Four Double-Headed, Full-Throttle Climbs of Hemerdon Bank 

Of all the imfamous Devon Banks, the 2 mile climb at 1 in 42 of Hemerdon Bank was and still is the most feared climb for a steam locomotive crew. When single-headed, the regulator has to be used carefully as loss of adhesion, the biggest risk, can bring your train to a standstill more easily than the risk of low boiler pressure. This usually ends up in what is known as "A Slog" as I demonstrate in this compilation: • FOUR HARD SLOGS. Steam... . However, when two locomotives are used to pull less than twice the load of one, the risk of slipping is greatly reduced, the crews are then free to "open the regulator" and the results are usually spectacular!
Here are four "full-on" climbs of Hemerdon Bank which illustrate this point well. Turn the sound up and enjoy steam at its most exciting.
* Note: The diesel on the rear of the Saphos dining train in chapter 2 is only providing enough power to account for its own weight and the electrical requirements of catering, hence the virtual absence of exhaust smoke and low engine noise.
Chapters:
0:00 Titles & The Tamar Devonian 18th July 2012
1:43 The Devonian Express 9th June 2021
4:03 The Cornish Riviera Express (Day 2) 28th June 2010
5:38 The Devonian 22nd October 2011
The full original uploads can be viewed here:
• Steam Mega-Power Flatt...
• Hard Working Staniers ...
• 5029 Nunney Castle + 6...
• 6024 King Edward 1 + 7...