I thought some of you might be interested in a couple of minutes of video on the Mid Hants Railway. This was shot by a friend of mine on the footplate of MN 35005 'Canadian Pacific' with yours truly driving the thing. It was taken a couple of years ago and I forgot it was still around. We're leaving Alton, observing the 10mph speed limit over the loop facing points, passing a Fragonset 31 which had bought in some stock for a mainline trip from the MHR then chugging up the line.

http://s175.photobucket.com/albums/w131/fidgeh/?action=view&current=SONY_DVD_RECORDER_VOLUME_Title01.flv

Just realised there's another vid of a  minute on the footplate of Standard 5 73096 going tender first up the 1 in 60 out of Alton as well.

thanks for that, a nice change we don`t get many pics/vids on the footplate with all the gubbins on show.

:doublethumb:cool:

A fantastic vid there Fidge, very inbteresting. Now this is going to be a stupid question but i shall ask anyhow. How do you know what speed your doing, is there a speedo in them. I ask as i have never noticed one when i looked in one before.

Phill

Yes we do have a speedo on most of our locos, I think if you look hard enough in the CP video you can make it out at the top of the screen. However not having a speedo is not an excuse to go quickly, although on the loco currently without a speedo (34007 Wadebridge) we do seem to arrive early on numerous occasions……

When you do get get experienced on the footplate it's surprising how accurately you can judge your speed, all senses come into play. It's much the same as driving at night, on our line it's pretty much profoundly dark on most of the line - but after you've done it a few times you seem to know exactly where you are - sounds, the feel of the rail joints, even smells of different vegetation etc. are used as reference points.

Here's a couple more:

Black 5 45231 climbing the 1 in 60 between Alton and Medstead (complete with banter between myself and my fireman):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svjKEfGsPWA&feature=PlayList&p=881B787CBEDF3824&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=17

and on 5029 'Nunney Castle' doubleheading with 4936 'Kinlet Hall' at one of our galas (quite good sounds here)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYvGPYpGiMI

Thanks for drawing our attention to those, some of the happiest family times of latter years have been spent on the WCL, including my mother's 90th birthday two years ago. The staff are in our experience, without exception all helpful and kindly, especially to old ladies who need extra time to get on board and the bobbies are able to pitch their explanations at just the right level for their frequent audiences.

I recognise the 'hanky on head', I was there!