York SubSim Meet 2014

[Jimbuna]

I'll open this thread the night before the Meet (Saturday 12th) for the attendees and anyone else to post in.

Will probablyunsticky about a week after the Meet as well.

Looking forward to meeting The Quality Street Gang.

[Jimbuna]

Reserved.

[TarJak]

Looking forward to it too.

[Oberon]

Right, I will be heading out for the taxi in about ten minutes, and all things being equal I will see you chaps at Chelmsford at 10:30. I'll text Tarjak if we don't make the 10:30 and need to take the 10:58.

Looking forward to meeting you chaps.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Still at home, in my underwear, not packed, enjoy your journeys.

[Jimbuna]

Leaving in ten minutes.

[TarJak]

Yep not much thought of photographers when positioning exhibits.

[TarJak]

Drinking Anze's schnapps.vl Bugger me it's paint stripper.

[TarJak]

Some interesting revelations from Jim tonight. Particularly in relation to the heating.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by TarJak

Some interesting revelations from Jim tonight. Particularly in relation to the heating.

Pic to follow

[TarJak]

https://picasaweb.google.com/m/viewe...56598297662962

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by TarJak

Drinking Anze's schnapps.vl Bugger me it's paint stripper.

Waiting for the photo of Betonov , passed out wearing Jim's knickers.
Needs more schnapps.

Don't foget to stop by Steed's flat. I want something from the gift shop.

[TarJak]

Lens correction was used. the camera never lies.

[TarJak]

Down by the river on our way to the Rail Museum:


There were some trains other than Mallard in the museum:

[Oberon]

In order:

Coronation Scot/Duchess class

Chinese Railways KF class

LMS Stanier 4P tank (the predecessor to the Standard class 4MT tank engines)

Bulleid Q1 class

LMS Stanier 4P again

Coronation Scot/Duchess class footplate from the drivers position

and finally

LBSCR B1 'Gladstone' class, as decorated for Queen Victorias Diamond Jubilee.





Aaaand, even though no-one asked for it, a quick overview of what is what on the footplate photo:



1. Regulator - The throttle of the locomotive, opening it up releases steam from the 'steam chest' into the cylinders via two valves. The second valve opens if the regulator is pushed over half-way, thus increasing the steam flow dramatically.
2. Reverser - The 'gear' of the locomotive, this controls the forward or reverse motion of the loco, and also the 'cutoff' which helps aid steam economy. Your fireman will prefer it if you wind the reverser back as the locomotive goes faster as he will have to shovel less coal in order to keep the locomotive generating steam.
3. Ejectors small and large - These help control the vacuum generation in the brakes.
4. Brakes - These are pretty much as they sound, the steam locomotive generates a vacuum which releases the brakes, the vacuum is then destroyed gradually to increase the brakes. This particular system works so that if a train is cut in two for whatever reason (usually coupling failure) the brakes automatically activate as air enters the vacuum pipes and destroys the vacuum.
5. Injectors - These control the rate of water from the tender into the boiler, it's important not to let the water level get too high or too low. Too low and the lead 'fusible plugs' melt and let water onto the firebox to prevent excessive heat damage to the firebox, too high and water will leak through into the cylinders and causing 'priming' which can make the cylinders explode. There are two types of injector, exhaust and live steam, exhaust uses the power of the engines exhaust to put water into the boiler, this is useful when you're running at speed, not so useful when you're stationary. Live steam uses steam generated by the engine to move the water, this is good when you're stationary but not so good at speed when you're trying to nurse every lb/square inch of steam that you can to stop the engine from tiring out. Bear in mind that the water level in the boiler doesn't remain still as the engine is moving, gradients can change the level, as can acceleration and decceleration. So generally speaking it's best to keep the water level no higher than 75% and no lower than 25% to give you a little leeway.
5. Whistle - lets steam into a fluted cylinder which generates a loud noise, devised as a safety mechanism to warn people and livestock that a seventy ton wall of iron, hot coal and steam was going to run over them if they didn't move. Comes in different octaves!
6. Sander - The laws of physics dictates that metal on metal does not cause enough friction if a lubricant is added between them, such as leaves, water, or snow, thus slipping can occur. This is a bad thing in most situations but particularly so when trying to brake a train that weighs over a hundred tons and is travelling at forty miles an hour and rapidly approaching a red signal or a platform. Likewise it's a bad thing when the locomotives wheels go a hundred and fifty miles an hour while the locomotive itself is going about five, it tends to result in deep grooves in the rails, and the locomotive self-destructing if left unchecked. Thus, sand is blown from boxes onto the rails in front or behind (depending on the running direction) in order to give the wheels something to grip onto.


Amazing what you pick up after 291 hours of Train Simulator.