Loudest steam loco in the UK? GWR No.5239 'Goliath' storms the Alps // Mid Hants Railway // 3 Oct 23

[@MrTumnus1987]

The 42/52/72xx locos are all absolute beasts, my favourite locos. Listen to her roar!

[@totally-transport]

They absolutely are! And great to ride behind one on such a long sustained uphill run 😀

[@totally-transport]

Thanks for commenting!

[@JohnPW22]

Superb engine, and a great run! Thanks for shring this!

[@totally-transport]

Thanks for commenting! Yes it was a fantastic run and great to see Goliath out on another line for a change as well. So glad you enjoyed the video!

[@Beatlefan67]

Great run over the Alps behind 53808 earlier in the year. Loved it, as did our Grandson! Nice filming thankyou.

[@totally-transport]

Thanks for commenting! So glad you enjoyed it 😁 and hopefully the 7F won't be out of service long! :)

[@nigelduckworth4419]

I have been hauled by this loco, in the Devon Belle observation car, from KIngswear to Paignton on the Dartmouth Steam railway. I see it often across the River Dart. For those not in the know, the railway climbs from river level to Churston at a max gradient of 1 in 66. Yet this loco always takes 7 carriages up this long incline with ease. The railway has a standard class 4 which appears to be limited to 7 coaches also, but I stand open to correction on that if anyone has seen more. All in all, pretty astonishing from a smallish tank.

[@totally-transport]

Thanks for commenting! I love the Dartmouth Steam Railway :) I haven't yet got to ride in the observation car, but I would love to :) it's certainly a very impressive engine, although it's probably one of the largest tank engines in the UK :)

[@SomeThrillingHeroics]

As far as "more", there's footage of Goliath starting 11 coaches *and* Tangmere after the Torbay Express stalled on Goodrington Bank: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJXUm3mhqN6DhNE The Spam Can may have its sanders on, but it's clearly 5239 doing all the work.

[@Rosie6857]

5239 has a very high tractive effort (33170 lb). This is more than a West Country or a Castle. The boiler of 5239 is quite a bit smaller though, as is the firebox, being the same as a 43XX 2-6-0. I reckon that on a dry rail 5239 could get 15 up the bank from Goodrington. It wouldn't be quick but it would make up for that with sound. On the run in the vid 5239 showed it could get a move on and seemed to ride quite nicely. Probably went faster than it ever did in service. Thanks for a well-produced vid.

[@nigelduckworth4419]

@@Rosie6857 Thanks. I don't know a great deal about GWR engines being an LMS man originally from Manchester. I was lucky, as a small boy, to see steam when there were very few diesels in operation. So the TE of 5239 is not far removed from a Royal Scot and considerably more than a Jubilee or a black 5 or the standard 4 itself on the dartmouth.

[@Rosie6857]

@@nigelduckworth4419 The high tractive effort would only be available at low speed, of course, but ideal for heaving wagons up valleys in S. Wales and for heavy freight work in general. It would soon run out of breath if it attempted the normal work of a Jubilee or Black 5 not least because of the small wheels (4' 7 1/2"). I know all this stuff because I am 81. The scrapyard awaits - but not yet!

[@jackstrains1569]

7:01 that is louder then goliath when it goes in second valve sounds like a mainline locomotive it's basically a compressed black five in terms of traction effort

[@johnjephcote7636]

I scratch built (the old way-brass and solder) of 4250, 2-8-0 tank in EM gauge. She will pull anything I have until I run out of track.

[@totally-transport]

Amazing! That sounds great! :)

[@openmicfraternity1946]

This is a great deal faster than when I walked this section in Jan 1980. Good run.

[@totally-transport]

Thanks for commenting! Haha how long did it take to walk it?

[@openmicfraternity1946]

@@totally-transport a couple of hours, with snow on the bare ballast (the track was lifted in 1975 and only reinstated in 1983). Great walk though, but muddy in the cutting approaching Medstead and impassable in the Alton side of Medstead so I had to do the rest of the journey by bus!

[@bassetdad437]

7 coach dining train including 3 pullmans up 1/49 with a 4MT tank was enjoyable to drive.

[@totally-transport]

Wow I'm sure it was! Thanks for commenting 😄

[@MichaelSmith-wj8zb]

Such a beast! I believe they have the same power as a west country class, 7P so alot of power at the regulator

[@totally-transport]

Thanks for commenting! Yes they're amazing locomotives and such a wonderful sound track! :)

[@MyMustang72]

i had a run behind a s160 number 3278 franklin d roselvert over the alps in 1992 which was a loud and fast expereince which for me has never been beaten for entertaiment.

[@totally-transport]

Ah yes! The S160s are very impressive engines and possibly even louder! Thanks for sharing, it sounds like an incredible run 😁

[@MyMustang72]

anybody know how much longer this loco will be at the mid hants

[@totally-transport]

I don't have any inside information - but I do know it's staying on to help with the Christmas light trains. Beyond that I'm not sure. The Mid Hants are relatively short of locos at the moment so it might be staying on longer, but I'm not sure. I was glad I got the chance to see her as this gala.

[@landyandy7]

the black 5 had just as sharp of an exhaust blast , prob louder

[@totally-transport]

Thanks for commenting! You're probably right and to be honest it's likely similar for most 2-cylinder steam locos working hard. I didn't have a decibel metre out to check! It's one of the reasons there's a question mark in the title :) But it was probably the loudest I'd heard this year. Well, Goliath or the 'Manors' on the West Somerset Railway - anyway I hope you enjoyed the video? :)

[@RaggyAl1971]

You can't beat the sound from the big GWR locos,not a real fan of them but put them to work over the hills and they talk!!

[@totally-transport]

@@RaggyAl1971 Thanks for commenting! Absolutely! It's a fantastic sound track 😃

[@Tom-Lahaye]

I go with that, I remember a run behind a black 5 from Grosmont to Whitby on the NYMR, that was a very loud run. In this video the loco is nicely worked too.

[@totally-transport]

@@Tom-Lahaye thanks for commenting! Yes that's fair - and possibly a steeper gradient and a longer train as well? Goliath was on 6 coaches I think here.

[@keithtanner2806]

Beautifully even beats and a very controlled start but if you if you want to hear a loco bellow then you have to hear an LNWR G1/ G2a climb a bank under heavy load. Not easy I realise as the sole survivor is currently out of action.🤢

[@totally-transport]

Thanks for commenting! Yes I thought it was a very quick and smooth start out of Ropley :) Sadly I didn't get to see the Super D in action - if there are some good videos of it maybe drop some links in here - I'd love to hear it :)

[@mattseymour8637]

​​@@totally-transportI had the chance of having a footplate experience on the Super D on the NYMR years ago before she went out of ticket and it was an experience. Sounded great!

[@totally-transport]

@@mattseymour8637 oh that sounds incredible! What a privilege 😄 thanks for commenting and sharing!

[@mattseymour8637]

​@@totally-transportIt certainly was but just a shame she isn't in steam anymore and I do hope she gets back into service again. One of my favourite as she is unique.