Re: NNG: How not to run a Steam Locomotive

British Railways only have a very small number of 3% grades so there was not the drive to make easy regulators or throttles. Most British engines have stiff throttles which are difficult to handle with finesse, and the crews have very little need or occasion to practise throttle control.

On the Welsh Highland which runs at a similar gradient for over five miles in what amounts to a cold rain forest the first season's operation was quite fraught at times, but attention to detail and much practise now means the ten coach trains are now handled as easily as they are on the Cumbres and Toltec.

Bear in mind that on a Garratt if one end slips it consumes all the steam and the other end can stall for shortage of steam. There was a steeepish learning curve.

The rebuild of the first of the Kalahari Mikados is probably within a year or so of completion and the comparison between this and the Garrats should prove interesting.

Bob Gartside