Driving a large steam locomotive....

[Wacky Racer]

One thing that has always struck me, is when driving a large steam locomotive, such as The Flying Scotsman, Mallard or Evening Star, on the footplate, the driver has a very limited view of the road "track" ahead, looking through a tiny piece of glass sticking out the side, even then they are sometimes chatting to the fireman, not even looking, yet the train could be traveling at 90mph.

There could be an old pram on the track dumped by kids, or even a car stuck on a level crossing.

At least with a modern diesel or electric train the driver gets a full uninterrupted view of the track ahead.

I understand the train "steers" itself, and probably the only requirement is to see the signals ahead, but it seems to me a bit like driving a car with a frozen windscreen and a peephole the size of a 50p coin.

This clip illustrates what I mean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHuYeYttBb8

Opinions?

[Wacky Racer]

In my will, it states my ashes are to be thrown off the top of Ribblehead Viaduct.

Make sure you don't stand on them........

[Wacky Racer]

the_lone_wolf said:

Wacky Racer said:

I understand the train "steers" itself...

I can see you're quite an expert on trains it seems...

You should see my collection of 1960's Hornby Dublo stuff..