Life on the edge - the Diary of a C5

Unread post by **Hell Razor5543** » 08 Mar 2017, 17:04

Well, Otterchops, now you have a functional cruise control you can maintain a legal speed, even when handling hills. I know that Bluebird can achieve speeds in excess of the motorway speed limit. I normally only use the Cruise Control when travelling through road works with speed cameras monitoring.

Xantianut · Unread post by **Xantianut** » 12 Mar 2017, 16:28

Hello, friends!

That was a busy week. 1st I took Maman and Papa to Shrewsbury. Neither Papa nor I have been there, although his SatNav had a nervous twitch that sent him through there in Old Blue Fifi! This time, Hex The SatNav behaved and not only found the best way there but a nice car park where there were plenty of relatives for me to chat to. When they came back, Papa had a new model train. New to him anyway and he was excited. Then Hex was silly so Papa switched her off and followed the signs instead!

Then yesterday, we went to North Wales to deliver some more kitchen units. I like Wales, the air is clean and the roads are superb when you have a car as powerful and sweet handling as me! We stopped for Human Food and while we were there a steam train went past which pleased everyone!

So feet up today and a rest. I've earned it!!!!!

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 12 Mar 2017, 17:56

Getting around a bit now

Always good to see new bits of the old country...

Xantianut · Unread post by **Xantianut** » 16 Mar 2017, 16:40

Hello, friends!

I am a happy girl. Papa has given me a much needed bath and vacuumed me out. He has not cleaned my windows inside though. He's up to something. He tells me we are collecting a friend of his and taking him to the Severn Valley Railway.

Not complaining. Papa has made me shine and reinforced a couple of my water hoses where they have been rubbing on my engine's acoustic hood. Papa thinks this hose may not be for a C5 diesel. I am pretty sure it isn't!!! However, Papa's answer to many things is duct tape. At least he has chosen black duct tape!

Have fun

Otterchops.

Xantianut · Unread post by **Xantianut** » 20 Mar 2017, 00:35

Hello, friends!!!

Well, that was Papa's first railway weekend of the year. We went to the Severn Valley to watch the steam gala. Papa rode on Friday then did something called "linesiding" on Saturday. This, I reckon, involves standing around for hours waiting for a train then taking video and still photos. He was very excited about the 9F they had, a very impressive machine painted green with no less than 10 driving wheels that is so powerful it treated all the trains it pulled with utter contempt! It was just so effortless, bit like me really!

Papa is now exhausted and in a lot of pain. Even my hydraulics could not stop him from whimpering over the bumps.

Oh, and he has to process his pics and video. Now, I've had a good chat with Canon and he tells me that Papa could set him up to avoid having to process the pics but Papa is a stubborn old fool and likes to do things his way. Makes him feel in control I suppose.

I rather enjoyed watching the trains but I am looking forward to the diesel gala. That's more like it. Can I have one of those 8 cylinder Paxman diesels? 400 bhp? Yes please!!!

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 20 Mar 2017, 12:12

I want to see the pictures

I'm a great fan of both the SVR - one of my favourite preserved lines - and of the 9F

As you say, a very impressive beast... I well remember standing by 92220 Evening Star a few years ago as it was getting ready to depart from Minehead... They are the nearest machine you can get to a living thing... Awesome in the extreme.

Unread post by **Hell Razor5543** » 20 Mar 2017, 16:21

Otterchops, ask Papa if he can get you a Deltic engine. Bit weird, as it has pistons arranged in a triangular formation (six pistons and three crankshafts per triangle group, I think). CitroJim knows of a video where a Deltic locomotive is starting up in cold conditions.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 20 Mar 2017, 17:15

Ahh! now you're talking. The Deltic (BR Class 55) is just magical... I have stood by one as it started and ran in static standby generator service at a high-powered radio transmitting station... That was in 1976 and it caused me to fall in love with big diesels.. I've never recovered...

The Deltic is a supercharged two-stroke diesel with opposed pistons in the layout James describes - hence the name...

They smoke a bit - they could be mistaken for the steam locomotives they replaced and they used to make King's Cross a bit fuggy at times... Mind you, so did all the old-school diesels when idling in the big London Trainsheds..

Hell Razor5543 wrote:CitroJim knows of a video where a Deltic locomotive is starting up in cold conditions.

This one James? My favourite Youtube video I have to confess....

Sadly not a Deltic but a Class 37 with an English Electric V12 engine - I've stood by one starting, albeit in warmer weather, and walked past it whilst idling. Heavenly!

Here's a Deltic starting. Look at the smoke

And it sounds like a bag of spanners too...

The static generator sets ones I knew were kept warm for instant starting and load acceptance...

demag · Unread post by **demag** » 20 Mar 2017, 17:24

Reminds me of an XUD starting in cold weather.

Sent from my Wileyfox Swift using Tapatalk

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 20 Mar 2017, 18:28

demag wrote:Reminds me of an XUD starting in cold weather.

Doesn't it just!!!

Slightly less smoke though

Xantianut · Unread post by **Xantianut** » 02 Apr 2017, 09:58

Hello, friends!

I'm not keen on Deltics, i would prefer either a Maybach or a Paxman. Yes, they are smoky but what a sound they make! Especially the 8 cyl horizontal engines in the Clayton, particularly when the turbo spools up. We're going to see that at the end of May. I shall ask Papa.

Anyway, yesterday we went to Northycote Farm for a craft fair then had a sort of wander that ended up in Rugeley. What a dreary place! Normally Maman and Papa find a nice pub for a drink but they had to make do with Costa Coffee! We also went to see a display of automata which included a little mule who drew himself when you turned the handle! Papa is working on the video for that. No point asking me to help, I am an engine management expert!

Other than some diesel and a good clean inside and out nothing happening with repairs. I am a good girl....

Xantianut · Unread post by **Xantianut** » 23 Apr 2017, 16:35

Hello, friends!

Papa is not well.

We're he a proper diesel car I would suggest he checks his injectors and turbo because his exhaust emissions are appalling!!! He has spent the last 3 days now scuttling to the loo and my MOT I'd due soon and I will need him to check me over 1st!

However, I do not understand humans at all! Next door's cat has taken up car mechanics, well, she lies underneath me a lot!!!!

Unread post by **Hell Razor5543** » 23 Apr 2017, 16:41

Tell Papa that black tea (no milk) and dry toast (no butter or margarine) may help. Sometimes, if humans have an upset digestive system dairy products can prolong the problems.

demag · Unread post by **demag** » 23 Apr 2017, 16:41

Dicing with death if your suspension goes down!

Sent from my Wileyfox Swift using Tapatalk

Unread post by **elma** » 23 Apr 2017, 19:54

I tend to put mine down just in case Kelvin decides to have a look underneath.

I'm more likely to find him in the boot really. I've been leaving the doors and boot wide open in this weather and he has a bit of a thing for getting in car boots.

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Life on the edge - the Diary of a C5

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