Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Debs. on 07 December 2010, 14:44:44

Title: A penny on the rails......
Post by: Debs. on 07 December 2010, 14:44:44
.......might derail a train? :o
......or so the old-wives` tale would have it! :-?

The truth is rather more interesting: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a7d_1286706287
Title: Re: A penny on the rails......
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 07 December 2010, 14:48:23
Its not as interesting as 50 out of date detonators on the rails  :y
Title: Re: A penny on the rails......
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 07 December 2010, 15:52:08
With axel weights up to at least 25 tons (11.5 per wheel) on most stretches of railway that I know of, and certainly on preserved lines coming in at around 23 tons, dependant on loco's used, penny's are always crushed by the weight before they have a chance of derailing a train.  We know because some of us on the Mid Hants Railway tried it, and our penny was well and duly flattened!! ::) ::) ::) ;D ;D

If the wheel is raised at all by the penny, the flange is deep enough to  still keep the wheel in line on the track ;)

That film is a nice find Debs! :y :y :y
Title: Re: A penny on the rails......
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 07 December 2010, 16:01:05
Quote
Its not as interesting as 50 out of date detonators on the rails  :y


You have obviously had your fun as well Mark! ;D ;D ;D ;D

They used up a load on the MHR many years ago as part of a celebration; cannot now think for the life of me what that celebration was for!! ;D ;D
Title: Re: A penny on the rails......
Post by: Matchless on 07 December 2010, 16:18:59
My Grandad was the crossing keeper at Leeming Bar, he used to give me ha'pennies and pennies to put on the rail head for when a mineral train was due from Redmire. I was made to stand well clear in case one shot out sideways!

Loco crews would pass down tea cans going one way and collect them refilled by Grandma on the return. 
Any pieces of coal that were too big for the grate were kicked off the footplate as they passed through, some of it went in the pot belly in the hut over the groundframe, most went in the kitchen range.
Title: Re: A penny on the rails......
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 07 December 2010, 16:21:15
Quote
My Grandad was the crossing keeper at Leeming Bar, he used to give me ha'pennies and pennies to put on the rail head for when a mineral train was due from Redmire. I was made to stand well clear in case one shot out sideways!

Loco crews would pass down tea cans going one way and collect them refilled by Grandma on the return
Any pieces of coal that were too big for the grate were kicked off the footplate as they passed through, some of it went in the pot belly in the hut over the groundframe, most went in the kitchen range.


What wonderful memories you must have matchless 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) :y :y

I am envious :D :D
Title: Re: A penny on the rails......
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 07 December 2010, 16:25:11
Quote


Loco crews would pass down tea cans going one way and collect them refilled by Grandma on the return. 

Any pieces of coal that were too big for the grate were kicked off the footplate as they passed through, some of it went in the pot belly in the hut over the groundframe, most went in the kitchen range.


Splendid 8-) :y  A very fair exchange in my view.
Title: Re: A penny on the rails......
Post by: Matchless on 07 December 2010, 16:38:55
Wish I new more about grandads career, I know he was involved in gasflow improvements that Gresley was making to the A3s and A4s, he took my dad into Darlington works once to see a loco that was being run on a rolling road with all sorts of pressure gauges and thermocouples attached to it. Dad remembers walking under the loco to look at the inside motion whilst it was at speed.
The job at Leeming was in his last years, he needed a job with a house (no savings or pension?) but it ended when the suits from personnel turned up in the late 70's and asked him about his age it turned out that he was born in 1899 iirc.
Title: Re: A penny on the rails......
Post by: Kevin Wood on 07 December 2010, 16:43:55
Quote
.... dependant on loco's used, penny's are always crushed by the weight before they have a chance of derailing a train.  We know because some of us on the Mid Hants Railway.....

Yep. I know too, because, on a school trip to the Mid Hants Railway about 30 years ago we tried it... ::)  :-X

Kevin