York 23rd Feb

[williamfj]

The coal burners were out in force today with 6 coal burners present, along with various other steam locos including a Peter Angus traction engine type loco and a scratch built shay.
Offler & Ivy are overtaken by a proper electric loco!

3 coal fired Jacks.

A Pearse(?) SLR Hunslet

For a geared loco, this Shay can really shift!

2 Gloriously grimy Jacks

Ivy in a rare burst of sunlight.


I then went beserk and started panning anything that could be panned!

Ivy rattles past.

Offler and a Regner Lumberjack.

A beautiful Peter Angus traction engine type loco.

The WLLR Hunslet.

I attempted to double head Ivy and Offler, however I couldn't get the speeds to match and after Offler started to make some worrying noises I found brass shavings on the frame. Following some oiling I sent Offler out again and fortunately the gears haven't got worse, but I might get a spare set just in case.

[Steven.T]

Didn't even know there was a running day today

Still wouldn't have been able to get there mind, being at work weekdays...

[williamfj]

I didn't know there were weekday running days, but at the end of Sunday's I was asked if I was going to be running on Thursday. They're not full scale running days, I believe that there is no action on the raised level line or on the ground level line, although today a loco was on test as it had failed on Sunday. I can't go every week as I have lectures on some Thursdays, besides I'd stop looking forward to Sunday running so much!

[Steven.T]

It must be a recent thing with the garden railway.

I know there are people down on Wednesdays, but that's usually for maintenance and testing locos etc, never heard of anyone being there on Thursdays!

[MDLR]

Thanks for the pictures.

Why, oh why, oh WHY do owners of coal-fired locos let them get so grimy?I knoe that they get dirtier than gas fired ones when they are running, but those 3 Jacks looked to be thoroughly filthy - more so than if they'd just done one run...............

[williamfj]

I quite like the grimy look, although I imagine that it isn't too good for the bearings!

[MuzTrem]

But Brian, we all know that narrow gauge locos are supposed to be dirty...right?

[Pretoria]

Why, oh why, oh WHY do owners of coal-fired locos let them get so grimy?

Not all of us do -- this is after several hours running:

[Endless, Nameless]

I think the Jacks look ace. Very "end of steam". One would hope they keep the running gear rather cleaner however, or replacing valve gear and axle bearings will be a regular ritual.

Pretoria's Lawley backhead is a thing of beauty though. Even I would want to keep that spotless!

It is a Pearse Hunslet by the way- unless it's a very well detailed Merlin one anyway!

[DolwyddelanLightRail]

I really should join up there one day but it was probably a good thing I wasn't there anyway, I'd probably end up drooling over the 3 grubby Jacks all day