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One of these is nearly 90 years old - and still going strong


TimFF

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I meant to post these a while back but then misfiled them - and stumbled on them again...

 

As a child our earliest family holidays were taken at at Westgate in Kent, not far from Margate. For the 5 year old me that was an epic road trip from South East London - for my dad it was probably an epic making sure the family car actually made it there!

 

But the day the 5 year old me always looked forwards to most was the trip to the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway. I was in seventh heaven.

 

Many many years later the slightly older me discovered that it was now possible to actually drive one of the locos on the railway out of season. So I have, several times now...

 

It's a bit different to the Zed, or indeed any other car bar a Stanley Steamer. It's all analogue - if you don't do the right thing at the right time it's very easy grind to a halt, melt the fusible plug (the failsafe 'wastegate' that prevents the boiler going bang if you forget to add water) or literally blow a cylinder up (condensed steam is water and not compressible). No arguing with a failing sensor here, just listen and adjust with a large spanner...

 

IMG_4934obscured.jpg

 

IMG_4938obscured.jpg

 

IMG_4937obscured.jpg

 

And I'm wasn't the only Zed driver there - this guy (who I apologise to, I've forgotten your name!) works there

 

IMG_4932obscured.jpg

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I meant to post these a while back but then misfiled them - and stumbled on them again...

 

As a child our earliest family holidays were taken at at Westgate in Kent, not far from Margate. For the 5 year old me that was an epic road trip from South East London - for my dad it was probably an epic making sure the family car actually made it there!

 

But the day the 5 year old me always looked forwards to most was the trip to the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway. I was in seventh heaven.

 

Many many years later the slightly older me discovered that it was now possible to actually drive one of the locos on the railway out of season. So I have, several times now...

 

It's a bit different to the Zed, or indeed any other car bar a Stanley Steamer. It's all analogue - if you don't do the right thing at the right time it's very easy grind to a halt, melt the fusible plug (the failsafe 'wastegate' that prevents the boiler going bang if you forget to add water) or literally blow a cylinder up (condensed steam is water and not compressible). No arguing with a failing sensor here, just listen and adjust with a large spanner...

 

IMG_4934obscured.jpg

 

IMG_4938obscured.jpg

 

IMG_4937obscured.jpg

 

And I'm wasn't the only Zed driver there - this guy (who I apologise to, I've forgotten your name!) works there

 

IMG_4932obscured.jpg

 

Two nice Zeds..one nicely parked... ;)

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