The LNER Encyclopedia

In Colin Walkers book "Eastern Region Steam Twilight,Part Two,North Of Grantham" , the photo (plate 29) of a V2 running into the station southbound ;Why is the engine in reverse ? I have only once experienced this,and that was flying down Stoke bank, suddenly being faced with adverse signals ,and we were going far too fast with an A3,(over100 mph. actually,on the newly fitted speedo.) , and we didn't look like stopping . Luckily the following signals were more favorable,and we survived .I can't think that is the reason in this case . But clearly ,if you look at the radius rod ,it is in the top half of the radius link,(or "expansion link",as some prefer) , and is then of course in reverse .
Roy.

We were taught -inside the frames--expansion link. outside the frames-radius link.
I don't think trying to reverse at 100mph would have much effect it was more our domain with loose coupled trains when down to your last 10mph looking for that extra bit of stopping power.Pressing hard on the cab floor with your feet didn't seem to help much.
We ran our f/f (42 box wagons of fertilizer from ICI Billingham) with Green Arrows running at 8% it was easy when shutting off and dropping into drift to wind the wrong way and be in mid gear for a few moments.......maybe this is what has happened in the picture of the V coming into the station?...Only surmising.........just a question Sir if I may, in your episode at 100mph,,,when did you carry out your running brake test?........Jim Brodie.

James Brodie wrote:We were taught -inside the frames--expansion link. outside the frames-radius link.
I don't think trying to reverse at 100mph would have much effect it was more our domain with loose coupled trains when down to your last 10mph looking for that extra bit of stopping power.Pressing hard on the cab floor with your feet didn't seem to help much.
We ran our f/f (42 box wagons of fertilizer from ICI Billingham) with Green Arrows running at 8% it was easy when shutting off and dropping into drift to wind the wrong way and be in mid gear for a few moments.......maybe this is what has happened in the picture of the V coming into the station?...Only surmising.........just a question Sir if I may, in your episode at 100mph,,,when did you carry out your running brake test?........Jim Brodie.

Jim,
Yes, we were also taught radius link on outside cyl.engines,as you say. I was'nt the driver on the 100 mph. incident , merely the fireman,as regards the brake test. I think I would be busy with other things such as boiler pressure,water level,avoiding blowing off,changing the headlamps,getting the back corners built up,and suchlike. I think it was just a panic measure really ,we were going that fast,and applying the vacuum brake fully did'nt seem to be having a big effect. The driver was a passed fireman,and we were intrigued at the prospect of getting the speedo,which was a new novelty at the time,round as far as it would go,which was a stop/peg for the needle just past 100.this we achieved and it was a very exhilarating experience,as you may imagine. With regard to the V2 photo ,you may be right ,but coasting was supposed to be done at 25% cut off,so your example of running at 8%, then coasting ,would mean winding the gear down to 25%, not up into possible reverse area, unless the driver was miles away, in his mind, so to speak .Any way ,thanks for your reply.
Regards,
Roy.