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[tunnie]

for about the 5th time in a matter of weeks, i just caught the sound of a Steam train going past my flat. Only looked outside window in time to see it way in the distance. (its quiter going past than the diesels  )

It appears to be a regular route, it comes from the Reading direction. It then takes to side line near my flat and heads in the direction of Marylebone. Acton is last stop before Paddington. So its either going off to Marylebone, or its stored someware along the Paddington line, and its gone off to the Chiltern line to go North?  :-/

Question, is there a time table anywhere of when these things are on the move? Anyone know which company would run something from directions described? From other side of the building I am in, there is a great view, which should produce some good photos, but I never know when one is going to go past  :-/

[Richie London]

theres a lot of sidings on the paddington route, usually see the euro trains and the heathrow express parked up there on way into london. i think theres a couple of steam trains parked up at southall now and then so could be they are coming from there. rare sight from west drayton where i am

[tunnie]

theres a lot of sidings on the paddington route, usually see the euro trains and the heathrow express parked up there on way into london. i think theres a couple of steam trains parked up at southall now and then so could be they are coming from there. rare sight from west drayton where i am

This one went past at about 09:30, so it must have been just fired up  :-/

Think your right, maybe from Southall

[Marks DTM Calib]

http://www.uksteam.info/tours/trs10.htm

For info on tours.

[tunnie]

http://www.uksteam.info/tours/trs10.htm

For info on tours.

Cheers 

According to that site, today is a busy day:

Tue 21-Dec      THE CATHEDRALS EXPRESS [Times] [CANCELLED]  (20/12) 
London Kings Cross-Norwich (WCGN) [wcrc]
70013 45305: Kings Cross-Cambridge-Norwich and return
[Cancelled 45305 unavailable]      STDR

Tue 21-Dec      VSOE CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON SPECIAL [Times]  (20/12) 
London Victoria-Guildford (VSOE) [dbs]
35028: Victoria-Staines-Guildford-Redhill-Victoria      VSOE

Tue 21-Dec      THE SUSSEX BELLE [Times]  (17/12) 
London Victoria-Hastings [wcrc]
34067 44932: London Victoria-Maidstone-Ashford-Hastings
-Robertsbridge-Sevenoaks-Victoria
[44932 replaces 34067 which is unavailable]



Only one that makes any sense is the Cathedral Express, but thats cancelled  :-/

Unless there is a route from Paddington Mainline to Victoria?  :-?

[CaptainZok]

It'll be the Hogwarts Express.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

This one has got me stumped Tunnie!

The main line certificated engines that possibly could be candidates all seem to be engaged elsewhere, or out of service:

34016 Bodmin      Out of service
34067 Tangmere Not available
35028 Clan Line    Stabled at Stewarts Lane
63163 Tornado     Out of service


However, one 60019 Bittern is, I believe, stabled at Southall and may be the engine you are hearing, although another engine, 6024 King Edward I seems to be floating around along the Bristol / West Country lines.

Can you describe Tunnie any of the sounds you are hearing, i.e.:

Is there a definate 3 cylinder beat, with two of the beats slightly offset from the last?*
Is a chime whistle blown?
Is it a full 4 cylinder beat?*

* If you listen carefully the difference is apparent!

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Further to the above Tunnie, these are the two possible engines you have heard:





 8-) 8-)

[VXL V6]

6024 was restored at Tysley, not too far from me.... 

[hoofing it]

This one has got me stumped Tunnie!

The main line certificated engines that possibly could be candidates all seem to be engaged elsewhere, or out of service:

34016 Bodmin      Out of service
34067 Tangmere Not available
35028 Clan Line    Stabled at Stewarts Lane
63163 Tornado     Out of service


However, one 60019 Bittern is, I believe, stabled at Southall and may be the engine you are hearing, although another engine, 6024 King Edward I seems to be floating around along the Bristol / West Country lines.

Can you describe Tunnie any of the sounds you are hearing, i.e.:

Is there a definate 3 cylinder beat, with two of the beats slightly offset from the last?*
Is a chime whistle blown?
Is it a full 4 cylinder beat?*

* If you listen carefully the difference is apparent!

chuffff chuffff wooo wooo chuffff cuffff

[VXL V6]

This one has got me stumped Tunnie!

The main line certificated engines that possibly could be candidates all seem to be engaged elsewhere, or out of service:

34016 Bodmin      Out of service
34067 Tangmere Not available
35028 Clan Line    Stabled at Stewarts Lane
63163 Tornado     Out of service


However, one 60019 Bittern is, I believe, stabled at Southall and may be the engine you are hearing, although another engine, 6024 King Edward I seems to be floating around along the Bristol / West Country lines.

Can you describe Tunnie any of the sounds you are hearing, i.e.:

Is there a definate 3 cylinder beat, with two of the beats slightly offset from the last?*
Is a chime whistle blown?
Is it a full 4 cylinder beat?*

* If you listen carefully the difference is apparent!

chuffff chuffff wooo wooo chuffff cuffff

C'mon Ivor...... 

[Lizzie_Zoom]

This one has got me stumped Tunnie!

The main line certificated engines that possibly could be candidates all seem to be engaged elsewhere, or out of service:

34016 Bodmin      Out of service
34067 Tangmere Not available
35028 Clan Line    Stabled at Stewarts Lane
63163 Tornado     Out of service


However, one 60019 Bittern is, I believe, stabled at Southall and may be the engine you are hearing, although another engine, 6024 King Edward I seems to be floating around along the Bristol / West Country lines.

Can you describe Tunnie any of the sounds you are hearing, i.e.:

Is there a definate 3 cylinder beat, with two of the beats slightly offset from the last?*
Is a chime whistle blown?
Is it a full 4 cylinder beat?*

* If you listen carefully the difference is apparent!

chuffff chuffff wooo wooo chuffff cuffff

Ah HI, but that would be the sound of a two cylinder engine

The sound of a Merchant Navy or West Country is:
chuffff chuffff....chuffff  as the third beat is slightly offset.

As far as I am aware only the LNER V2 had a similar 3 cylinder beat, but even more pronounced that you could hear for miles:

chuffff chuffff... chuffff.................chuffff chuffff... chuffff

 

[Lizzie_Zoom]

...................Now I know some of you will be sniggering away over that last posting, but for us in the steam world those sounds  are very important. 

They actually indicate how many cylinders the engine has, and how they are set to maximise performance and pulling power.  The great engineers of the past, especially those CME's (Chief Mechanical Engineers) of the big four railways would spend much time and effort on such detail.

They would consider what the engine was to be used for, and where, what steaming capacity it required, how big the boiler should be, its type, what firebox dimensions are necessary, the drafting arrangements, on what wheel arrangement the engine should be, along with the dimensions of the cylinders, how many, and what the motion would be (outside or inside), along with the stroke length of the pistons and the type of valve gear required.  All this would also have to consider the overall weight of the engine, and its route availability as far as the Civil Engineer was concerned when thinking of axle loadings on the infrastructure. 

The sound of an engine gives clues as to the efficiency and health of a steam engine, as much as it does with an internal combustion engine.  It (the steam engine!!) is just more complicated as you are dealing with the whole, possibly in excess of 100 ton, machine where all parts add to the sum of the total, and if any are slightly incorrect or flawed, the whole machine performs badly.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Interestingly, I get to have a 'go' on Truro on the 27th.

[hoofing it]

...................Now I know some of you will be sniggering away over that last posting, but for us in the steam world those sounds  are very important. 

They actually indicate how many cylinders the engine has, and how they are set to maximise performance and pulling power.  The great engineers of the past, especially those CME's (Chief Mechanical Engineers) of the big four railways would spend much time and effort on such detail.

They would consider what the engine was to be used for, and where, what steaming capacity it required, how big the boiler should be, its type, what firebox dimensions are necessary, the drafting arrangements, on what wheel arrangement the engine should be, along with the dimensions of the cylinders, how many, and what the motion would be (outside or inside), along with the stroke length of the pistons and the type of valve gear required.  All this would also have to consider the overall weight of the engine, and its route availability as far as the Civil Engineer was concerned when thinking of axle loadings on the infrastructure. 

The sound of an engine gives clues as to the efficiency and health of a steam engine, as much as it does with an internal combustion engine.  It (the steam engine!!) is just more complicated as you are dealing with the whole, possibly in excess of 100 ton, machine where all parts add to the sum of the total, and if any are slightly incorrect or flawed, the whole machine performs badly.

I had the pleasure of firing Blue Peter at Boness many years ago to a driver nicknamed Big Valve and by christ that engine done some barking that day and talk about ring sting well enough said