Cornwall coincidence
It was great to read about Cornwall, and the speeds she may have achieved. Frankly the thought of those 8ft 6in driving wheels spinning her along at 90 is thrilling enough, let alone anything higher. But I agree that the likelihood of her reaching 117mph – with the boiler, track, lubrication and signalling of the 1840s – is rather small.
It seems an extraordinary coincidence that she was supposed to reach the speed of 117mph (a curiously precise
number for a locomotive with no speedometer, and with the rudimentary timing likely then), while descending a bank with the (quite distinctive) gradient of 1-in-177. I can imagine that a glancing oversight of a log of the run (if there was such a thing) that recorded the gradient as 1-in-177 might have thought it to read ‘117’ – and started a (very fast) hare running.
Perhaps she would be a fitting subject for a SR reader appeal; and if given a Tornado-type dispensation, we could finally find out: ‘wot’ll it do, mister?’! David Gordon, Ilminster
Remembering the forgotten
I read your article with interest regarding the Talyllyn Railway’s 70th anniversary.
However, as with most articles regarding this significant event, part of the history was missing.
Back in the 1950s, Territorial Army sappers from the West Midlands spent time on the railway clearing the track bed and repairing bridges, but no mention is ever made of them. I know this took place because both my father (now deceased) and my uncle were there. My father said photographs were taken of them working and later a commemorative plaque was on display. Unfortunately I have been unable to track down any images or visit the railway to see if the plaque is still there. Alan Rawlings, Brierley Hill
An unforgettable experience
Your feature on the Grand Canyon Railway brought back many memories. Seeing the Grand Canyon was an ambition I’d had for a long time. We went in 1993, staying in a hotel on the southern rim for a few days.
I had pre-booked a ride on the railway before we went and drove to Williams to start from there. Prior to the train leaving there was a staged gunfight at the station. Part-way through the journey some ‘cowboys’ held the train up and one photo taken shows one of them coming along the coach wielding his gun! At the south rim it was novel to see the whole train reverse round a triangle.