Post on the Cambrian

ianmacmillan · Post by **ianmacmillan** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:26 pm

I hope the activity is not a passenger carrying working.

There's no guards compartment in any of the coaches so there is no safety equiment.

117305 · Post by **117305** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:46 pm

pedanticmongrel wrote:The north Wales coast route would be boring, the only decent route up there is the Welsh Highland Railway. The Cambrian is the UK's best remaining railway, if not certainly Wales' best, winding up through spectacular scenery from Machynlleth to Talerddig, and onward to Shrewsbury. I always enjoy travelling that section, blasting up the grade at 70 watching the insignificant road traffic winding in the valley below struggling to reach 40 between bends. Cambrian 2 will be amazing when it comes out, just as the first one was when it came out, it's a case of 4 years ago we bought Cambrian and learn how to drive, now we're getting Cambrian 2 and are gonna tackle the hill!

Wonder how many mk2s, a single 37 will be able to take up that hill! on her own

alisterbetts · Post by **alisterbetts** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 6:18 am

or a single 25 pushing the front one, which has just over-heated.....?

Zackybong1 · Post by **Zackybong1** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:46 pm

alisterbetts wrote:or a single 25 pushing the front one, which has just over-heated.....?

pedanticmongrel · Post by **pedanticmongrel** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:09 am

How comes so many people are obsessed with RATS? They are one of the ugliest first genoration diesels! They don't make a particularly great or distinctive sound. Whats the appeal? Is it a case it's what you people remember seeing on the Cambrian? Does anyone remember seeing 7819 Hinton Manor? Surely thats more interesting and from the same time period (80's).

chester025 · Post by **chester025** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:28 am

pedanticmongrel wrote:How comes so many people are obsessed with RATS?

How come so many of you are obsessed about steam engines?

splargg · Post by **splargg** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:30 am

pedanticmongrel wrote:How comes so many people are obsessed with RATS? They are one of the ugliest first genoration diesels! They don't make a particularly great or distinctive sound. Whats the appeal? Is it a case it's what you people remember seeing on the Cambrian? Does anyone remember seeing 7819 Hinton Manor? Surely thats more interesting and from the same time period (80's).

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder PM! I'm probably a "90% steam" guy but I do have a soft spot for certain older diesels, even the ugly ones. Amongst my favourites are the Deutsche Reichsbahn diesels which without exception must be some of the most uncool looking locomotives ever designed. And that's why I like them!

Personally, with Rats it's a nostalgia thing for me. I spent a lot of teenage spotting time at Manchester Victoria in the 1970s and saw class 24s on a lot of local freight traffic, including banking duties up to Miles Platting. And to me they do have a distinctive (and rather charmingly tinny) sound, paticularly with the engine idling as they came down the bank into Victoria from the East.

Plus, very importantly, Rats are part of a disappeared railway. In the early 70s there was a diversity of locomotives that has long gone. Nowadays I can't think of why anybody would want to design a diesel locomotive for light mixed traffic duties, because that's a traffic that has gone from today's rationalised and homogenised railway (I'm talking about equipment, not liveries).

So when my copy of Cambrian 2 arrives the first thing I'll do is thrash a Manor over Talerddig. But sooner or later I'll have a go with a Rat, probably on the pick-up goods to Pwllheli which was a genuine anachronism in the mid 70s.

rwaceyw · Post by **rwaceyw** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:06 am

pedanticmongrel wrote:How comes so many people are obsessed with RATS? They are one of the ugliest first genoration diesels! They don't make a particularly great or distinctive sound. Whats the appeal? Is it a case it's what you people remember seeing on the Cambrian? Does anyone remember seeing 7819 Hinton Manor? Surely thats more interesting and from the same time period (80's).

Because we want to? I could say the same arguement to you, "How come everyone is obsessed with Manors, when theres Class 25's to run!" Variety is the spice of life, we all like different things, and its no place of yours to say "mines better, yours is worse".

For me, 25s have a FAR more distinctive (and hellfire!) sound than any poxy GWR water boiling device......but i'm not going to lay into you for having a different opinion as you have done.

Dave

pedanticmongrel · Post by **pedanticmongrel** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:28 am

rwaceyw wrote:sound than any poxy GWR water boiling device......

Oh Harsh! for a machine that actually looks spectacular as it climbs to Talerddig, as opposed to a smelly box that groans to the top. I guess they are right about variety, but it just seems like alot of people go on about the RATS. There is one thing you have to admit that whichever way you look at it the "poxy GWR water boiling device" has bags more character and is alot more challengeing and rewarding to run than any diesel.

pedanticmongrel · Post by **pedanticmongrel** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:30 am

chester025 wrote:
How come so many of you are obsessed about steam engines?

Because you actually drive them as opposed to open the throttle and watch!

rwaceyw · Post by **rwaceyw** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:30 am

Again, you post in the sense that everyone has or should have your opinion. I prefer a 25 by a country mile to most if not all steam locos - why is it any of your business if I do or I don't? My opinion is not right or wrong, its just different to yours.

For me, a 25 on a fierce load has bags more character, and is more challenging and fun to drive - but thats just my opinion, like i'm allowed to have.

Dave

splargg · Post by **splargg** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:04 pm

I'm not getting involved in the "my opinion's better than yours" thing.

But PM does raise a point that goes towards why I prefer driving steam on MSTS to diesel. There does seem to be quite a bit more to do if you want to drive a steam loco on a challenging route, especially using manual firing. I've often tried an activity with a diesel and got a bit bored because you don't have to do very much. Would someone like to suggest an activity to an open-minded steam fan like me to show how challenging and fun a diesel activity could be?

ARG706 · Post by **ARG706** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:09 pm

Let's not feed the troll methinks. That's my opinion

I generally drive in MSTS whatever I enjoy using the most wether it be steam, diesel or railcar. Generally, I drive the SAR bluebirds probably the most, and they along with the red hens were my most anticipated release. I like to use what is most suitable for the section of track I'm playing with, but medium to large steam with great physics scores points too. I usually use manual fireman more so now

alisterbetts · Post by **alisterbetts** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 1:15 pm

pedanticmongrel wrote:How comes so many people are obsessed with RATS? They are one of the ugliest first genoration diesels! They don't make a particularly great or distinctive sound. Whats the appeal? Is it a case it's what you people remember seeing on the Cambrian? Does anyone remember seeing 7819 Hinton Manor? Surely thats more interesting and from the same time period (80's).

Hmmm, not a great or distinctive sound?

Guess I'll go and listen to the kettle boil!

MartinH · Post by **MartinH** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 4:06 pm

I only wish that you could have steam effects on MSTS diesel locos. That way you could realistic model a class 25 climbing Talerddig.

BTW, Richard Scott tells me that he's making good progress on his Class 25 model for the Cambrian. I'm looking forward to it.

Martin