A Footplate Ride On The Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway. 2024

A video on board the footplate of BR(W) 7800 Class 7827 'Lydham Manor.' Showcasing footage from inside and outside of the cab, with the loco working along the steeply graded seven mile route from Paignton to Kingswear. If you're interested in experiencing the journey from the driver and fireman's perspective, then visit here: www.dartmouthr...

[@JBTEvans]

There's a few DSR cab ride videos on youtube but I think you've managed the best one yet! Loved the shots from the lineside mixed in, the drone shot at Goodrington is a fantastic angle. Can imagine it was a fabulous experience, 7827 has to be the pick of the fleet.

[@southwalestrainspotting5090]

Thanks Josh. Glad you enjoyed, I was pleased to have 7827 too.

[@barryroberts2196]

Very well done, first class effort. Really enjoyed everything about it.Thanks.

[@southwalestrainspotting5090]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@johnbrown9092]

Lovely video and lovely Manor😊

[@southwalestrainspotting5090]

Thank you.

[@Brian-1948]

Well that was a lovely way to spend 15 minutes. Thank you so much.

[@southwalestrainspotting5090]

Thanks for watching.

[@GWRJoe5043]

Great video!

[@southwalestrainspotting5090]

Thanks.

[@JakeBSteam]

Great video, thanks for sharing. 🙂

[@isobar5857]

Could someone explain to me why, what appears to be a round brass brake handle on the back plate, has a series of concentric holes in it.? Is this just for decoration or is it functional? I would really appreciate any clarification, and thanks.

[@StaxRail]

On a GWR vacuum brake valve, these holes allow air to pass through, then enter the train pipe when the valve is moved to make an application. Hope that helps!

[@isobar5857]

@@StaxRail Thanks for the reply. Perhaps you might like to clarify what a 'train pipe is.' Also, what does the air passing through these holes actually do? Again, thanks for your help. I.m familiar with all aspects of a steam locomotive other than the workings of the vacuum brake.

[@StaxRail]

@isobar5857 its a bit complicated and wordy, but Ill try my best! With the vacuum brake system, the locomotive and rolling stock all have a brake cylinder each that pulls various links, in turn putting the brakes on- when coupled into a train, all the brake pipes are connected and create an end-to-end continuous circuit known as the 'train pipe' that acts on the bottom of the brake cylinder piston. Above the piston is the vacuum reservoir, and when the brakes are off, the vacuum either side of the piston is equalised, the weight of the piston itself allowing it to drop down and release the brakes. To create this vacuum, the locomotives have an 'ejector', essentially a cone that steam is forced through, creating a negative pressure behind it and sucking the air out from the train pipe and reservoirs. When the brake valve is moved to make an application, behind the holes in the front of the valve (the ones you can see) there is a plate covering a hole in the train pipe- normally, this is closed and the vacuum inside the pipe sucks the plate over the hole creating a seal. When the handle is moved this seal is temporarily broken, and the holes in the front of the valve allow normal atmospheric pressure through and into the train pipe hole- this reduces the vacuum under the brake cylinder piston, in turn creating an imbalance in vacuum between the bottom of the piston and the top (the reservoir). Because of this imbalance, the piston rises, putting the brakes on.

[@isobar5857]

@@StaxRail Thanks so much for your detailed explanation, it was so helpful. I'm a member of a model engineering society and have built a working steam loco [Black five] in 31/2 inch gauge...I have never really looked at the vacuum system...even though I have a steam operated brake fitted to the loco! You are never too old to learn and I'm 76. Thanks again for your time and patience in responding.

[@StaxRail]

@isobar5857 not a problem, I'm an engineering apprentice at a heritage railway, and after 3 years of working on GWR locos I'm still wrapping my head around the intricacies of how they work! I've got the castings and rolling chassis for a 5" Neilson 0-4-0ST myself, just waiting for a bit of workshop availability to get cracking.