Wheels of fire

Good to see that the 'sparks effect' has reached South Devon.



Those who say that driving is now a "semi-skilled" operation may just have a point.

UPDATE: This from the 'The International Rantiquarian'...

I see the Fact Compiler is taking an interest in wheel rail interface deficiencies.

He has always been blessed with a fine technical mind (shome mishtake, shurely. Ed).

Here are a couple more from the Golden Age of Steam (i.e after it evolved into theatrical traction/nostalgic toy)

1. Blue Peter becomes, er, broken.

IC Special Trains Unit coughed up £37,000 compensation to the engine's owners (in the STU's last year of trading before becoming Waterman Railways and then just a memory), after the Knight of The Iron Road broke his mighty steed and all the outside motion flew off.



2. And proof that privatisation hasn't helped much in the footplate professionalism stakes.

Ian Riley's 76xxx pocket rocket is helped by Light Pacific Tangmere to look utterly foolish in Devon. The drivers were from Merlin and EWS respectively and dismally failed to reach any sort of understanding, clear or otherwise, when they left St Davids for their trip almost to Central.



Spookily, given the legend that Ye Olde Steam Men used to drive by the seat of their pants, BOTH incidents saw the drivers attempting to restart their ruined machines as if nothing had happened.

Perhaps their bottoms were numb with excitement?

Crikey!