This Yank has fallen head over heels for the Ashburton. In my small little mind I now run it as a heritage railway with limited freight traffic in this modern day. But being on the other side of the pond, I have some very basic questions on British railway operations as it relates to the 'modern day' Ashburton.
1. What is the largest locomotive I could run on this line? BR 2-10-0's? LNER Pacifics?
2. Any whistle signals that I should know? All mine are American and seem a bit out of place.
3. At the end of the line, how is the 'runaround' performed with the platform and passenger loading at all. I have yet to do it in a way that seems 'realistic'. Cutting off the locomotive as my train sits there requires that none of the train remains at the platform as it were. Do I run around first, push my coaches to the platform?
This line is a true gem, and it's a far cry from my 22 in 100 grades and mile long freights. I hope to make it to your fine country soon and experience it first hand myself.
Some Ashburton Questions
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hollywood1340
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Ashburton
Ashburton is a small GWR branch, no big engines were to be seen on it mainly because the amout of freight and passengers did not require them, but the GWR had colour codes on all locos above the cab number plate, this was for route availability, not to sure about Ashburton probably a blue circle (not the double red circles as seen on the big King class) just keep to the 0-6-0 panier tanks and the 14xx 0-4-2T. sometimes they would have 'auto' coaches on so the driver could drive from the coach end (the fireman would operate the engine through bell signals.
To run round the train would normally go onto the buffers and let the passengers off, then back up a bit clear of the points uncouple and run round, then pull out and shunt into the other platform, if no other train was due in it could even leave from the same platform.
Would not been any whistle signals as every one would know were everything was going on these small branches!!
To run round the train would normally go onto the buffers and let the passengers off, then back up a bit clear of the points uncouple and run round, then pull out and shunt into the other platform, if no other train was due in it could even leave from the same platform.
Would not been any whistle signals as every one would know were everything was going on these small branches!!
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WSR2005
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For more information on the Ashburton branch as it exists today (the South Devon Railway), have a look at http://www.southdevonrailway.org/
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Tonysmedley
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post subject
In my experience, formal whistle signals on UK railways were limited. Particularly on smaller branches, there were a number of places where whistle sounding was a requirement - before unprotected footpath or road crossings for example. These would be preceded by a "W" board to warn the driver (sometimes "SW" - Sound Whistle) At particularly places there might be special codes; at the bottom of the Lickey Incline where most trains were assisted in the rear by one or more banking engines, there were whistle codes between drivers to indicate that they were ready to ascend. Otherwise whistles were mostly used to warn people on or near the track, or to attract the attention of the man in the local signal box where it was necessary for him to set points ( switches ) for shunting operations
Tony
Tony
Tony (the old one)
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alanch
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Ashburton Locos
I'm pretty certain that in late GWR and BR days you would have seen Small Prairie tanks (2-6-2T) from the 45xx and 55xx series, and Mogul 2-6-0s from the 43xx/53xx/63xx/73xx series.
Not sure about anything larger, but I suspect Manor (78xx) and even Grange (68xx) 4-6-0s could have been seen occasionally.
And if you want to go back in time, have a look at some of the smaller early GWR locos downloadable from the Swindon and Highworth site at http://www.highworth.freeuk.com/mstsstock.htm
Plenty of GWR coaches and wagons from there and here on UKTrainsim.
Alan
Not sure about anything larger, but I suspect Manor (78xx) and even Grange (68xx) 4-6-0s could have been seen occasionally.
And if you want to go back in time, have a look at some of the smaller early GWR locos downloadable from the Swindon and Highworth site at http://www.highworth.freeuk.com/mstsstock.htm
Plenty of GWR coaches and wagons from there and here on UKTrainsim.
Alan
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alanch
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Ashburton Locos part two
PS
I should have included the Collett 2251 0-6-0s, and their Dean Goods predecessors.
Alan
I should have included the Collett 2251 0-6-0s, and their Dean Goods predecessors.
Alan
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RobertM
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These are the engines in question...
Cheers...
Robert
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Cheers...
Robert
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hollywood1340
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Thank you!
Thank you all for the answers! How was branch service run? Mixed goods with passenger? Daily service? I shall have to look up more of this...autocar.
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davidaward
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Re: Thank you!
hollywood1340 wrote:.autocar.
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Ran with 14XX tanks and some 55xx prairies,
The BSET stock from these packs would have been used on non-auto workings on the line.
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largest locos used on the line in BR days were small Prairies- nothing larger was needed. Passenger by 14XXs + auto trailer or 2 BSets. Pick up freight by pannieror prairie. On most branchlines the daily pick- up would have plodded up and down the line during the passenger crew's lunch break. (2-3 hours).
Good plug for my stock anyway!
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hollywood1340
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RobertM
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Cheers, Robert 
Fireman at the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Steam Railway.
Second Valve simulation - https://www.facebook.com/secondvalve?ref=hl
Fireman at the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Steam Railway.
Second Valve simulation - https://www.facebook.com/secondvalve?ref=hl
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kieranhardy
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Or a nice little Mogul fits on the branch very wellRobertM wrote:These are the engines in question...
Available to download from http://www.bluearrowts.com
As the creator of the route let me say thankyou for your interest and kind words.
Now let me read from my ref book re locos.
In 1892-1904 and 1905-1936 the Ashburton loco was normally a 517 class 0-4-2T but occasionally a "Metro" 2-4-0T was subsituted for a while.
For the start of Auto working in 1927 517 class No.530 was used untill the first 48xx 0-4-2Ts arrived No 4865 arrived in 1936 and No4870 became the regular Ashburton loco with 4866 as its usual replacement.
Loco No 4870 was re-numbered to 1470 and was specially adapted to pump the well for the water tank at Ashburton.
I have modelled 1470 and this is avalable to download on the site.
Auto coaches were allocated after 1927 Nos 130 and 132 were commonly the allocated trailers in the 1930s, and after the war Nos 192 and 196 were regulary used the latter being replaced by 244 in the 1950s.
Arround 1957 ( owing to the general shortage of trailers ) a couple of ex Plymouth "B" sets Nos 6276 and 6277 were used
Little information is avalable regarding branch goods locos.
Photos show 57xx Nos 4405 and 4561 on goods duties.
Of added interest it was common for the Royal Train to be stabled overnight on the branch just north of milepost 1. The train was normally hauled by a Castle class engine which could proceed this far on the branch as there were no underbridges on this stretch.
Hope this helps
Best regards......Reg
Now let me read from my ref book re locos.
In 1892-1904 and 1905-1936 the Ashburton loco was normally a 517 class 0-4-2T but occasionally a "Metro" 2-4-0T was subsituted for a while.
For the start of Auto working in 1927 517 class No.530 was used untill the first 48xx 0-4-2Ts arrived No 4865 arrived in 1936 and No4870 became the regular Ashburton loco with 4866 as its usual replacement.
Loco No 4870 was re-numbered to 1470 and was specially adapted to pump the well for the water tank at Ashburton.
I have modelled 1470 and this is avalable to download on the site.
Auto coaches were allocated after 1927 Nos 130 and 132 were commonly the allocated trailers in the 1930s, and after the war Nos 192 and 196 were regulary used the latter being replaced by 244 in the 1950s.
Arround 1957 ( owing to the general shortage of trailers ) a couple of ex Plymouth "B" sets Nos 6276 and 6277 were used
Little information is avalable regarding branch goods locos.
Photos show 57xx Nos 4405 and 4561 on goods duties.
Of added interest it was common for the Royal Train to be stabled overnight on the branch just north of milepost 1. The train was normally hauled by a Castle class engine which could proceed this far on the branch as there were no underbridges on this stretch.
Hope this helps
Best regards......Reg
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hollywood1340
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Wow...
Love this history, thank you!
Now for the big question: The year is 2006. The entire line still exists. What would you run today and how would you do it?
On MY version of the Ashburton Heritage Railway (call it what you will)
0-6-0 Dean Goods-Special Excusions Only Due to Age
9F 2-10-0-Limited to Totnes-Buckfast
Small Praire Tank-Primary Locomotive
Mogul-Primary Locomotive
0-6-0 Collet Goods-Primary Locomotive
14xx-Reserve Locomotive
Class 50-Reserve Locomotive
We run 2-4 car GWR stock, with a few MK1's mixed in when needed. We cater to the daytripper, but more serious excursions can be mounted. Here is a mainline length excusion run to be photographed by the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society (Of which I am a member). To the delight of all assembled, the little mogul put on quite a show as she barked towards Ashburton, and back. Enjoy!
[/img]
Now for the big question: The year is 2006. The entire line still exists. What would you run today and how would you do it?
On MY version of the Ashburton Heritage Railway (call it what you will)
0-6-0 Dean Goods-Special Excusions Only Due to Age
9F 2-10-0-Limited to Totnes-Buckfast
Small Praire Tank-Primary Locomotive
Mogul-Primary Locomotive
0-6-0 Collet Goods-Primary Locomotive
14xx-Reserve Locomotive
Class 50-Reserve Locomotive
We run 2-4 car GWR stock, with a few MK1's mixed in when needed. We cater to the daytripper, but more serious excursions can be mounted. Here is a mainline length excusion run to be photographed by the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society (Of which I am a member). To the delight of all assembled, the little mogul put on quite a show as she barked towards Ashburton, and back. Enjoy!
[/img]Well today the line exists but only to Buckfastleigh as a major road was built over the section from here to Ashburton. The line dosn`t connect to the mainline at Totnes ( its still in place,but not used ) and a new station was built just south of the river by the South Devon Railway who run the line.
So just run what you like and enjoy as it don`t matter eh
So just run what you like and enjoy as it don`t matter eh