Clag.
 

Am I alone in finding excessively black diesel emissions offensive ?

They are not good to breath in, at least steam smells nice.:D

booooooo! I love a claggy diesel!

*flails*

Sorry, I have to admit, I like Clag. 22 and reckless I am afraid.

I am with pre65 on this one they stink i remember old diesel loco's shut down for a day or so in cold weather then start them up on a monday morning the roundhouse was thick with deadly exhaust fumes not nice.

ccmmick.

diesel emissions offensive
 

When I was firing at Kings Cross I worked on both steam and diesel. Most of my firing days were spent working on steam but on some express passenger trains I changed from fireman to secondman.
The diesels were the EE Type 4s and the Prototype Deltic. Diesels at the time were a bit of a novelty but after the novelty had worn off I found I liked working on steam better. I thought the excessively black diesel emissions were offensive and when I finished work for the day my clothing smelt of diesel fumes.:eek:

I think the worst loco of all for fumes is the 50 it used to get in your throat and you eyes would sting also the class 52 loco when running the back cab would fill up with fumes.

ccmmick.

I totally agree Philip. Hate it and the smell it leaves on your clothes.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

Electricity is the only way to keep your lungs clean and clear of nasties but I cant see anyone enjoying a day out climbing up gantries and checking insulator pots like my Dad used to. But the power of electricity is absolutely king unless you are in the wet on an upward curving slope watching for wheel spin! Can you imagine a Heritage Railway which actually has full DC overhead lines and a huge generator to kick in supplies for running services at weekends. The chimney for the gennie would have to be quite high I would imagine.

Have you visited the Tramway Museum at Crich, Derbyshire? They use a generator to power the system.

Regards, 62440.

Of course I have it was wet and the over head lines crackled in the moisture. But that doesnt give you the same feeling of power which you would get controlling a full size electric loco. Sitting behind a class 47 pulling 2 carriages is enough to show you what these beasts can do when opened up - just staggering amounts of grunt, without the choking clag of steam coal or diesel. I'm not a fan of breathing any of that either! Yuk.