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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2015 11:29:45 GMT
Hi Julian ,
Is it true that all mainline steam engines must have a qualified driver and firemen PLUS an inspector who is also a qualified driver on footplate at all times ?
Just out of further curiosity - are pilot men still used on any trains to take them through routes unfamiliar to the driver ?
Michael .
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Post by keith6233 on Apr 3, 2015 11:54:01 GMT
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jma1009
Elder Statesman
Posts: 5,901
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Post by jma1009 on Apr 3, 2015 12:11:21 GMT
hi michael,
pilotmen are still required if the driver doesnt have the required route knowledge. i would imagine this is avoided if possible.
so far as 'inspectors' or driver managers are concerned i believe only required if someone other than the actual train crew is in the cab eg a volunteer or rep from the loco owning group.
cheers, julian
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Post by alanstepney on Apr 27, 2015 7:19:51 GMT
UPDATE-27/04/2015
A SPECIALIST engineer is due to visit Poole Park mini railway in the next week to investigate the cause of an incident that has closed it since March 23.
The popular railway around the lake has not been operating since a carriage overturned and a young boy was taken to hospital for a check up.
Anthony Rogers, recreation manger, Borough of Poole said: "Following the initial investigation we have been unable to establish a cause of the incident and the railway remains temporarily closed.
(Source:http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/12914543.Incident_at_Poole_Park_s_mini_railway_to_be_investigated_by_specialist/)
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Post by Cro on May 4, 2015 8:52:31 GMT
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Post by alanstepney on May 4, 2015 9:50:55 GMT
To summarize, it is concluded that the cause was vandalism. It just shows that you need to allow for everything, no matter how unlikely.
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Post by peter99 on May 20, 2015 19:50:45 GMT
I have only ever had one ride on a miniature railway and that was at Guildford a some years ago and my reaction at the time was that it was going far to fast. I suppose to impress the punters as how good his loco was. But I thought at the time that if this derailed.......!! Have never been on one since and don't want to, unless I am driving!
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Midland
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,870
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Post by Midland on May 21, 2015 10:33:14 GMT
Just in the same theme as above, we have reduced our raised track speed limit to 6 mph, still probably too high! Cheers david
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Post by steamcoal on May 21, 2015 12:09:59 GMT
Here in new Zealand it is 8 kph. That 6 mph is 9.6 kph which is quite fast.
What was it bought down from? 8 mph?
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Post by marshall5 on May 21, 2015 17:32:56 GMT
As we are subject to the Isle of Man Railways Act 1982 (and annual inspection, continuous brakes, guards etc) our ground level 3 1/2"/5"/7 1/4"g. track is limited to 5.5 mph. It was previously 10mph but was lowered many years ago at the request of the Railway Inspector. We find 5.5 mph with a load of passengers quite fast enough. Fortunately it is extremely rare for a passenger to fall off but even at that speed there can be quite a lot of 'gravel rash / bruising. IMHO one can never take too much care when hauling the public. Ray.
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Midland
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,870
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Post by Midland on May 21, 2015 19:18:55 GMT
Here in new Zealand it is 8 kph. That 6 mph is 9.6 kph which is quite fast. What was it bought down from? 8 mph? Hi Yes both ground level 7 1/4" and raised 5" (etc) were at 8 so we left the GL at 8 mph and brought the raised down to 6. I wanted 5 but we are committee!! Years ago I read an article about what happens to the body (human) when it is stoppped abruptly at various mph. I.e. how many bones got broken at 2/3/4/5 mph etc. Cannot find it now but have written to the trauma chief in the Soton hospital for help in finding it. I may be repeating myself but my awareness is prompted by my loco and drving truck coming to an abrupt halt on the Brent House railway a few weeks ago. (Riding wagon hit something) I was slowing for a stop and proceed signal and going about 3 mph. Result, I did a head over heels sumersault luckily onto soft grass but if I had hit a tree or concrete I would be very sore if not broken. Now 5" is roughly 12 to 1 so 60 mph is 5 mph, 8 mph is 100 mph, 126 mph is 10.5 mph. Since Midland trains (and others for that matter) used to run at about 60 mph, I think 5 is good. Much of the time they were slogging up hills at 45-50 so 4-5 mph is realistic. I do not quite know quite what I would say to a young mother whose child's brains I had just bashed out against a tree at HST speed, "well I wasn't going that fast!!!", somehow does not do justice to the damage even if I said it from prison. So I go around at about 4 mph these days. The engine works uphill, bark bark, you can see the coupling rods go around, I can fire and water enroute and the ride is comfortable and if the speedy diesels come up behind I bung on sone smoky coal and chug chug along! it is not a race it is miniature railway model engineering and all that entails!! OK off the box now but that is my approach!! Cheers David PS I might add that I am still at the turn of the century 1899 to 1907 but those in 1936/ 2015 should go at at least a 100 mph and more!!!
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Post by ejparrott on May 21, 2015 20:11:22 GMT
We've just upped our GL from 6 to 8 now that the track is in much better condition. Our raised track has been 8 for many years
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Midland
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,870
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Post by Midland on May 21, 2015 20:18:56 GMT
We've just upped our GL from 6 to 8 now that the track is in much better condition. Our raised track has been 8 for many years Ed You are a hundred mile per hour railway, hold tigbht!! D
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Post by gilbert on May 22, 2015 9:34:21 GMT
I am interested in the recent responses regarding maximum line speeds, on club tracks - does this indicate that trains/locos are equiped with speedos, to know if a limit is being exceeded ?? It is certainly a hot issue within our club.
Gilbert
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Post by ejparrott on May 22, 2015 12:32:10 GMT
I just fitted a Halfords wired speedo to the 'Scot', only about £25 IIRC. After fitting it and running round with it, I discovered I'd always been running about right anyway! I don't yet have one on any of my engines, but the guys who do most of the raised track public running do. Most of the GL runners don't, though several of them need to and need to abide by it.
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Post by GWR 101 on May 22, 2015 17:42:51 GMT
Ed sounds like a brilliant idea, as I am making a drivers truck I can fit one in that, then I can use it for any engine. Do I hear cries of "tight fisted" Regards Paul
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Post by gilbert on May 22, 2015 22:50:14 GMT
Good to hear that folks are looking at attaching speedos. My view is that if a club mandates various speed restrictions on their system, compliance with these cannot be subjective. I am putting a cycle speedo on my driving truck (nothing tigh fisted at all - Paul !). However, our local K Mart store was just about giving away Tom Tom GPS units. I intend to give this a try for speed measurement. The sensitivity of the unit kicks in at 5kph (3mph) so it should be ok for alerting me, if I am creeping towards our limit of 10kph. Some who have tried the GPS have noted that units can be a bit sluggish to adjust, but I will give it a go.
Gilbert
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jackrae
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,333
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Post by jackrae on May 23, 2015 7:38:33 GMT
GPS seems a bit of an overkill when a bicycle speedo provides accurate real-time information, including distance travelled (useful as an accumulator for maintenance etc)
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smallbrother
Elder Statesman
Errors aplenty, progress slow, but progress nonetheless!
Posts: 2,269
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Post by smallbrother on May 23, 2015 8:22:08 GMT
I have 3 driving trucks so GPS sounds the way forward for me. I track my dog walks twice a day for time and mileage so if it measures my 3 mph walk it should do OK for 6 mph or thereabouts.
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