Page 21 - May June 2000

RAILROAD REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW by Paul Doggett
The Great Survivor
by Tim Owen; 32 pages; £4.95p + p&p
I was asked to review this book as I believe a fair number of NMRA members have been pulled by, ridden on or driven FR (Furness Railway to all those who don’t know) #20. This is an inside cylinder 0-4-0 tender engine built by Sharpe Stewart of Manchester in December 1862. It was a standard SS design which only worked the Furness until 1870, when it was sold to Barrow Haematite Steel Co, (BHSC). After conversion to a saddle tank, it worked for them for the next 90 years!
The book outlines the history of this loco and its sisters, as six were sold to BHSC. They continued in work for years, and hard work it seems to have been. A very interesting photo of #7 (FR18) taken in 1953 shows the wheel spokes are bent by sheer hard work, which I have never seen before.
The book gives a brief history of the class and their work on the FR and BHSC. There are plenty of photos, from new till #20’s placement in a school playground, and then its complete restoration at Marconi Marine (Vickers of Barrow to most of us) and its return to steam on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite railway.
The author is Tim Owen, who will be recognised as lead singer with “Live Steam”, by members who have stayed over at Derek Milby’s Ulverston weekends. I have to say that Sharpe Stewart 0-4-0’s are not at the top of my list of favourite locos, in fact they probably don’t come in the top 1000, so it was with a little apprehension that I started this book, but it proved an excellent read, and once started I read it right through, enjoying every word. It is well written, giving enough detail to be interesting but not boring. Included is a
very nice 7mm/ft. drawing for anyone wishing to build a very different type of loco. I really do recommend this book.
Copies available from Tim Owen, 11 Fairfield, Flookburgh, Grange over Sands, Cumbria LA11 7NB. Also from Camden Books - 01373 830151
VIDEO REVIEW by Paul Doggett
The Lakeside & Haverthwaite F.R. No.20
24 mins. £15 + p&p from Peter Croskerry, 4 Sun St. Ulverston LA12 7BX
(Or from Derek Milby at meets , £15)
You have read the book (I hope) now here’s the video. It starts with a quick tour of station and yard areas. There are one or two ugly mugs that NMRA members will recognise, including a certain Derek Milby.
There are some very nice views of the loco, also hand sanding of the rails. The signalman is shown setting the road, and No. 20 starts off. Next are views of the footplate crew at “work” and from the footplate out over the line.
The loco is turned out in superb condition, and some nice run pasts are included, the tape being set in one of England’s most beautiful areas, the south Lakes.
At Lakeside there is an interview with a passenger which could be shorter. The train is shown running back to Haverthwaite complete with crew drinking tea (I presume!) and again some very nice filming. The subsequent interview with the train crew is again perhaps a bit too long.
The film maker is an excellent cameraman - although it is only 24 minutes long, it is a quality video which
should appeal to both railway enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike.
State Statutes for Railroad Crossing Signs Peter Everitt
From a CB&Q drawing dated July 8th 1927.
IOWA...
Requires a sign with large distinct letters to warn persons of railway and necessity of looking out for trains. Words not specified.
ILLINOIS...
Requires both sides of board painted in capital letters 9” high “RAILROAD CROSSING” or “LOOK OUT FOR THE CARS”.
KANSAS...
Requires a board painted on each side “LOOK OUT FOR THE CARS”.
MINNESOTA...
Requires a proper and conspicuous sign, but does not require any certain wording.
MISSOURI...
Requires each side of board painted with capital letters at least 9” high with words “RAILROAD CROSSING”.
SOUTH DAKOTA...
Requires a sign with large and distinct letters, warning persons of crossing.
WISCONSIN...
Requires large sign painted in large letters, both sides “LOOK OUT FOR THE CARS” visible 100’ each side of crossing.
No statute in Montana,Wyoming, Nebraska or Colorado.
The CB&Q instruction given on the drawing is: “Std road crossing sign shall be erected at every crossing where there is any need of it whether required by a statute or not.”
The standard sign contained all the different required wording and allowed the railroad to cut through all State to State differences.
JUNE 2000 21
Geoff Meek