[LRflex] Re: - Trains and lots of steam and the envioronment

Douglas Sharp wrote:


Philippe,
they could be, smokeless steam locos were often used in chemical plants and refineries 

I didn't know about this, thanks
- I don't remember so much soot,
I travelled a couple of thousand miles on Indian steam trains long ago, gosh, that was dirty - if you thought you had escaped the main threat, you realized that by just seizing the bars to get off the train would result in instant black fingers.
except inside the stations, maybe the SNCF had no access to good Welsh steam-coal.
They only had access to Minette de Lorraine (minette also means "birdy", "skirts", etc :-[ ), or from the Northern pits, now all closed. I visited Woodworth's cottage at Windermere last Summer, where there was a peat/coal fire burning for visitors to feel the choking mood of that time - bad combustion, and acrid stench as I had not smelt for nearly half a century. Nice visit all the same. I should post a photo I guess. A lovely romantic place to live in.
It is interesting that the railway I visited is now integrated into the local/regional public transport infrastructure and operates hand in hand with commercial operators like Northern Rail. They are even planning to recreate the through link to the East Coast Mainline, joining the York-Scarborough line near either Rillington or Pilmoor (closed in the 1960s). Planning permission has been granted and they're now only looking for financial backing.
Tourism is one thing, retrofitting engines to modern standards of cleanliness looks much trickier, if they find the money which sounds scarce nowadays.
BTW, think of the environmental footprint of the power stations required for TGV, Thalys and ICE trains. 

Absolutely!
Even nuclear power leaves a legacy that could ruin the planet in more ways than one. 

Right again, yet , who doesn't need electricity ...


Cycling is not for me - I always like to have both hands free :-)
I've always noticed that the photographs showing winners in cycling races had their hands way over their heads; can we conclude that having both hands free means more efficient cycling? If so, you'd be a great cyclist Doug, on top a mobile photog ;-) 

Amitiés
Philippe



Cheers
Douglas

Philippe AMARD wrote:


Douglas Sharp wrote:


Thank you, David,
with the price of oil rising, maybe these beasts are looking at a renaissance - development stopped in the 60s, so, by now, there must be a lot of technology around to make them more efficient.
Still not very environment friendly, and I guess that for England alone, EDF will never allow competition in that respect ... look at France's electrified network. Also, remember when you got off and had to have a shower of some sort due to soot? Easier on the lungs than diesel finer particles of course, yet ... 
Oil is going down btw, but for how long ???

What about cycling ? ;-)
Philippe
As I wrote to Ted, my recollections of steam trains, and their importance to me, as a child, as bringers of happiness in some form or other, seem to have stuck in my mind as being monochrome. I must add that I feel that these colossal beasts are instilled with a unique raw strength that is packed in a supremely functional but aesthetic form that is a fitting monument to the bygone age of industry, craftsmanship and engineering pride. 

Cheers
Douglas



David Young wrote:



Douglas Sharp showed:
While I was about it I added some from last year too - Hope you like them. The gallery starts here: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DMS/NYMR_2008_BW/ <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DMS/NYMR_2008_BW/%3c%3c%3c%3c%3c%3c%3c%3c%3c> 








Hi Douglas!
I agree with Ted... a super set of photographs, that really suit the b&w conversion. B&W is so much more in keeping with the times of these beasts. 

Thanks for sharing!

Cheers!

---

David Young,      Logan Lake, CANADA
Limited Edition Prints at: www.furnfeather.net <http://www.furnfeather.net/> Personal Web-site at: www.main.furnfeather.net <http://www.main.furnfeather.net/> 
Stock Photography at: http://tinyurl.com/2amll4


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