Trains don't always live up to my expectations though I suppose springing for first class might fix that. The train from Bristol to York, for example, was so packed that if it were not for a friendly young woman offering a seat to store our luggage I would have had to stand for the several-hour trip. So today's post is transportation focused: some river boats followed by a visit to the railroad museum.
The National Railway Museum is very popular and quite lovely (that's a popular word here; pretty much anything can be lovely). Lots of trains of all shapes, sizes, and vintages, plus a large room packed with train memorabilia. Organization is a bit scattershot because the museum is being rebuilt; half of its facilities are closed for reconstruction. Oh, and the museum is free. Lovely.
We'll begin the photos with a few boats that we saw on the walk to the museum.
On the 3rd of July 1938 this locomotive, the Mallard, attained a world speed record for steam traction of 126 miles per hour.
On the 3rd of July 1938 this locomotive, the Mallard, attained a world speed record for steam traction of 126 miles per hour.
On the 3rd of July 1938 this locomotive, the Mallard, attained a world speed record for steam traction of 126 miles per hour.
Imagine driving this locomotive through rain, wind or snow. The open cab would have left its drivers and firemen completely exposed to the elements. It went over the highest stretch of railway in England too - Stainmore Summit - so in winter the workers would have had to battle very harsh conditions. The locomotive worked just as hard as the team driving it. It covered over 900.000 miles over 50 years.
Although built in 1874, its design was created 20 years before. The design includes a particularly long boiler, an idea patented by Robert Stephenson in 1842, which made it unstable at high speed. It couldn't go fast, but it was very powerful - perfect for hauling heavy goods.
North Eastern Railway 1001 Class No. 1275 Hippopotamus Class
Designer: William Bouch
Company: North Eastern Railway Built: Dübs and Co., Glasgow, 1874
Science Museum Group. Object no. 1975 - 7009
From placard in front of train
Imagine driving this locomotive through rain, wind or snow. The open cab would have left its drivers and firemen completely exposed to the elements. It went over the highest stretch of railway in England too - Stainmore Summit - so in winter the workers would have had to battle very harsh conditions. The locomotive worked just as hard as the team driving it. It covered over 900.000 miles over 50 years.
Although built in 1874, its design was created 20 years before. The design includes a particularly long boiler, an idea patented by Robert Stephenson in 1842, which made it unstable at high speed. It couldn't go fast, but it was very powerful - perfect for hauling heavy goods.
North Eastern Railway 1001 Class No. 1275 Hippopotamus Class
Designer: William Bouch
Company: North Eastern Railway Built: Dübs and Co., Glasgow, 1874
Science Museum Group. Object no. 1975 - 7009
From placard in front of train
Imagine driving this locomotive through rain, wind or snow. The open cab would have left its drivers and firemen completely exposed to the elements. It went over the highest stretch of railway in England too - Stainmore Summit - so in winter the workers would have had to battle very harsh conditions. The locomotive worked just as hard as the team driving it. It covered over 900.000 miles over 50 years.
Although built in 1874, its design was created 20 years before. The design includes a particularly long boiler, an idea patented by Robert Stephenson in 1842, which made it unstable at high speed. It couldn't go fast, but it was very powerful - perfect for hauling heavy goods.
North Eastern Railway 1001 Class No. 1275 Hippopotamus Class
Designer: William Bouch
Company: North Eastern Railway Built: Dübs and Co., Glasgow, 1874
Science Museum Group. Object no. 1975 - 7009
From placard in front of train
A dynamometer car is a railroad maintenance of way car used for measuring various aspects of a locomotive's performance. Measurements include tractive effort (pulling force), power, top speed, etc.
Wikipedia
A dynamometer car is a railroad maintenance of way car used for measuring various aspects of a locomotive's performance. Measurements include tractive effort (pulling force), power, top speed, etc.
Wikipedia
A dynamometer car is a railroad maintenance of way car used for measuring various aspects of a locomotive's performance. Measurements include tractive effort (pulling force), power, top speed, etc.
Wikipedia
