4079 'Pendennis Castle' STRUGGLES and STOPS on the bank!!!!! .Churnet Valley Rly. 6th May 2024

Churnet Valley Railway Steam Gala.
4079 Pendennis Castle tackles the steep climb ( 1in 39 / 1in 45 ) from Leekbrook Jn. to Ipstones.
With a load of a packed 7 coaches , the climb proved too much, and the GWR castle ground to a halt. However after a few minutes and several attempts the crew made a great job of getting the train started again, and slowly made it to the top.
6th May 2024

[@sachikazeC57_SLvideos]

Excuse me for the first comment. I am a Japan steam locomotive fan. When I went to England before, I came across Pendennis Castle, which is on static display at Didcot. I was impressed by the powerful running of the nostalgic locomotive. I would like to express my sincere respect to the Mr./Ms. of the locomotive and crew who struggled on the steep grade, and to Mr.Phil for taking such wonderful images. Subscribe to the channel and like it!

[@philclarke3203]

Many thanks, for your comment and for subscribing.,👍😀

[@grahamhunt7488]

Thank you Phil for this outstanding film. I so enjoy the Churnet Valley Railway and visited it in February one year. Even better in the Spring. My childhood trainspotting was 1948-1952 at Bristol Temple Meads where Halls and Castles abounded. Happy Days...

[@richardwhite2325]

Very enjoyable thanks

[@philclarke3203]

Glad you enjoyed it Richard. My pleasure.

[@lauriecooper8194]

Brilliant video Phil, thanks. Not a good day for the old darling, she wasn't designed for slogging like this.

[@philclarke3203]

Many thanks. No, too much to ask her for.

[@richardwhite2325]

Thanks

[@philclarke3203]

Many thanks Richard. Much appreciated.

[@Johnny16781]

Great one Phil , Had to work very hard, Feel sorry for the crew, they worked hard as well 😁

[@philclarke3203]

Thanks Johnny. Certainly did,to get going again

[@theretrocrowe]

Great video, this was a brilliant gala, I was there at Consall on the Sunday. 4079 clearly wasn't in the best of health, sending her up such a steep gradient with load 7 in poor health seems a bit of a questionable decision, but well done to the crew for getting her up and running again after the stall

[@matt34028]

Look at all the steam pissing out the front and, glands and relief valves going. Too hard work for it, it’s high legged and built for speed not slogging up hills like that. I know people will go on about the South Devon Banks but at least you had a run at it.

[@philclarke3203]

Thanks. Yes I agree with all that 👍

[@iandocwra1169]

Nothing wrong with the loco - it was given seven coaches full of passengers to take up a 1 in 40 climb with sharp curves. The power was there, as evidenced by the slipping, which GWR 4-6-0s are not prone to doing. The lack of adhesion to overcome the drag of the train was the issue, not the 'health' of the engine. Skilful driving got it underway again without hand sanding.

[@tomwalton5388]

It's nothing to do with the health of the loco. Crew and Loco did a fine Job. A climb like that with 7 carriages without assistance is a big ask for a Castle 👍

[@loco42041]

Lack of SPEED from the beginning thats WHY IT STALLED?

[@justandy333]

This has got to be one of the first times I've seen a Castle loose its footing. I mean the run out of Tyseley Locomotive works is very steep and castles regularly get halted on the incline due to a signal stop. They have no problems at all making that climb from a standing start halfway up it. So this video is rather surprising since the Castles are very well know for their surefootedness. It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if this happened to a West Country Class or an A1 etc. Still, nice to see something different for a change and something that will surely create a discussion.

[@Stockport9b]

With such a steep gradient the S160’s seem like one of the perfect engines for them.

[@philclarke3203]

True

[@johnnew3096]

Good bit of driving to get it restarted. Somewhat surprised it stalled GWR 4-6-0 designs I recall as being sure footed. Good video too.

[@philclarke3203]

Thanks John 👍

[@iandocwra1169]

They are, but there are limits.

[@kellyashfordtrains2642]

I watched a video of Mayflower struggling to get up Whiteball Bank, on the main line. She had a heavy passenger train behind her, and no banker at the rear. She slowed right down to a crawl, but didn't stall. She made it to the top and into the tunnel. Just goes to show what steam engines will do to please the enthusiasts.

[@philclarke3203]

Must have been worrying for Mayflowers crew. Don't want to stall on the mainline

[@SimonTog]

Super video Phil :)

[@philclarke3203]

Thanks Simon :)

[@theoccupier1652]

Fantastic sound in this video

[@philclarke3203]

Yes it is, thanks

[@tattoo1084]

She got there in the end and made some great noise doing it!👍👍

[@philclarke3203]

She did David. Had us all biting our nails though 😀

[@tangerinedream7211]

Went on the Monday, great day, no problems at all. It is a fair old pull up to Ipstones, the S160 could eat it on a butty as that's what it's designed for, a Castle is a racehorse in comparison.

[@philclarke3203]

Very true, but this was on the Monday?

[@richardswiderski4985]

Grest video Phil Poor Pendennis Castle bet a lot of engines would fail that gradient..Well done to the crea for getting her going again....plenty of noise and smoke for you though .Hope to see her soon.

[@philclarke3203]

Thanks Rick. Yes, a good test for them . They dropped 1 coach off later when the Standard 4 (75014) went up. When we stopped, I didn't think we would get started again without help, they did a great job.

[@marcblackman7372]

The loco did nothing wrong. It's an express loco. It was built to fly along the western mainline not branch lines. It's going up a steep climb around tight bends. It's in a forest are the rails set of greasy? Not surprised it struggled. The steam from the front is either open drain cocks or steam chest relief valves. The s160 as someone else mentioned was built as a freight loco. Smaller wheels. Designed for slogging along like this.

[@marcblackman7372]

Should say are the rails wet or greasy

[@AndreiTupolev]

The South Devon banks are very like this, and Castles were permitted nine coaches up there I think,

[@thomaspolice9400]

@@AndreiTupolev They were allowed to approach at speed and also the bends were not so tight, even on Dainton going West. However Dainton was challenging in wet conditions. There would always be a spare Loco either waiting in the Bankers siding or at Newton Abbot Shed.

[@Your_Local_Express_Locomotive]

This is the true power of steam engines, just like how big boy banked that heavy ass freight train up a hill

[@philclarke3203]

Certainly is

[@Your_Local_Express_Locomotive]

I love how everyone leans from the windows to watch the locomotives wheel slip

[@philclarke3203]

Haha, just want to see what's happening. Not much to see on the opposite side though.

[@limeyfox]

I wonder how much of the power is being lost through all those steam leaks at the front end, can’t be good for the cylinder packing etc.

[@hamshackleton]

It wasn't lacking power, it was lacking traction!

[@philclarke3203]

Not good, but that didn't cause it to slip?

[@thomaspolice9400]

Wasn't leaks, it was relief valves as the pressure in those Cylinders working like that is huge. Valve relief rather than Cylinder Cocks.

[@iandocwra1169]

Nothing whatsoever to do with a lack of power, or the wheels would not have slipped. Adhesion was the only problem.

[@JakeBSteam]

Great video as always Phil, 4079 certainly isn't in the greatest of health, not helped by the various steam leaks.

[@JBTEvans]

She has been that way since she was restored! Same with 2999!

[@philclarke3203]

​@@JBTEvansnot good.

[@JakeBSteam]

@@JBTEvans Aye, there does seem to be a theme with Didcot engines that they seem to leak a lot. lol

[@philclarke3203]

Thanks Jake. No certainly needs some attention

[@iandocwra1169]

Again, nothing wrong with the loco - the power output was there - it was poor adhesion that caused the stop.

[@AndreiTupolev]

Seems that slipping was the problem rather than lack of tractive effort (and it certainly wasn't short of steam). Didn't seem as if the sanders were being used?

[@philclarke3203]

No, I had a close look, but couldn't see any sand

[@loco42041]

When you are at low speed your steam pressure will be at its maximum.

[@loco42041]

It's down to low speed to begin with thats why it stalled.

[@mikerobertson7435]

yes it is a grest video.What is the gradient? The castle driving wheels are really not for steep branch lines. the crew did a fantadtic job re-starting the train after the. stall. Thought that was the point of no return. Also with a 25mph speed limit not mich of a run at the bank

[@philclarke3203]

Thanks 1 in 39 / 1 in 45 . True, no chance of getting a run at it.

[@JoshHodginsBwfc]

Wow

[@philclarke3203]

Yes wow!😀👍

[@JoshHodginsBwfc]

@@philclarke3203 haha

[@robinnicholson4009]

Impressive filming but what a tragic story, in a sense. I am surprised a small tank engine was not pushing ( but do they have one?) or perhaps a Crompton. A magnificent effort by the loco crew and a very very good example of skill.

[@philclarke3203]

Thanks. Don't think they have a small tank engine in service at the moment, and I don't think the steam fans would be impressed with a Crompton. The crew did an excellent job.

[@iandocwra1169]

Why on earth is it "tragic"? Did anyone die?

[@robinnicholson4009]

@@iandocwra1169 a great misfortune to a great engine

[@iandocwra1169]

@@robinnicholson4009 Really?! It slipped to a stand and re-started - hardly tragic. Such things happen often and no harm was done.

[@hamshackleton]

Really struggling!

[@philclarke3203]

Really, really struggling,

[@AndreiTupolev]

Oh well, maybe it shouldn't feel so bad. It's happened to Clun Castle now 😳🧐🥴

[@philclarke3203]

Haha, no just seen that 😬. Like it or not, it shows how important it is to have a diesel on the rear! Good job the 47 wasn't far behind

[@maartendelandmeter7705]

forgot to maintain vacuum? Gasworks leaky bump.

[@philclarke3203]

Maybe

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

Yeah that’s too much acceleration that’s why it slips

[@philclarke3203]

Well controlled though

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

@@philclarke3203yep

[@vikingsmb]

25mph limit doesnt help

[@iandocwra1169]

Completely irrelevant - do you think it would have been able to get to 50mph??

[@Gary-cvr23]

​@@iandocwra1169 not 50 but a little bit of a run up at leekbrook at 25 then about 30 into the first bit of the incline it depends on whos driving some go slow and some go fast

[@TicTacToe3511]

Too heavily loaded

[@AndreiTupolev]

I think 9 was the limit over Dainton and Hemerdon, a driver who stopped to ask for assistance with 7 would be 🤨 at

[@philclarke3203]

It was a lot to ask of the loco

[@loco42041]

Nothing to do with load?

[@james426able1]

I think the crew need a re- training on how to operate a steam locomotive even I could do a better job than them two wollies

[@MrTumnus1987]

Dude, shut up. Get out your armchair and go train to do it, then go and do it. The crew did an admiral job getting her restarted. When she initially stalls, she stalls with the con rods dead centre which is a difficult position as you can’t really restart on a hill like that. Taking a Castle up a gradient like that is like taking a Greyhound mountaineering. They can do it, but not the best. S160’s on the other hand are just perfect, power and can shift it uphill no problems.

[@nigelstott1849]

Wonderful film. The crew did really well to get her going again.

[@philclarke3203]

​@@nigelstott1849thanks, they certainly did 😀

[@philclarke3203]

Looking forward

[@philclarke3203]

Very true 👍​@@MrTumnus1987

[@mikerobertson7435]

yes it is a grest video.What is the gradient? The castle driving wheels are really not for steep branch lines. the crew did a fantadtic job re-starting the train after the. stall. Thought that was the point of no return. Also with a 25mph speed limit not mich of a run at the bank

[@mikerobertson7435]

yes it is a grest video.What is the gradient? The castle driving wheels are really not for steep branch lines. the crew did a fantadtic job re-starting the train after the. stall. Thought that was the point of no return. Also with a 25mph speed limit not mich of a run at the bank

[@iandocwra1169]

The title tells us in large characters that it is 1 in 40.

[@mikerobertson7435]

yes it is a grest video.What is the gradient? The castle driving wheels are really not for steep branch lines. the crew did a fantadtic job re-starting the train after the. stall. Thought that was the point of no return. Also with a 25mph speed limit not mich of a run at the bank

[@iandocwra1169]

The gradient is 1 in 40, as stated in the title.