Welcome to the Loco Shed
page of the FSMR
site.
Page
updated
Below is a view of the August 2007 steam up with 4 of the 6 SMR
steam locos in view .
The shed is accessed by the
right and left roads, each with their own ashpit and a service / shunt road is
sited up the middle.
An electric traverser allows
Locomotives to access the various stabling tracks within the shed, and the twin
access roads allow considerable flexibility in operations on shed
A high level viewing area is
sited to the right of the picture allowing the public to view and film all shed
preparation duties
The 5 coal burning steam
Locomotives are fired up using diesel soaked kindle wood until a fire is
established, when coal is then added. Smokebox draught is applied via the use
of compressed air to the blower steam supply, until the loco becomes self
sufficient at about 60 psi steam. (The
Shown in the picture above is the
(The "Nord" which was visiting the SMR for 4 years
until Sept 2000 is on the far road)
Locomotives usually take around an hour and a half to steam up
from cold, ensuring a gentle warm up, to avoid thermal shock damage to the
boiler.
And of course, the locos need cleaning and polishing
before they can be released for service, a job for the young apprentices!
Below is a youtube video of the Berkshire climbing up the steep
link line from the engine shed to report for duty
Index of the SMR locomotive fleet
East
African Railways and Harbours Tribal 31 class
New
York Chicago and St Louis Berkshire class
New York Central Niagara class
Click the Whistle to hear the sound!!
Click the Whistle above
Featuring the double headed
The first chime heard is the NKP
We often wonder what the many
American Hotel guests think when they hear this
sound on a cold foggy winters night!
Or, if you have broadband, why not check out our locos in action