One thing I have noticed in other places on here is the interst our American cousins show in how much steam has survived in the United Kingdom. We were very lucky in that British Railways kept building steam long after the second world war whilst the rest of Europe actively followed dieselisation and electrification as they rebuilt there war ravaged systems. That is only half the story though.because of a quirk of fate one of the major scrapyards in Wales did not cut up the steam locos they acquired but left them to rust on Barry Island. Dai Woodham found it easier and more profitable to cut up freight stock. as a result many preservation societies found a ready supply of complete, if rather tatty, steam locos to save. Rebuilt Bulleid Pacific ,Merchant Navy class, 35022 'Holland America Line' waits to be rescued. spin forward 25 years to 1999 and sister engine 35005 'Canadian Pacific' gleams in the short lived British Railway blue livery at Barrow Hill roundhouse after its return to the main line. Later on in November of 1999 'Canadian Pacific' blasted past barrow Hill on a Railtour
Now for the video. Canadian Pacific in action Seen on Barrow Hill shed for the open day, leaving a couple of days later and passing on a railtour in November. Note on the video we cheekily pushed the National Railway Museums LMS 'Crab' 2-6-0 (totally unsteamable!) with a smoke bomb in the smoke box out onto the spur to give the passengers on the railtour a suprise. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqa2Y76JOmk"]YouTube - Merchant Navy 35005 'Canadian Pacific' 1999[/ame]
Kevin, your steamer makes me think of my ladies (#824/#850) and also a question: does BR require a diesel loco on steam railtour trains? P.S. Will you take Train 901/902 on 12/08/2009?
Yes. We have done a poor job, too many times, recognizing the importance of our history. Railroads made the USA. Yet so many communities are all too happy to see them gone, bulldozing structures, cutting up steel. There are many places where future archaeologists will have great difficulty following the evolution of that specific site. :tb-sad: From engines and rolling stock, to actual operating lines rebuilt, seeing all those beautiful UK restorations is wonderful. Boxcab E50
diesel required Sometimes there will be a diesel attached to the rear of the train, sometimes not. I don't know what the criteria is for it. The worst scenario we used to have was when they used to attach an old class 25 diesel behind the train engine, called 'ethel', to power the electric lighting and heating on the train. it ruined many a film and picture.
