History Repeating - Tangmere the Terrible

6 years of the Troublesome Tangmere, various clips, at various times, in various locations, but always making a lot of smoke, throwing sparks, breaking down or getting into trouble.

[@MrKnowwun]

*****. NEWS. Octoberr 2021. Its back on rails undergoing main line testing*********

[@MilkDrinker218]

I’ve always had the thought that different engines have different personalities. I guess Tangmere proves that.

[@davebarclay4429]

That probably applies to diesels as well. When Scotrail operated Class 47s it was well known that 47703 St Mungo was always up for a bit of fun and loved a challenge, the loco you wanted if you had to make up time. Some of the others were less enthusiastic, shall we say.

[@MilkDrinker218]

@@davebarclay4429 (constant starting up noise) START YOU VICIOUS BASTARD

[@mrstar666]

The noise from these locos is the best! Spam cans are my favourite locomotive

[@theblytonian3906]

Absolutely. They must have seemed like the ultimate in modernity to little boys and young lads in immediately post war austerity Britain, and as high tech as spaceships to Ian Allan trainspotters eager to 'cop' them all in their post Festival of Britain heyday.

[@aureol40012]

But all kettles sounds the same. It’s not like a diesel where you can identify it before you can even see it.

[@nigelmitchell351]

@@aureol40012 That's because you have not yet matured and acquired the ear of a discerning steam locomotive enthusiast. Modern diesels have no soul and so won't go to heaven, fact.!

[@philipthomas2918]

On a trip to Dartmouth Tangmere stopped at Exeter. The fireman was having his red watery eyes bathed despite wearing goggles. His face was very black, he said it was the poor quality Polish coal that wasn't as good as former Welsh coal which was less smokey. Hope his eyes were ok, they looked very sore.

[@user-gi5nh6ng7g]

Thank god then that Maggie Thatcher broke the miners so they could shut the rest of the coal mines. Keep voting Tory folks! (Message sent from abroad at greater expense due to roaming charges being reintroduced as we got Brekzit dun)

[@evelynsutton4411]

Yes, the drivers on the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch railwat had the same complaints about the Polish coal!

[@joes-trainproductions5987]

I really do miss Tangmere, she is a fantastic locomotive. I would say she is my most favourite locomotive, really do hope she comes back to South Coast again. Fantastic completions 🙂👍

[@sansovino4124]

Always a treat to see Tangmere - always puts on a show. She's like a moving volcano!

[@mickboakes7023]

Brilliant video. Remember the Arrow, often with City of Wells, pounding through Tonbridge and the Nigh Ferry with a D1 as helper at Petts Wood. Sheer nostalgia. Thank you. Mick.

[@boblovell5789]

Video aptly described ! Without doubt a very 'flighty' bird. Knowing the history of RAF Tangmere she seems a very appropriate loco to carry the name. Bit of a character here. Bags of spirit, bustle and pride! Great video. Thank you.

[@MrKnowwun]

One of the shots its filmed on the Brighton to Havant line, so goes pretty close to RAF Tangmere.

[@SvenTviking]

One of my earliest memories was walking up the Eastbound platform of Woolwich Arsenal station with my Mum & Dad and a “Spam can” pulled in with a fast train, and my Dad said “Tangmere”. I was about 3, so 1966.

[@borderlands6606]

As a child I felt being in close proximity to a steam locomotive being driven at speed, was a terrifying thing to behold. This captures that feeling, minus the smells and smoke. Seeing a mainline express pootling along a preserved railway at 35mph sort of misses the point.

[@MrKnowwun]

I liken large mainline steam loco's on a preserved line, the same as putting a tiger in a cage at the zoo.

[@borderlands6606]

@@MrKnowwun I agree, it's better than becoming extinct, but some creatures are easier to take in domesticated surroundings. A Jinty shuffling between small stations is acceptable. A Pacific, not so much. Unless it's on the bent fingers of the Withered Arm.

[@Isochest]

@@MrKnowwun YES!!!

[@e-mananimates2274]

Sounds like the kind of engine that would inspire the best Sodor Railway Series books!

[@sirjohng1]

Lovely shots, a real aggressive sense of purpose from this beautifully turned out locomotive. Thank you.

[@MrKnowwun]

cheers

[@philipgrooke5124]

Remember seeing her many times near Yeovil junction lovely sound, she looks better now than before, Great Britain great days .

[@anthonyjohnson8285]

I used to ride on the trains pulled behind the Spam Cans fro Chichester to Exeter St Davids in the '60's; The Tangmere being one of the engines. An incredible machine!!!

[@MikesMovies]

My god what an incredibly dramatic machine she is, fantastic video mate well done, hope you are keeping safe? Regards Mike

[@MrKnowwun]

Always a drama with Tangmere around.

[@callumthornelow2936]

Great footage, 34067 has always behaved when I've traveled behind her.

[@MrKnowwun]

To Be fair, it did do a lot well

[@djdaz72]

Great video I love the exhaust note, fantastic filming

[@MrKnowwun]

thank you

[@railfreightdrivergallagherGBRf]

The Volcano.... makes City of Wells look tame! Superb loco when on song.

[@MrKnowwun]

I liked its grubby working look too. Other spam cans are too tarted up!

[@robertsomervaille3720]

Got to see tangmere today in Carlisle while dropping my son off and as there was 20mins before she was due to depart I shot through to a spot between Armathwaite and cumwinton and boy did she smoke the place out as she past. Got a good video.

[@greghilton7797]

Imagine being a driver reading the roster and going "hey Billy we're taking a spam can out on the mainline the 13th. How much mayhem, death and destruction we can do with that." While watching all the blood drain from Billy's face.

[@couzeukian5122]

Doctor ."Do you smoke?" Patient, only when I travel behind Tangmere!" They have always been fleet of foot. I remember going behind City of Well on the Southern back in the 80's. There is a section of line signalled for dual running and we had a class 33 and one coach running alongside us. They were using it to film the train, and kept dropping back, then forward again. It got faster and faster, and at one point the driver of Wells, opened her right up, and absolutely shot past the 33 at a fantastic 92mph. The 33 being restricted to 85mph was left standing. It is on one of the Mainline videos. I am not sure but I think it is Mainline 89.

[@SwanSycorax]

That has to be the smokiest locomotive I have ever seen!!! Great footage.

[@MrKnowwun]

thank you

[@Mark_Dyer1]

She may be 'Terrible'; but she's a mighty good-looking steam locomotive.

[@offordmainlinerailway6203]

Agree

[@philipthomas2918]

Not surprised faults may develop given the amount of working excursions undertaken. A wonderful sight, keep flying Tangmere.

[@JoshNunnyt]

Love this type of loco with the boiler shielded like that

[@geoffpainting8081]

This is the way it came out the works when built, with a casing round it. The casing caused issues with maintenance, some of them caught fire in the insulation under, and the airflow caused the exhaust smoke to beat down round the drivers cab, causing vision issues and missed signals. They were rebuilt later with the casing removed. So Tangmere is known as an "Un rebuilt Battle of Britain Class"

[@Pirate-Scorcher-1998]

Brilliant video really enjoyed it. Let’s hope she will be 100% fixed soon with no problems

[@MrKnowwun]

Well not 100% wouldn't be tangmere if bits weren't dropping off

[@davidantoniocamposbarros7528]

Tangmere is always pulling the Old Shape Henry card

[@hilsthetrainlady4683]

Great compilation. Keep well.

[@MrKnowwun]

And you - stay tuned for more History repeating

[@hilsthetrainlady4683]

I’ll look forward to that 😊

[@jhiv3945]

Great shots of one of these locos. Not sure if I was ever behind 'Tangmere' but a sister engine attained a speed of 90mph on the Atlantic Coast Express. My father took me to the guard's observation post where there was a periscope looking over the roofs of the coaches. There was also a 'speedo'. It was a dream for a 9 or 10 year old boy.

[@SimplyTakuma]

Good old days with the "Golden Arrow" "Night Ferry"

[@MrKnowwun]

The golden arrow regalia has to be the best in the world.

[@colinhoward74]

its always good seeing something breathing fire doing things while not using electricity rather than something that uses electricity and catches fire with the capacity to kill all occupants instantly (ref the Paris EV bus fire , fortunately no one on board ) steam has proven itself for 300 years so far !

[@marksynthmynesteamthelatra3222]

Never get the life the haters are telling you to get this is beautiful stuff!!!

[@MrKnowwun]

it is

[@locomotive6727]

Hi Geoff, Great compilation , Take care ...Dave

[@MrKnowwun]

Thanks dave, hope stuff is good for you

[@locomotive6727]

@@MrKnowwun Hi Geoff, not bad Knee playing up was down to have it done but on hold now, Got a monitor for top of my camera ,Going to get an electronic mower ,from ''My Robot Center'' , finding it too much to cut grass with my knee,Take care ...Dave

[@annajeannettedixon2453]

Well heavy smoke is down to poor boiler management and over firing and a loco over 75 years old and maybe a bit of poor maintenance too the tracks are in poor maintenance as well by the looks of them

[@984francis]

I guess you are an armchair fireman. Did you note the comment from the fireman that he had to cope with lousy coal? There's not a lot one can do about that, especially when keeping a big fire going. But I guess you can do it.

[@chriswilson2431]

Superb video.

[@Dodger0103]

Watched her pass my school in Woking on many occasions, pulling the Bournemouth Belle. School was Monument Hill County Secondary School.

[@petersimmons7394]

Used to watch the Golden Arrow and the Paris night train (Fleche D'Or?) from our garden backing on to the track just London side of Bromley South. 60 years ago now...

[@kenneththompson3919]

Used to stand on bridge in West Dulwich to watch the Golden Arrow it was incredible

[@mikeythrussell7409]

I saw the golden arrow a few times 60years ago. I could only see it on Sunday's when it used the catford catford loopline. Which passed close to our house. It never worked that hard on our suburban line.

[@MrKnowwun]

The golden arrow regalia on a steam loco is something very special.

[@johnwood3980]

Impressive .Never saw one in the metal.They always seemed a bit Heath Robinson to us Lancashire lads.I take it all back. 😀

[@southofthethames]

I think the issues are not so much the loco or design (City of Wells never had these issues when out on the mainline), but the quality of WCRC maintenance and quite often Steam Dreams giving it loads of 12 loaded coaches to pull with no assistance, it is after all a "Light" Pacific, not a Merchant Navy class. Remember in it's early days it often deputised for others that had failed.

[@MrKnowwun]

It wasn't all bad, even when it was doing well, it did it in a dramatic way.

[@984francis]

Remember too, it's the class of loco that recorded the highest DBHP in the 1948 trials.......

[@locoLocotrains]

Proper unit is this loco!

[@20PhantoM07]

I'll never look at my dad's dublo Tangmere the same way again. 😲😍

[@MrKnowwun]

Only if you set fire to it.

[@20PhantoM07]

Ha 😂👍

[@mikeytrains1]

Alternative title: “Tangmere: Britain’s C&O 614”

[@HughFromAlice]

Great shots! Bulleid brilliance of the original design... hard to maintain!! A small suggestion --- Just truncate terrible at the 'i' and add 'fic' :-)

[@MrKnowwun]

its terrible n a good way

[@user-ds1nv9op4r]

I havn't seen Tangmere in real life, but I saw its relative, 34051 at the NRM once or twice :)

[@MrKnowwun]

Tangmere its not your average unrebuilt BoB class loco

[@terrier_productions]

MrKnowwun why

[@richardmessenger9474]

Nice to see in most of these clips the driver has the wick turned up and pouring on the coals......👍👍👍👍

[@MrKnowwun]

yup the fireman always worked hard on this loco.

[@richardmessenger9474]

@@MrKnowwun must admit I have never seen a steam engine since the end of steam pouring out that amount of smoke...it just shows how much throttle and how hard it is working...fireman must have been knackered at the end of that run..😋😋😋

[@spiccybaby]

Bill Bailey at 3:18 too!

[@OnTheMoveTransport]

Yep the two incidents. Where firstly it almost hit a HST neat Taunton and then it hit the buffers at Weymouth!

[@lukeslocomotives]

And then dropped a con rod!

[@rarerufus8864]

Superb clips, incredibly atmospheric! But where there's Tangmere there is always smoke ... and LOTS OF IT!! Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, makes for brilliant filming, but surely it can't all be blamed on Polish coal? ... Or can it?

[@lucamarmiroli4563]

It can

[@lucamarmiroli4563]

It's a real poor quality coal

[@P0RT3RS1GN4LM4N]

That is one very smoky loco

[@MrKnowwun]

yeah great init.

[@clarky2356]

I've had many trips behind tangmere always ended up Black from the soot lol

[@robsmithracing]

I saw the Golden Arrow years ago sitting at a red signal in Tonbridge Kent.

[@MrKnowwun]

wasnt waiting for the red in this clip

[@xenon53827]

Ah, Tangmere, heading the 'Suffocation express'!

[@neilcollin4269]

There's nothing like a spam can giving it some welly.

[@MrKnowwun]

true, but tangmere is special, the others are all well behaved.

[@muttt.whopull3252]

Crikey what was it burning in the opening shots, car tyres?

[@MrKnowwun]

It was burning the crews bedding. It stole their lunch and ate that too. The firemen never got his shovel back, it had that as a snack,

[@davehowe4714]

MrKnowwun rumour has it Clarkson was the fireman onboard shouting “more power” with every shovel of coal 😂

[@lukeslocomotives]

Will she return to the mainline or is she permanently withdrawn?

[@MrKnowwun]

It will return, but its in bits on a shed floor waiting its turn in the rebuild queue, so who knows when

[@jameswright7284]

Wouldn't call Tangmere terrible the SPAD incident wasn't her fault the crew had isolated her TPWS equipment, the smoke and sparks are probably down to poor quality coal, reliability is anyone's guess but possibly down to poor maintenance and servicing in between runs

[@evelynsutton4411]

What a magnificent rascal! ls she a 3 cylinder engine?

[@doctordave12]

Tangmere....you have caused confusion and delay!

[@SDE1994]

that last shot looks really steep, where is it?

[@MrKnowwun]

Its where the Chatham main line climbs up to join the Catford loop at Shortlands.

[@SDE1994]

@@MrKnowwun thanks

[@jackdowd4746]

Where can I find out more about this loco? Does anyone have a link?

[@MrKnowwun]

preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/34067-tangmere-sr-21c167-br-s21c167-br-34067/

[@mrmonstermunch3925]

POWER!

[@Nastyswimmer]

That's a godawful bit of track in the first shot. Where is that?

[@westmidlandsrailenthusiast]

When do you think she'll be back in service? She's been at carnforth for years now

[@MrKnowwun]

No idea, little news comes out of carnforth

[@OlanKenny]

Had a tour January last year and Tangmere's chassis and Bodmin were both in the storage shed at the back of the site. This was when 48151 was still in traffic, 46115 was still under Overhaul, 45699 was still red, 62005 was having heavy maintenance, 44767 was a recent acquisition (in pieces dotted around the place) so obviously that's a WHILE ago Heard rumours since there's a specific team working on her (before the pandemic) to bring her back. Presumably her or one of the 5s will be planned to be ready before Galatea goes out of traffic.

[@westmidlandsrailenthusiast]

Oh okay, cheers mate much appreciated👍🏻👍🏻

[@Wally34070]

Soon

[@MrKnowwun]

Its back on the rails, undergoing testing on the main line.

[@Hugofreddie]

Lovely engines , but lightweight by design , have always been known for being swift and working hard , some good quality Welsh coal would help with the smoke

[@alanblackburn3976]

Why do spam cans always have so much exhaust compared with A4s and others? Are they inefficient steamers?

[@voidjavelin23]

they had to deal some lousy rubbish quality coals

[@djburland]

The poor coal quality is seen in smoke! Great films. Working Tangmere to death, not bad for an old lady.

[@MrKnowwun]

Certainly worked it hard.

[@greghilton7797]

anna jeannette Dixon's comment is more correct.

[@philforder1702]

My Dad drove this an many more classes back in the day.

[@MrKnowwun]

My father drove Britannias out of Liverpool Street

[@TF2004-official]

When is she gonna come back?

[@robinjones6999]

I didn't know it had been converted into an oil burner

[@Wally34070]

She hasn't

[@Peppercorn60163Tornado]

Never has that happened to a British steam locomotive (as far as I’m concerned)

[@likklej8]

Wow really love those Flat Gobs! (60s London trainspotters name for unrebuilt )

[@MrKnowwun]

quite apt

[@nigelmitchell351]

How come the water not being picked up by the injectors doesn't cause a short at the third rail.?

[@bennickss]

Idk, same reason it doesn’t short out when it rains I guess.

[@Isochest]

Not the fault of the loco. Bulleid Pacifics are good locos

[@AnubhabKundu]

This is the same class that Rebecca is based on!

[@romeo9017]

That track is dangerous surely?

[@williamkettle8666]

Time for Tangmere to be retired to some quiet little preserved railway

[@WhistleStopWonders.]

I saw this loco yesterday

[@558vulcanxh]

Having to import unsuitable Polish coal instead of using our own, with no foreign exchange loss either, shows just how stupid the successive Tory goverments were and are .May 3rd, 1979 was a very sad event, and was the start of the decline of commen sense and Britain as a caring society 😢

[@KINGANDCASTLE]

Where is it now?

[@MrKnowwun]

Well it was in bits spread all over the floor at Carnforth, but the good new is OLD SMOKEY IS BACK. Its been doing test runs on the carnforth hellifield route.

[@markcf83]

Refusing to go quietly.

[@ANDREWWALLFORD123]

B*****y Hell!!!... What the hell this heavy steam train for heck is! 😲

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

Why they call it that what so troubleson about this Southern Railway locomotive? That I think correct me if I'm wrong has the word church in its name of class

[@kitsunestarr7706]

It’s a Battle of Britain class locomotive, and the video title is reference to two incidents the locomotive was involved in which were investigated by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, an independent body in the UK who investigate railway accidents to find learning points and improve safety. One incident had nothing to do with the locomotive at all though and was all down to driver error, and the other I assume would be to do with maintenance although I haven’t read the report so don’t quote me on that.

[@MrKnowwun]

Its a Battle of Britain Class, so all had names to do with that, This one is named after a RAF airfield on the Sussex coast.

[@NW-gi1cp]

Tangmere has black air force energy

[@ianpalmer125]

What a beutiful powerful icon

[@stretchedits]

Not sure I saw much terrible in your video.................Oh you mean as in Ming the terrible who was really great...................I get it, lol. As for making too much smoke, isn't that very much down to the training of the crews? Let me clarify that, no disrespect to the crews who drive our great preserved locomotives, but can they really have the experiance and knowledge of the old drivers who had spent 20+ years on steam locomotives everyday before even getting their hands on a Bullied Pacific.............I'm no expert on the subject but it seems to be a fair point to me. Best regards, on a great video Dave.

[@MrKnowwun]

Yes Terrible as in Fantastic.

[@984francis]

A lot of the issue of smoke is due to the quality of the coal. That is to say variable.

[@stretchedits]

@@984francis Yes I guess all the coal is imported today, so veriable to say the least. Originally I know the railways picked their coal from certain areas of the country which ensured it's quality was always the same.

[@agriben7591]

What happned to her ?

[@MrKnowwun]

When?

[@agriben7591]

MrKnowwun I have not seen her since 2013 has she gone in for restoration ?

[@ks_56]

tangmere is terrible because the video shes in made me swat my screen because i thought there was a bug

[@keiga9927]

Fast

[@robertgraffham6440]

It also appears that engineers can't lay or maintain the tracks these days? :-(

[@MrKnowwun]

not as bad as it seems. Tangmere is a "rough rider" and the foreshortening of the zoom lens makes it look worse

[@davegardner2258]

The track in the first shot was bad no ifs or buts. Worked on the pway for years and trust me the track has got generaly worse.

[@robinnicholson4009]

Good to see Tangmere being pushed along by a diesel!

[@Wally34070]

😂😂I don't think that's quite accurate

[@voidjavelin23]

nonesense assumption from a ignorant

[@davidheal5589]

your remarks are unfair to Tangmere

[@wq6737]

Beautiful, such a locomotive having a Soul. Might, fastness and Beauty in one. Alone to hear it is wonderful .

[@MrKnowwun]

Tangmere had soul in spades.