Footplate ride on a 15thClass Garratt
 

A bit of film of a footplate ride on a 15th class Garratt. I have fired this loco but have never driven it. I use to work this bit of line back in the 1960's. You will see the fireman using an Ajax steam fire door and. You will also see the slack hose being used to wet the coal and wash to floor, the fireman resting his arm on the injector lever. At the start of the film you see the driver pumping hard grease into the bearings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfZCQOTJ_sE

Firemans view from a 15th Class at Kennedy siding

Thks for that Syd - I enjoyed that clip. Do those locos have dual regulators with a driver working each end of the loco simultaneously?

Hi klorger1900, the one regulator supplys steam to both the front and rear ends.

But I saw 2 drivers each tuggung at a regulator handle - is there normally a crew of 3 then?

No, There was the driver on the rights of the cab, the fireman on the left and the 'Garratt Boy' who was standing behind the fireman to begin with. His job is to keep the coal wet and to push coal forward for the fireman. The regulator has a long handle on the right and a short one on the left. It can be quite stiff at times and the driver will ask the fireman to assist in opening it at times. Also as was habit on the RR, if the fireman saw a signal at red, he would close the reg. and shout to the driver warning of a danger signal. The driver would hit the brakes, these trains took some stopping.

Thanks Syd - that train seemed to be travelling fairly quick, what is the top speed?

As it was a passenger Train (Mail Train in Zim) it could travel at up to 55mph. I have been on the footplate as a fireman running to Livingstone late when my driver Dicky McDonald took a 15th Class up to 75mph. Believe me it was very uncomfortable. You can see in the video how much the driver is bounced about.

Did this class of loco have a speedo or were you doing stop watch timing?

Very enjoyable piece of film.
48111

Garratt
 

Hi Syd a good video showing a RHD Garratt. I noticed a hydrostatic lubricator on the drivers side did garratts not use mechanical lubricators. I like the large cab ideal for warmer climes and the Ajax steam fire door looks useful.:cool:

Photo of Garratt lubricator fitted inside cab.