of the longer less steep but faster paced layout of the track on railways like Ravenglass where she struggles to keep up with demand. A slower pace but lugging stuff round is what she’s built for. Looking forward to her next visit.
Katie is performing superbly! Tom, in your experience, what is the secret to getting the launch-type firebox to steam well? Tradition says that the Heywood boilers didn't steam well, but she seems to be unaware of that tradition!
Perrygrove is very similarly set out like one of the estate railways Heywood built and marketed, 3/4 mile long with sharp curves and short steep gradients. Katie settled right in and worked incredibly well with the box filled up at the bottom and left well alone until we were at the top. The more draw on the fire on the uphill bits the better it steamed.
I believe they have had issues with it elsewhere because of the longer less steep but faster paced layout of the track on railways like Ravenglass where she struggles to keep up with demand. A slower pace but lugging stuff round is what she’s built for. Looking forward to her next visit.
@@littlenobby That's really interesting - thank you for taking the trouble to give a detailed explanation.