BS&WR blog.

[Neil Robinson]

Change happens slowly on the impoverished BS&WR, however I have resolved to keep a log of [strike]progress[/strike] news.
Today the directors' inspection train was out and about. The rolling stock may at first glance appear unusual but is fit for purpose. The loco, whilst an elderly design, is a pet of the locomotive superintendent and very effective at detecting poor permanent way. The Pullman saloon was provided to ensure the comfort of the directors and their, ahem, personal assistants whilst the van served several purposes. It was a store of additional refreshments for the saloon occupants and suitable accommodation for the saloon attendants, whilst the duckets and end window provided good visibility with relatively warm covered shelter for the engineers and inspectors. A suitable workforce and selection of tools was also on board to deal with anything that could be dealt with there and then.

 

[garrymartin]

If you were to describe that train in words you would think NO! but in reality it looks so right !

 

[Neil Robinson]

Some maintenance was required after the recent gales and the cameraman caught the works train heading back to base.
The little (especially by American standards) Baldwin Mogul is the usual choice of motive power for this duty. Its wheel arrangement and small size with fuel and water in a separate tender means a low axle loading, ideal for recently disturbed track. What's more the fuel and water capacity isn't compromised so it can stay in section for prolonged periods without needing a trip to a water crane. That large, for the U.K., lamp can come in handy at times too, I think only the L&M had larger ones over here.