Re: NNG: London Underground 150th

The great difficulty with the Metropolitan underground condensing engines, which condensed the exhaust steam by turning it into the water tanks is that the water heats up to the point that the injectors stop working. So it was necessary to empty the tanks and refill with cold water at the end of every journey.

2013 is also the 150th anniversary of the England engines on the Ffestiniog railway which were the World's first revenue earning narrow gauge locomotives. There are special displays and demonstration in London and Porthmadog, and opportunities to ride behind, although I understand that the three photo charters in early May are almost booked up.

General Palmer came on honeymoon to North Wales in the early 1870s to see the England engines, returning home to begin promotion and construction of the Denver and Rio Grande.

Bob Gartside