FR questions (Real and a little OT :-) )

portbury · Post by **portbury** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 6:42 pm

Hi folks,

In my enforced idleness I have been wondering a few daft things about some FR stuff and thought here might be a good place to start, if anyone's feeling bored!

I wonder if there is such a thing as a written history of the Fairlie bogies since 1954? I assume the new FR inherited at least 4 under ME and LT/Taliesin/EoM and has since built quite a few more. Are any of the original ones still running? I suspect the answer might be a little complicated!

Does anyone know why Linda's exhaust goes chuff, squeak, chuff, squeak rather endearingly?

How did Castell Aaaaaarrrrrgggggghhhh get its name?

Does anyone remember a documentary on the FR from about 1980? Bob Symes presented it. My parents kindly recorded it at the time
(in the days before VHS!) but as I was 5 years old then they cut out the interviews, which is rather frustrating for me now. Huge long shot, but does anyone else have a copy? Should I just be grateful that I've got any of it ?

Cheers guys and thanks in advance,

Richard

rwaceyw · Post by **rwaceyw** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 7:05 pm

How did Castell Aaaaaarrrrrgggggghhhh get its name?

See Monty Python And The Holy Grail

.

David

Rfairlie · Post by **Rfairlie** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 7:49 pm

David is right the Castle Aaarrrggh was indeed named after Monty Python and the FR theme of naming locos diesels after castles. We've not yet found a grail shaped beacon for it.

As for Double engine bogies. The EofM curently has ME's bogies on which i think were orignally of LT the ones under LT used ME's old frames and bits of James Spooner, LT and ME. DLG has EofM's bogies on which are I think are made up of new frames and parts of ME orignal bogies. The Taliesin has a new bogie which is allready knakerd and couldn't pull the skin of a rice pudding. Me will have 2 brand new bogies cuurently under construction.

Linda has slide valves and because the boiler pressure has been raised you get that sharp chaff noise rather than a chuff there is a whistleing noise on one of the chaffs i can't rember what causes it but i think it's something to do with a notch on the valve face. Linda and Blanche have done more miles than any other engine in preservation and have worked alot harder than most unfotunatly both of them are curnetly out of traffic the Blanche needs around Â£15000 to pay the final instalment on a new boiler see http://www.ricketrescue.co.uk/ and Linda needs a retube and new tubeplates.

Hope this helps.
Tim

portbury · Post by **portbury** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 9:08 pm

Thanks vv much for that, I knew someone would know

Richard

Frsimplex1993 · Post by **Frsimplex1993** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 11:54 am

Castle ARGGGGGGGGGG's real name is Moel-Y-Gest because the person that organised brinig it, had a garden raiway (which i curently look after) and had a engine called Moel-Y-Gest which look's like Castle ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGG.

pitleyfalley · Post by **pitleyfalley** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 12:49 pm

Does anyone know why Linda's exhaust goes chuff, squeak, chuff, squeak rather endearingly?

Possibly due to steam leaking past the valve faces, if the valve faves have become pitted at all, then steam can leak past them making that squeak noise methinks. Happen on the Isle of Man Rly's No.1 Sutherland when they rebuild her in 1998.

Chris

portbury · Post by **portbury** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 1:35 pm

Thanks for the replies, you can perhaps tell I've been a little bored of late!

I'm intruigued as to why Taliesin's bogie is knackered already, as presumably it hasn't been hauling many 8 coach service trains....? Has it been putting in the miles on driver experiences I wonder?

A mate and I were speculating what engine the FR might build next (thought I suspect room in BL shed is getting slightly tight!). We came up with the idea of a Linda/Blanche copy, though perhaps with square cab windows. It could be called Camilla

On a more sensible note, does anyone know how is Lilla getting on please? I've done a couple of Slate Shunts and have rather a soft spot for her. I presume it can't be long till the 10 year overhaul? New boiler time?

Thanks again,

Cheers

Richard

bargepower · Post by **bargepower** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 4:07 pm

Linda is having a new tube plate made

Ian

bargepower · Post by **bargepower** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 4:07 pm

Taliesin's power bogie is currently in pieces in the erecting shop, being repaired.
Lilla did a farewell run last weekend for the Lilla group members - I believe she is now officially withdrawn.

Ian

portbury · Post by **portbury** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 4:20 pm

Thanks Ian,

am having lots of fun on FR v2.0, an amazing achievement I have to say! I like the cat

.

Is Dave Perrin still involved with Lilla by the way?

Richard

Frsimplex1993 · Post by **Frsimplex1993** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 5:02 pm

bargepower wrote:Linda is having a new tube plate made

Ian

And a early 10 year boiler overhaul.

portbury wrote:Thanks Ian,

am having lots of fun on FR v2.0, an amazing achievement I have to say! I like the cat .

Is Dave Perrin still involved with Lilla by the way?

Richard

Yes David Perin is still involved with Lilla, selling pic's to raise money, i've had my pic taken with her for the Documentatoion for the HLF(?) grant, she truly is a LOVELY enigne.

Garthion · Post by **Garthion** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 5:10 pm

Linda chuffs, (Ashmatic wheeze) because of the Exhaust system that was fitted when she was returned to Coal firing for a short while some time back, this altered how her exhaust sounds when exiting her funnel, and for someone who has been over there every year since 1988 it would sound odd if she didn't wheeze!
If you want to know anything from the carriage works, just ask away, I can get the answers just by picking up the phone, dialling my Brother and asking. (He works FT in the Heritage building!) Inedentaly, anyone want to see MR Shooter's latest coach (should it be carriage?) I've a farily recent picie of it.

portbury · Post by **portbury** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 7:27 pm

Garthion wrote:

Linda chuffs, (Ashmatic wheeze) because of the Exhaust system that was fitted when she was returned to Coal firing for a short while some time back, this altered how her exhaust sounds when exiting her funnel, and for someone who has been over there every year since 1988 it would sound odd if she didn't wheeze!

I've been listening to some of David Bailey's FR sound recordings, and whilst I may have trouble telling some loco's exhaust sounds apart, Linda's sharp exhaust is always extremely distinctive! Lovely engine to drive too

. Courtesy of Mr Lewin and an extended Slate Shunt, a mate and I shared driving Linda from BL to TYB and back, super fun.

My normal steam activities are on the Bristol Harbour Railway, where one of our engines has recently returned to steam after its 10 year overhaul. On its first trial run, in fore gear, 4 lovely, even exhaust beats. In reverse, 3 chuffs and a faint huff!

I'm assuming the carriage works are going flat out as usual?

Cheers

Richard

MuzTrem · Post by **MuzTrem** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 8:03 pm

Would Linda's Ashmatic wheeze be the same sound the Super D's made?

MuzTrem · Post by **MuzTrem** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 8:04 pm

Would Linda's Ashmatic wheeze be the same sound the Super D's made?