No, drain cocks open because either water carried over because of priming or cylinders still cold. Water doesn't compress so this is to prevent the possibility of damaging the cylinders. Not "too much steam".
I always warm up the cylinders before moving the loco. All our locos are Stevenson valve gear with a reversing lever so it is easy to blow all water out of the cylinders and warm them up by engaging forward and reverse. The drain cocks then only need to be left open for a few seconds. Could not see where I'm going otherwise on a cold morning!
not easy done on most British locos that were built for the mainline, as they are nearly all fitted with Walschaerts valve gear worked by screw reversers. In this case the loco appears to be priming, due to either the fireman having overfilled the boiler or carry over occuring due to foaming taking place due to the water quality.
@@James_Rivett Is that an injector venting steam at the side in front of the cab? Interesting that they would be adding more water in to a priming or overfilled boiler. Is that normal practice?
@@michaeld5888 the injectors on standard class locos are on the other side (fireman's side) so no it's not a injector (even if it was it would it be putting water in with that much steam out the overflow)
I have read and enjoyed and agreed with almost all of these posts but, at the ripe young age of eighty, and having grown up in beautiful Cape Town with steam trains, I feel I must state: COULD THERE EVER BE "TOO MUCH STEAM" - EVER??? Excellent clip!
Remember kiddies, before harping on about water that's accumulated in the cylinders and how quickly that clears etc etc, ask yourself this: Just how much pipework is there between the regulator valve and the cylinders and how much water does it hold in all the low spots before the loco has fully warmed through? The answer is a surprising amount, especially when it comes to the superheaters... Then ask yourself just how long it takes and how far the loco has to run before all that water has been cleared? Again, a surprising amount...
The layout at Grosmont exacerbates the problem. The MPD is 1/4 mile from the platform so the cold light engine backs on to the dining train and stands heating its stock. The departure videoed is the first chance to put steam through the valves and cylinders.
I signal on the NNR and the first departure from Sheringham in the morning is often very much the same. I’m a fair way from the platform and sometimes only just see an arm poking out of the steam at the last minute to hang the token on!!!
If you listen carefully it's one Shhh from the drain cocks to four beats of the exhaust so I would imagine that one of the drains has not shut off properly, it doesn't take much.
Could have been that the fireman filled the boiler up too much. No place to blow down so easy regulator, with drains open until water level drops. You can hear that when they start, a woofy exhaust and water at the chimney. The driver is not going to open up and close the taps until he is sure the water won't pick up again . Maybe the fireman forgot he had the injector on too long. Normally just a few revolutions of the wheels would be suffice as the ex B.R. footplateman said.
The earlier in the day and the longer the loco is stationary. Means a longer time to get the cylinders hot and the steam not condensing to water. Water in a closed cylinder can hydraulically blow out the end.[ it has been done] So if you dont want to see all the steam and “spoil your video” then work out where the train will be “Hot” and not having the cylinder cocks open for a long time to prevent damage. Will you pay for the locomotive to be out of traffic for repairs? Just because you want a photo!
@@PetCactusA_HarmlessLittlePrick The vapour is invisible. That's the gas phase. What you're seeing is an aerosol formed by localised condensation. It cools and condenses into droplets that refract light. That's why it's visible.
I took an almost identical video of Schools class "Repton" from the exact same spot a few years ago - quite dramatic with the loco emerging from its own steam!
Whilst steam raising, if the gear is in neutral and the regulator is just 'cracked' and the drain cocks opened, the cylinders will be warmed up in time for the loco moving off. This purging business is largely unnecessary.
Considering this very railway had a cylinder blow in quite spectacular style, even if THAT wasn't drains, I don't blame any crew here for leaving the drains open a smidge long.
If 'dry' steam (rather than water) is coming out of the drains, they can be shut. Warming the cylinders before starting helps. Priming very unlikely at a terminal station start - boiler carelessly overfilled if it does. Most important thing is driver visibility at all times.
It is all part of the show. Give the punters a great show. Of course the need to clear water out of the cylinders, but this engine looked a little light for its train so it may be going to add a pusher for the not insignificant climb with a full train of heavy Pullmans with vans.
I explained this for you in great detail when you asked exactly the same question when 44806 was being run in in and tested here. The physics have not changed, the layout of the railway is the same so the same effects will happen.
Thats only the cylinder drain cocks open to allow cold cylinders to warm up. If they didn't the steam on cold metal wood become water and cause hydraulicing and possible serios damage as you can't compress water! Probably a cold day as well so shows up more as well.
Yes, without being on the footplate and seeing what is going on it is difficult to work out what is happening. I am listening to the video and it sounds like very wet steam coming out of the draincocks so maybe the boiler was a bit too full.
my granddad was a rail maintainance for-man for the nmbs in belgium, started after the destruction of world war 2. When he would see this immage, he would say. Those rails are nasty croocked. :D
Those who have followed this railway for a longish time will know that this is a relatively new practice. For those referring to the need to ensure there is no water buildup in the cylinders I would just like to say that I've seen this on trains returning from Whitby where that excessive issuance of steam lasted from exiting the rail network until it came to a standstill near the signal box. Perhaps they're fed up with people cashing in on popular heritage train videos. I notice the webcams are off now too.
Recently went to Isle of Man, part of a 18 strong party. We rode the steam railway from Douglas to Port Erin, full length, then got off to look at sea before return trip. At Port Erin having just emerged from first carriage, still on platform, my wife went to photograph the engine, and a uniformed official held his hand in front of the lens and told her extremely bluntly and loudly to decease. 18 return trips paid for at full price, still got "attacked" . We walked to the sea, and when we came back, he wasn't there, the loco still was, not having yet run round, so we got our photo. Took the shine off the trip though, not easy to get my wife to come along, then that! We were going to ride another day, we didn't. We're not going back. She recommended others in Hotel not to bother for the rest of our stay. Not our loss. It only takes one...............
This could be something from Hollywood, Grumpy and struggling for breath, a fire breathing monster awakened from centuries of slumber. Absolutely love it, an excellent video with a difference. Nice to see.
Yes, the draincocks were rarely opened for more than a few seconds. At around 200psi the water temperature is around 260 degrees Celsius so the cylinders soon warm up. No self respecting fireman will allow the water level in the boiler to get too high. Too much pressure will mean that the safety valves lift
How does it lose 160 degrees on the short run from boiler to cylinders. I can understand it cooling if the steam is just sat in the cylinder but not if the engine is running. New heated steam is continuously being fed into the cylinders and that quickly raises the temperature.
When steam condenses it cools, coolling surrounding steam with it. The super heaters wont dry the steam until the engine is properly working. The cylinders do not quickly heat up. There is several tons of cast iron and cast steel to warm up. In this locos case, it has suffered with picking up water from a boiler that is either overful or suffering with foaming water which has lead to priming. In any case, condensate or water carryover has to be drained from the cylinders and in its self will cool things down.
Unless a very cold start you don't normally see that much steam even with the drain cocks open. Once it's done a couple of strokes any water should be gone anyway. So could be water carried over as suggested, which implies a minor operating error to me :D
That's what startles me as well. Why would you design the loco that way with the valve shooting steam out to the front? Maybe it wasn't intended to be used while moving, but strange nevertheless.
The driver is blind on every corner that faces the other side of the cab lol. As train crew you look ahead then get on with the job. The only time you continuously observe is approaching areas like signals, crossings and stations. As an IRL fireman I can tell you there's too much to do to be watching constantly lol
More steam than I would have expected, but the cylinder drain cocks need to be kept open until the cylinders are up to full temperature. If the cylinders are cold enough to condense the steam it can do a lot of damage to the engine if the cocks are closed.
Excessive. I remember discussing this with an Uncle - a passed fireman on BR Southern Region in the age of steam, who said that senior drivers and some station masters would get very cross with this sort of excessive showing.
@@John-r4o9m that would be a signalling fault not drivers. In the UK we have points, switches are what you turn lights on with. The driver not only had a clear hope signal, but also has a single line token that only permits his train to be on a section of track (it has to be surrendered at the next signal box for the signalman to clear his signals who will swap it for the token for the next section). Even in the dark or fog, you can not see the road ahead very well. The only ilumination being either from a paraffin lamp or in electric marker lamps, which is why when visualbiluty is impeared (either due to lack of light, weather conditions, or drifting steam and smoke) much stronger courtion is undertaken, but the selected path is still controlled by the signalman.
@@James_Rivett Basically, I agree...yet it usually takes a real big shakeup where lives are lost before any positive result to a pitfall comes forth. That can be true at dangerous traffic intersections as well.
Class 4 tank engines in the days of BR steam starting from bay platforms after being stationary for quite a long time had nothing like the performance of steam from the cylinder drain cocks that this example shows. How many strokes of the pistons are needed on starting to eject condensed steam ? Seems excessively cautious to keep them open so long and drive blind after starting but perhaps it is just show time for the punters.
if you notice, they were shut off just before a little slip, after which it can be seen the loco is priming, so is being done because the fireman has either overfilled the boiler, or the water quality is on the poor side (or been over treated) and has coursed foaming.
It does give a rather sad look of a rather run down locomotive with leaking glands, worn piston rings and steam escaping anywhere it can. I cannot remember all this steam from the days when I was hauled by steam on passenger services when they were the primary locomotion.
I don't care if there is to much steam. It is what the steam locomotives made steam. And I love it. Steam locomotives are awesome. I grew up with steam locomotives.
Well, when you live in a place where the relative humidity is near 100% all the time, that’s what you get! 😜 I grew up in Half Moon Bay, ‘the foggiest place in the western United States’ and know all about that. I moved to the High Northwest Desert of SW Idaho, average humidity 25%…
At around 0.48 you can hear the loco is slipping. Opening the draincocks reduces the chances of slipping, which is why the drivier has opened the draincocks. Its almost as if they know what they're doing.
@@kevinwilliams1602 The outlet from the draincocks isn't aimed at the rail. A properly wet rail is no more slippery than a bone dry rail. It's when the rail is in that "in between" state that slipping happens. But apart from all that...
@@gilesy6468 that was a regulator stuck open, not sure any amount of draincocks would have done much to mitigate that sorry event. Draincocks open works wonders for a slippery start though can confirm from personal experience doing just that. Still gotta be very quick to catch it but it certainly softens it a little
So you would run a loco that was priming with the drains closed, remind me to never let you near a footplate of any loco I am on or near. The loco is priming the drains need to be opened to prevent cylinder damage. It's not like the loco is fresh from a run, or running nice and dry, when after a few revolutions the drains could be closed safely without damage, here we have a loco suffering with carryover (due to boiler over full or foaming of water) that is on its firsr run after standing idle for a considerable amount of time.
This happend to me once when I had the perfect shoot lined up. Unfortunately, mostly all it's due to is the breeze is traveling in same direction and speed a loco. I am 71, grew up with steam and always took a load of pictures when ever I could as I was an amatuer Photographer all my life, with my own dark room for 30 years. This only ever happened once when I was in a similar location to the one in your Video. Fort William in the Highlands 2019.
and they say diesels are polluting ! Surely the loco could be prepared better and any excess water in the cylinders removed before it backs onto a set of coaches ?
Seams to me, many on here would have only been happy if the article had made it into the preservation press. "Standard 4 tank 80136 withdrawn from service. The cylinders suffered major damage on 80136 on a NYMR Pullman dining train, after driver closed drain cocks to prevent spoiling photographers shots. The Loco had been standing for some time, and the boiler had been filled beyond normal operating levels because people complain if a loco is seen blowing off steam. The loco suffered a wheel slip just after starting away, with allowed the loco to prime. Because many complained on social media of spoiled photos, the driver did not open the drains to allow the water carried over from the boiler to be released. This allowed the cylinders to be hydrauliced and very badly damaged. A NYMR spokesman said 'We are awaiting for our engineering team to access the damage, but it could prove to be a catastrophic failure". That is the kind of story that would most likely appear in the press had the driver done what many fools on here say he should have done.
@@J.C.1960 quite so, I wouldn't want the so called driver your talking about anywhere near the footplate of my engine, not to mention driving the loco on a train I am traveling on, not to mention the rubbish in his comment which showed his complete ignorance, as he cant tell the difference between a mild or slight case of priming and major carry over, thinking the latter is the only form of priming their is.
@@James_Rivett and seams to think that the automatic drains are only going to work if the loco has full regulator. Just because some one correctly identified the loco is running correct and the driver correctly kept his drains open, he took it as a insult to the driver. He needs to get out on the "real" railway for a while, he would learn a lot!
@@J.C.1960 there is lots of comments on here based on what they have seen from locos that are fresh from a run and hot, and also lot of what some call arm chair experts who have read books and watched films and think they know it all. As per your original and funny post, imagine the abuse, had the loco been allowed to blow off bad on the platform, or if the driver closed the drains to give the filmer a even better video, and damaged the loco. I personally think this video is something unusual and possibly more interesting than a normal video of a steam loco and train driving past would be,
Loco. Engineers from B.R. steam days will tell you exactly what the problem is. You have a powerful loco capable of over 50 mph and pulling many tons in weight, only allowed to run at 25mph. You are bound to build up steam pressure and it has to go somewhere.
First for that much stean then it must have been a coolish day. Saying that, depending how cold it is cools the cylinders which would cause condensation in the cylinfer probably causing a hydrolic lock which would do serious damage. Still there are ways and means, he could have warmed the cylinders up by passing steam through them before starting off but i think it is still standard practice to leave the drain cocks open when starting off. On balance I would say you were unlucky and went on the wrong day.
That looks like a cold start. If it was priming you'd see black muck washed out of the stack as it ejected. This is normal. We always move our engines like this when they're cold. It's only later in the day when everything is hot you can take the shortcuts others here are talking about. If it's been standing for a while you'll still do it. On cold days it looks impressive in hotter weather the action is the same but you can't see it.
Just making sure that there is no water in the cylinders. Steam is a bit of a pain sometimes, all that steam interferes with seeing where you are going. US locomotives shoot it out the side rather than out in front but you still can't see where you are going.
@@KevsTrains what would the purpose be for that? Genuine question as it implies people don't think that those who did it for a living knew what they were doing.
@@Dilbert-o5k it doesn’t imply that at all, it agrees with the original comment saying that it never used to happen in steam days, but seems to be common place now on preservation railways.
Not at all. First run of day, the drivers would keep the cocks open longer than if the loco was nicely warmed up. On a preserved line, locod often spend quite a period of time idle between runs, something that did not happen often within the confines of a station in working days. Also, in this case the loco has picked some water up (carryover) due to the water level either being too high or the water quality allowing foaming. The drains have to be open to prevent damage to the cylinders. The drivers years ago would have done this, while giving the fireman a rollocking. Just love comments from people who never driven a steam powered machine of any nature who thing they know better than those with actual experience.
@@KevsTrains you didn't answer the question. I would agree with the original statement, what I would like to understand is why it has changed. Whether it is just for show or there is a valid reason for it eg loco not used as much, so cools down more. If there is no valid reason to do it then my original query has validity if no one can come up with another legitimate reason?
No, they were attempting to sneak out of town without being seen.
A little bit more steam and they would be unseen.
No, drain cocks open because either water carried over because of priming or cylinders still cold. Water doesn't compress so this is to prevent the possibility of damaging the cylinders. Not "too much steam".
they were just showing off with those cylinder drains, very rarely do they have to be open that long even on a cold day
Not usually opened for that long though, I know the reasoning behind it, just a little excessive.
@@steamrestorer4559 totally agree with you.
American drivers tend to leave the drain cocks open for longer than Brits. Understandable in Minnesota in the winter, but not in Texas in the summer.
@@steamrestorer4559I don't understand how it's showing off.
I always warm up the cylinders before moving the loco. All our locos are Stevenson valve gear with a reversing lever so it is easy to blow all water out of the cylinders and warm them up by engaging forward and reverse. The drain cocks then only need to be left open for a few seconds. Could not see where I'm going otherwise on a cold morning!
not easy done on most British locos that were built for the mainline, as they are nearly all fitted with Walschaerts valve gear worked by screw reversers.
In this case the loco appears to be priming, due to either the fireman having overfilled the boiler or carry over occuring due to foaming taking place due to the water quality.
@@James_Rivett Is that an injector venting steam at the side in front of the cab? Interesting that they would be adding more water in to a priming or overfilled boiler. Is that normal practice?
@@michaeld5888 the injectors on standard class locos are on the other side (fireman's side) so no it's not a injector (even if it was it would it be putting water in with that much steam out the overflow)
I have read and enjoyed and agreed with almost all of these posts but, at the ripe young age of eighty, and having grown up in beautiful Cape Town with steam trains, I feel I must state: COULD THERE EVER BE "TOO MUCH STEAM" - EVER??? Excellent clip!
Not if it's from a Garret!
My driver had to do this after I over filled the boiler one day, he gave me a right rollaking
The engineer is only trolling the photographers he knows are waiting for a shot around the bend...😂
Brilliant video just love the sound and looks of these locomotives I grew up with them keep up your great work and videos Bernard
Thank you for your lovely words, Steam locos are a beautiful thing and something that is an undiscribable love.
Was half expecting Jenny Agutter to come running out shouting “daddy, my daddy’!
Jenny Agutter 1970, or Jenny Agutter 2024. If the latter, her "Daddy" must now be a very old man lol
Owt is possible in Yorkshire 😂
Complete with waving her pants
wrong railway !!
Definiteley wasnt expecting a tank engine after all of that
More like a fire breathing dragon 😂😂
@@KevsTrains yeah true
Remember kiddies, before harping on about water that's accumulated in the cylinders and how quickly that clears etc etc, ask yourself this: Just how much pipework is there between the regulator valve and the cylinders and how much water does it hold in all the low spots before the loco has fully warmed through? The answer is a surprising amount, especially when it comes to the superheaters... Then ask yourself just how long it takes and how far the loco has to run before all that water has been cleared? Again, a surprising amount...
The layout at Grosmont exacerbates the problem. The MPD is 1/4 mile from the platform so the cold light engine backs on to the dining train and stands heating its stock. The departure videoed is the first chance to put steam through the valves and cylinders.
You’d also leave the drain cocks open for longer if the boiler is very full, which it sounded like this video, to prevent priming
My thoughts, too.
Yes I think one can hear that.
Seems to be a very regular occurrence on the NYMR.
Agreed
Nice !. This is pure Steam at high pressure. No coal involved.
Greetings from Santiago de Chile. South America. John.
Hi John 👋
I signal on the NNR and the first departure from Sheringham in the morning is often very much the same. I’m a fair way from the platform and sometimes only just see an arm poking out of the steam at the last minute to hang the token on!!!
If you listen carefully it's one Shhh from the drain cocks to four beats of the exhaust so I would imagine that one of the drains has not shut off properly, it doesn't take much.
Could have been that the fireman filled the boiler up too much. No place to blow down so easy regulator, with drains open until water level drops. You can hear that when they start, a woofy exhaust and water at the chimney. The driver is not going to open up and close the taps until he is sure the water won't pick up again . Maybe the fireman forgot he had the injector on too long. Normally just a few revolutions of the wheels would be suffice as the ex B.R. footplateman said.
The earlier in the day and the longer the loco is stationary. Means a longer time to get the cylinders hot and the steam not condensing to water. Water in a closed cylinder can hydraulically blow out the end.[ it has been done] So if you dont want to see all the steam and “spoil your video” then work out where the train will be “Hot” and not having the cylinder cocks open for a long time to prevent damage. Will you pay for the locomotive to be out of traffic for repairs? Just because you want a photo!
Thank you for introducing some common sense into these comments.
I can’t see any steam through all that water vapour!
Spot on, its the only thing to see. ☁☁☁☁
*aerosol
We wouldn't be able to see it without the water vapor. But, I know what you mean.
@@PetCactusA_HarmlessLittlePrick The vapour is invisible. That's the gas phase. What you're seeing is an aerosol formed by localised condensation. It cools and condenses into droplets that refract light. That's why it's visible.
I took an almost identical video of Schools class "Repton" from the exact same spot a few years ago - quite dramatic with the loco emerging from its own steam!
Whilst steam raising, if the gear is in neutral and the regulator is just 'cracked' and the drain cocks opened, the cylinders will be warmed up in time for the loco moving off. This purging business is largely unnecessary.
Considering this very railway had a cylinder blow in quite spectacular style, even if THAT wasn't drains, I don't blame any crew here for leaving the drains open a smidge long.
If 'dry' steam (rather than water) is coming out of the drains, they can be shut. Warming the cylinders before starting helps. Priming very unlikely at a terminal station start - boiler carelessly overfilled if it does. Most important thing is driver visibility at all times.
I assumed it was an EV fire for a minute.
🤣🤣🤣
It is all part of the show. Give the punters a great show. Of course the need to clear water out of the cylinders, but this engine looked a little light for its train so it may be going to add a pusher for the not insignificant climb with a full train of heavy Pullmans with vans.
@@briancooper562 no pusher for these trains
Better than a Cylinder cover smacking you on the ear'ole...........
I explained this for you in great detail when you asked exactly the same question when 44806 was being run in in and tested here. The physics have not changed, the layout of the railway is the same so the same effects will happen.
I know reasoning 👍
The physics hasn't changed but the habits of footplate crews has. Even thirty years ago this never happened.
@@andrewhotston983 it would have done if the loco started priming as that loco did on the day in this video!
"Ladies and Gentlemen, - please welcome the Liberace of the steam throttle . . . ."
And how fine it is
That steam was certainly worth videoing!
@@johnbristow8099 wasn’t it just 👌
Thats only the cylinder drain cocks open to allow cold cylinders to warm up. If they didn't the steam on cold metal wood become water and cause hydraulicing and possible serios damage as you can't compress water! Probably a cold day as well so shows up more as well.
Didn't think drivers were allowed to vape! 🤣
Some sized vape 🤣🤣🤣
Beautiful to see - even with all the steam!
It sure is!
Epic reveal before disappearing into the tunnel. Next stop, Hogwarts.
Like that idea 😂😂
What an unusual sound. I rarely noted how different the engines from different countries do sound. This one is really cool.
ITS odd.🫤😐
Yes, without being on the footplate and seeing what is going on it is difficult to work out what is happening. I am listening to the video and it sounds like very wet steam coming out of the draincocks so maybe the boiler was a bit too full.
my granddad was a rail maintainance for-man for the nmbs in belgium, started after the destruction of world war 2. When he would see this immage, he would say. Those rails are nasty croocked. :D
Those who have followed this railway for a longish time will know that this is a relatively new practice. For those referring to the need to ensure there is no water buildup in the cylinders I would just like to say that I've seen this on trains returning from Whitby where that excessive issuance of steam lasted from exiting the rail network until it came to a standstill near the signal box. Perhaps they're fed up with people cashing in on popular heritage train videos. I notice the webcams are off now too.
I really hope that is not the case, sure fire way to put yourself out of business
Recently went to Isle of Man, part of a 18 strong party. We rode the steam railway from Douglas to Port Erin, full length, then got off to look at sea before return trip. At Port Erin having just emerged from first carriage, still on platform, my wife went to photograph the engine, and a uniformed official held his hand in front of the lens and told her extremely bluntly and loudly to decease. 18 return trips paid for at full price, still got "attacked" . We walked to the sea, and when we came back, he wasn't there, the loco still was, not having yet run round, so we got our photo. Took the shine off the trip though, not easy to get my wife to come along, then that! We were going to ride another day, we didn't. We're not going back. She recommended others in Hotel not to bother for the rest of our stay. Not our loss. It only takes one...............
No, this is definitely not a new practice!
Always great to see a good old conspiracy theory. And the webcams haven't been off either.
This could be something from Hollywood, Grumpy and struggling for breath, a fire breathing monster awakened from centuries of slumber.
Absolutely love it, an excellent video with a difference. Nice to see.
Ghost train
Yes, the draincocks were rarely opened for more than a few seconds. At around 200psi the water temperature is around 260 degrees Celsius so the cylinders soon warm up. No self respecting fireman will allow the water level in the boiler to get too high. Too much pressure will mean that the safety valves lift
Yes, and less than 100 degrees by the time it gets to the cylinders on a cold engine. Simple thermal dynamics.
ua-cam.com/video/Eb8uWexXQyM/v-deo.html
How does it lose 160 degrees on the short run from boiler to cylinders. I can understand it cooling if the steam is just sat in the cylinder but not if the engine is running. New heated steam is continuously being fed into the cylinders and that quickly raises the temperature.
When steam condenses it cools, coolling surrounding steam with it. The super heaters wont dry the steam until the engine is properly working. The cylinders do not quickly heat up. There is several tons of cast iron and cast steel to warm up. In this locos case, it has suffered with picking up water from a boiler that is either overful or suffering with foaming water which has lead to priming. In any case, condensate or water carryover has to be drained from the cylinders and in its self will cool things down.
Unless a very cold start you don't normally see that much steam even with the drain cocks open. Once it's done a couple of strokes any water should be gone anyway. So could be water carried over as suggested, which implies a minor operating error to me :D
Hum - Can crew see the road ahead ? They'll know where the next signal is coming up, but never a good idea to be driving blind.
Next signal is way round the corner after the tunnel
They are clearing condensate from the cylinders through the drain cocks. Normal after being stopped for a bit. Otherwise they could damage the glands.
That's what startles me as well. Why would you design the loco that way with the valve shooting steam out to the front? Maybe it wasn't intended to be used while moving, but strange nevertheless.
The driver is blind on every corner that faces the other side of the cab lol. As train crew you look ahead then get on with the job. The only time you continuously observe is approaching areas like signals, crossings and stations. As an IRL fireman I can tell you there's too much to do to be watching constantly lol
Certainly gave more passengers the oldy-worldy steamy atmosphere as they looked out the windows, just before plunging into the dark tunnel :-)
Certainly did, the proper days of railways
Ha that was awesome! Like a huge moving cloid of fog hiding a huge beast
Why didn't the crew stop the departure? They must have been unable to see if the road ahead was clear despite having left under clear signals.
More steam than I would have expected, but the cylinder drain cocks need to be kept open until the cylinders are up to full temperature. If the cylinders are cold enough to condense the steam it can do a lot of damage to the engine if the cocks are closed.
Excessive. I remember discussing this with an Uncle - a passed fireman on BR Southern Region in the age of steam, who said that senior drivers and some station masters would get very cross with this sort of excessive showing.
Unless there is a good reason for it. I started my working life in the old GWR works in Swindon before they were destroyed.
It's one of BR Skunkworks later Stealth Loco prototypes.
Love it, Love it. Best laugh I've had all week.
They really do look, sound, and feel like massive beasts.
I agree
The drivers at this railway are very skilled so I'm sure they have there reasoning.
Yeh, like hopefully they don't go thru an open switch!
@@John-r4o9m that would be a signalling fault not drivers. In the UK we have points, switches are what you turn lights on with. The driver not only had a clear hope signal, but also has a single line token that only permits his train to be on a section of track (it has to be surrendered at the next signal box for the signalman to clear his signals who will swap it for the token for the next section). Even in the dark or fog, you can not see the road ahead very well. The only ilumination being either from a paraffin lamp or in electric marker lamps, which is why when visualbiluty is impeared (either due to lack of light, weather conditions, or drifting steam and smoke) much stronger courtion is undertaken, but the selected path is still controlled by the signalman.
@@James_Rivett Basically, I agree...yet it usually takes a real big shakeup where lives are lost before any positive result to a pitfall comes forth. That can be true at dangerous traffic intersections as well.
Class 4 tank engines in the days of BR steam starting from bay platforms after being stationary for quite a long time had nothing like the performance of steam from the cylinder drain cocks that this example shows. How many strokes of the pistons are needed on starting to eject condensed steam ? Seems excessively cautious to keep them open so long and drive blind after starting but perhaps it is just show time for the punters.
if you notice, they were shut off just before a little slip, after which it can be seen the loco is priming, so is being done because the fireman has either overfilled the boiler, or the water quality is on the poor side (or been over treated) and has coursed foaming.
This was the perfect amount of steam for that movie-style big reveal.
Absolutely 👍
They know where they are going, it's planned for them, and they have been there before, all they have to do is make it happen.
Great video. Well filmed.
Thank you.
That was bloody awesome! 👍
Now THAT, my friends, is how you make an entrance!
Or exit 😂
It does give a rather sad look of a rather run down locomotive with leaking glands, worn piston rings and steam escaping anywhere it can. I cannot remember all this steam from the days when I was hauled by steam on passenger services when they were the primary locomotion.
Sounded and looked like my sister coming out of the shower…..
🤣🤣🤣🤣
I was begining to think that pirates were going to come out of it.... .
@@stillshakin2125 They might have done.
My wife was impressed with the sound and camera work. When she first saw a steam engine at Darlington in '75 she thought 'dragon'.
Very similar 👍
I don't care if there is to much steam. It is what the steam locomotives made steam. And I love it. Steam locomotives are awesome. I grew up with steam locomotives.
Couldn’t agree more with you
Well, when you live in a place where the relative humidity is near 100% all the time, that’s what you get! 😜
I grew up in Half Moon Bay, ‘the foggiest place in the western United States’ and know all about that.
I moved to the High Northwest Desert of SW Idaho, average humidity 25%…
Such sweet sounds . Got to love those old British steamers.
There are reasons several , which require steam to be expelled.
Love it 😀😀😀😀😀😀
@@PaddingtonbearNZ not bad is it 😂😂
I wonder what the purpose of this tubes is, directed forward of the locomotive, from which steam is exhausted?
Read all these answers and you should get the gist of whay.
You can never have too much steam! Excellent video.
Thank you 👍
At around 0.48 you can hear the loco is slipping. Opening the draincocks reduces the chances of slipping, which is why the drivier has opened the draincocks. Its almost as if they know what they're doing.
It is isn’t it
Er no blowing steam onto the rails makes them wet and increases the chances of slipping
@@kevinwilliams1602 The outlet from the draincocks isn't aimed at the rail. A properly wet rail is no more slippery than a bone dry rail. It's when the rail is in that "in between" state that slipping happens. But apart from all that...
@@kevinwilliams1602 Not necessarily. But keeping them open in case of slipping can be a good tactic. We all know what happend to Blue Peter.
@@gilesy6468 that was a regulator stuck open, not sure any amount of draincocks would have done much to mitigate that sorry event.
Draincocks open works wonders for a slippery start though can confirm from personal experience doing just that. Still gotta be very quick to catch it but it certainly softens it a little
Yes, I have many videos of steam, but the sound and drama are second to non. Great video, or should I say audio production. Thank you.
Thank you very much 👌
It could have been a much more explosive non departure if they hadn't been opened 😱
Hi.My name is Phil I did 50yrs on the footplate I started in 1961 to 2011 and there was no need for that Regard Phil.
Some will argue. Cheers Kev
So you would run a loco that was priming with the drains closed, remind me to never let you near a footplate of any loco I am on or near.
The loco is priming the drains need to be opened to prevent cylinder damage. It's not like the loco is fresh from a run, or running nice and dry, when after a few revolutions the drains could be closed safely without damage, here we have a loco suffering with carryover (due to boiler over full or foaming of water) that is on its firsr run after standing idle for a considerable amount of time.
Suggest you stick with your model trains....!!!!!
Who?
Guessing you’ve made an error and confused me with someone else.
Whoa! I see the steam....where's the train that goes with it?😆😆😆😆
Right, wrong or indifferent…. T H A T was impressive 🤣
Totally agree with you
Sounds like a large dragon with asthma. 🐉
🤣🤣
That train sounds pissed off!.
Looks it too
This is awsome!!!
Not bad is it
This happend to me once when I had the perfect shoot lined up. Unfortunately, mostly all it's due to is the breeze is traveling in same direction and speed a loco. I am 71, grew up with steam and always took a load of pictures when ever I could as I was an amatuer Photographer all my life, with my own dark room for 30 years. This only ever happened once when I was in a similar location to the one in your Video. Fort William in the Highlands 2019.
80136.Beautiful.🚂
Isn’t she just
How could it see which track to go down?
The one that’s set for it
So this is one of those cloud making trains!
Very popular in North Yorkshire
So cool!
It never came out of that tunnel. The people were never seen again.🦇
😂😂😂
Never thought a Standard 4MT Tank would let of that much steam
Canny amount
"Deploying smoke can be a useful means if deceiving the enemy..."
It worked
@@KevsTrains It usually does 😁
Gosh what an entrance! Looks like 'revenge of the blob'!'
Sounded like a very angry beast.
and they say diesels are polluting ! Surely the loco could be prepared better and any excess water in the cylinders removed before it backs onto a set of coaches ?
Steam (water vapour) is not polluting!
People went to see steam, So they gave them steam...chu chu !
My boiler went boom bang a bang😮
Perfectly normal when starting off after a loco's been standing for a while. Steam condensing in a cold cylinder - not desirable.
Yep, can end in disaster
Seams to me, many on here would have only been happy if the article had made it into the preservation press.
"Standard 4 tank 80136 withdrawn from service. The cylinders suffered major damage on 80136 on a NYMR Pullman dining train, after driver closed drain cocks to prevent spoiling photographers shots. The Loco had been standing for some time, and the boiler had been filled beyond normal operating levels because people complain if a loco is seen blowing off steam. The loco suffered a wheel slip just after starting away, with allowed the loco to prime. Because many complained on social media of spoiled photos, the driver did not open the drains to allow the water carried over from the boiler to be released. This allowed the cylinders to be hydrauliced and very badly damaged. A NYMR spokesman said 'We are awaiting for our engineering team to access the damage, but it could prove to be a catastrophic failure".
That is the kind of story that would most likely appear in the press had the driver done what many fools on here say he should have done.
Lot of crap being posted on here, not least by @04clemea
@@J.C.1960 quite so, I wouldn't want the so called driver your talking about anywhere near the footplate of my engine, not to mention driving the loco on a train I am traveling on, not to mention the rubbish in his comment which showed his complete ignorance, as he cant tell the difference between a mild or slight case of priming and major carry over, thinking the latter is the only form of priming their is.
@@James_Rivett and seams to think that the automatic drains are only going to work if the loco has full regulator. Just because some one correctly identified the loco is running correct and the driver correctly kept his drains open, he took it as a insult to the driver. He needs to get out on the "real" railway for a while, he would learn a lot!
@@J.C.1960 there is lots of comments on here based on what they have seen from locos that are fresh from a run and hot, and also lot of what some call arm chair experts who have read books and watched films and think they know it all.
As per your original and funny post, imagine the abuse, had the loco been allowed to blow off bad on the platform, or if the driver closed the drains to give the filmer a even better video, and damaged the loco.
I personally think this video is something unusual and possibly more interesting than a normal video of a steam loco and train driving past would be,
BRILLIANT! 🤣
Loco. Engineers from B.R. steam days will tell you exactly what the problem is. You have a powerful loco capable of over 50 mph and pulling many tons in weight, only allowed to run at 25mph. You are bound to build up steam pressure and it has to go somewhere.
First for that much stean then it must have been a coolish day. Saying that, depending how cold it is cools the cylinders which would cause condensation in the cylinfer probably causing a hydrolic lock which would do serious damage. Still there are ways and means, he could have warmed the cylinders up by passing steam through them before starting off but i think it is still standard practice to leave the drain cocks open when starting off. On balance I would say you were unlucky and went on the wrong day.
Or lucky, for the spectacular view
That looks like a cold start. If it was priming you'd see black muck washed out of the stack as it ejected. This is normal. We always move our engines like this when they're cold. It's only later in the day when everything is hot you can take the shortcuts others here are talking about. If it's been standing for a while you'll still do it. On cold days it looks impressive in hotter weather the action is the same but you can't see it.
Just making sure that there is no water in the cylinders. Steam is a bit of a pain sometimes, all that steam interferes with seeing where you are going. US locomotives shoot it out the side rather than out in front but you still can't see where you are going.
I came here for the comments... I'm not disappointed 🤣
Me neither 🤣🤣
The fog is at least partially responsible, as the steam that is released stays visible in the air longer.
I love the sight, sound and smell of a coal-fired steam engine. Fantastic.
Me too
I know it’s a long time ago but I don’t remember seeing things like that in steam days.
New style of driving
@@KevsTrains what would the purpose be for that? Genuine question as it implies people don't think that those who did it for a living knew what they were doing.
@@Dilbert-o5k it doesn’t imply that at all, it agrees with the original comment saying that it never used to happen in steam days, but seems to be common place now on preservation railways.
Not at all. First run of day, the drivers would keep the cocks open longer than if the loco was nicely warmed up. On a preserved line, locod often spend quite a period of time idle between runs, something that did not happen often within the confines of a station in working days.
Also, in this case the loco has picked some water up (carryover) due to the water level either being too high or the water quality allowing foaming. The drains have to be open to prevent damage to the cylinders. The drivers years ago would have done this, while giving the fireman a rollocking.
Just love comments from people who never driven a steam powered machine of any nature who thing they know better than those with actual experience.
@@KevsTrains you didn't answer the question. I would agree with the original statement, what I would like to understand is why it has changed. Whether it is just for show or there is a valid reason for it eg loco not used as much, so cools down more. If there is no valid reason to do it then my original query has validity if no one can come up with another legitimate reason?
No, this is simply a recreation of the methods used to evade enemy aircraft in WW1 and 2.
Note this is a joke and may not be accurate.
I like your idea 😂