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CJSutcliffe — Sports Train
Published: 2011-10-31 13:03:33 +0000 UTC; Views: 731; Favourites: 11; Downloads: 20
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Description
Look at that! Look at the size of the middle wheel on that thing! That's a sports train!It is, in fact, a replica of the Brunel built 7' 1/4" broad gauge locomotives of the GWR from the middle 1800s, this one being named "Firefly", and would have been part of the Firefly class 2.2.2 locomotives designed by Daniel Gooch. The NRM also has a broad gauge engine on display named "Iron Duke", which would have been one of the Iron Duke class 4.2.2 locomotives, again designed by Gooch.
Today, Firefly is found at the Didcot Railway Centre. And what's more, this is a real live working steam engine, with a length of broad gauge track to run on. Unfortunately when I visited, it wasn't running.
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Comments: 5
A crown jewel of railway engines this is! Broad gauge has many advantages including more stability, higher permitted speeds, and most assuredly more spaciousness and capacity.
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If network rail think a hall is out of gauge, what are they gonna say about that? ;D
Nice shot!
Matt
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If not for the comment, I might have mistaken this for the Iron Duke or it's replica.
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Ah, good old Clarkson. Ahem. Though I was among those who rather liked his Brunel documentary in the "Great Britons" series a few years ago.
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Indeed. A lot of people scowl at Clarkson for being big headed and just an altogether complete dick, but what they fail to realise is that is just an act he'll put on for the programme, and when he wants to be factual he can be. There are moments in Top Gear when he drops the gung ho attitude and becomes serious.
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