SDJR 88 Struggles At Crowcombe

A visit to the WSR saw my train hauled the the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway's 2-8-0, no.88 - not an engine prone to getting into bother. All was going well until the final cutting, on the climb to Crowcombe Heathfield Station. A brief shower, the load of 8 Mark 1 coaches (and possibly a dragging brake on the train) caused no.88 to slip, then slow and finally, after a more violent slip, come to a complete stand. The loco soon got back into its stride and pulled up at the station, where GWR 2-8-0 no.3850 is seen waiting with a balancing service.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• steam
• train
• railway
• wsr
• minehead
• west
• somerset
• locomotive
• trains
• gradient
• bank
• station
• bishops
• lydeard
• slip
• stall
• stack
• music

[abbymick]

Shite state of the WSR track i think! In S & D days they were the most sure footed loco around, better than an 8F and any crappy `Gas Works Railway` 2-8-0. They hauled 10 coaches over the Mendips with ease! Like i say `shite track here`!

[Y55MAC]

There was a PW slack on a bridge at the bottom of the steepest part of the bank - Then there was a shower just as we started the climb, so the engine didn't stand a chance without sanding (and with a heavy regulator).

[Y55MAC]

How could I forget - my mate asked if you were on YT. It didn't click who you were either. It has now though...lol!

[rhysicus]

Thank you mate! This is a great video, I love listening to engines working hard, I dont know why man :P, 5 stars!

[stumpytrain]

I take the stop wasn't just a signal check at Crowcombe Heathfield's Down Home?

[benwilliams1235]

@abbymick Oi, We have some of the best track and PW gang in the preservation scene!

[garrrbo]

WIth a lack of steam how would the loco have enough power to slip the wheels? Would have to be a brake hung up or a fat man jumped on the back

[1800isbest]

sounds to me like boiler pressure dropped and then the brakes dragged on

[chrisboyd79]

Not a lack of steam. You can hear the brakes dragging just before she stalls. Theres no time jump from when she stalls to when she restarts and in that time theres no way it could have gone from not enough steam to plenty. She still sounds crisp and sharp so theres plenty of steam. Dodgy ejector/brake related is my diognosis.

Great vid all the same.

[DGSF123]

I agree, but tbh WSR has the best trackwork amoungst heritage railways, better than NYMR, it gives the smoothest rides. I think you will find its the lack of experience amoungst the drivers on WSR, they are nearly all Ex-WR drivers or Ex- SR drivers, they arn't used to it. If there were more LMS locos on WSR there wouldn't be a problem due to experience and if there were more Ex-LMS drivers who used to drive them there wouldn't be a problem. But atleast it can pull a train smoothly ;)

[DGSF123]

Nah they didn't use to double head them, they didn't need to be, check out the films and videos. Its the west countries that were double headed cuz they were too high geared.

[Bigaid]

aye but nearly always doubleheaded, these locos are poor steamers, they were only good over the mendips because when they were on freight trains, they usally stop in a loop and let the passanger train through and that used to give time for the pressure to rise again.

[alberta45562]

Brilliant vid! Awesome sounds!