A ride on the footplate of S160 2-8-0, 5820 'Big Jim', from Keighley to Oakworth, 14th March 2016. With much thanks to all of the staff involved at the KWVR for a very enjoyable day.
I am amazed that when in the UK during WW2 that the American whistles were not removed. The A4 s had their whistles removed because there was a fear people would confuse them with air raid sirens. I know the S160s were passing through Britain to move to Europe after D-Day.
I read that the British loco crews loved these Chime whistles, constantly pulling on them, because they'd heard them in the Western movies of the day !
They probably were playing out their fantasy that they were outrunning some outlaws and blasting out those 5-chimers to tell the sheriff's posse that they're coming in, with bad guys on their tails!
Cracking locomotives...despite their austere appearance -it was cathartic when the day came I started to like it! -if only we had a line that could handle UP's spare FEF-3 ! -and OH that WHISTLE !!!
Imagine this loco in war time it charging down the tracks passed battlefields being shot at by ju 87 dive bombers as it try’s to get supplies to the allied soldiers
Terrific ride! Pretty good power to weight ratio with three coaches. Was that a special charter or a normal service? It didn't stop at Ingrow, and the gates were closed at Oakworth as you approached, which is unusual.
