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PICTURES INSIDE CARRIAGES
Dear Mike,
Shortly after the opening of the Buxton — Ashbourne line (serving Dovedale and other
scenic attractions of the Derbyshire Peak), the LNWR introduced a twice-daily
service between Buxton and Euston via Nuneaton.
The High Peak of 14th October 1899 reported:
‘The rolling stock used for the new express service … gives great
satisfaction. … The carriages are 45 feet in length, and the first, second and
third class compartments are admirably fitted up with every convenience and
comfort. Each compartment possesses a lavatory. and the photographic views of
Derbyshire scenery predominate-’
Did this use of locally appropriate photographs apply generally to stock serving
tourist destinations?
Gerald Beales
COMPOUNDS AND LEAKING
Dear Mike,
I was most surprised by the caption of the ‘B’ class compound on page 214
suggesting that they were prone to leaking steam when they were ‘on their last legs’.
The emission of steam from the front end was part of die normal operating
procedure with the 3-cylinder engines, where there was provision to pass steam
through the LP cylinder to warm up the mass of the 30in cylinder casting before
starting away. |
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To allow the passage of that stem and avoid a build-up of pressure which might
move the loco, the cylinder drains on the LP side were opened. One can only
imagine how much water would have condensated in the 30in LP side if this had
not been done — more than the drain cocks could have cleared that is for sure,
with consequent possibility of damage or disablement of the engine even slide
valves.
John Hill
AYLESBURY RAILWAY CHAIR
Dear Mike,
That is an interesting chair. It probably came from the original rails laid
there — mostly 45lb per yard with chairs centred 4ft apart. Robert Stephenson lifted
some rails from the L&B main line for laying the branch. I wonder if the
Aylesbury Railway directors were aware that he was supplying them with part-used
second-hand materials? There were reports of these rails failing by as early,
as 1844.
Harry Jack
GOING OUTSIDE
Dear Mike,
In this article, Philip Atkins says, quite rightly I suppose, that the last new
engines to be fully lined were the Princes built by NBL. But then there is the
photo of an ex works Prince, outside Hyde Park
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