Today is Father's day, and since I got to have the final say how and where our family would spend the day, the decision was quite easy
First prize would be to be in tow behind a Class 15F,
http://www.reefsteamers.com/css/News/2016/2016.011.19%20The%20Return%20of%203046.mp4, but that idea is on ice for a while due to various reasons.
Next best - but even better in some ways: A visit to
The Rand Society Of Model Engineers They are about a hour's drive away from where I stay.
A slightly smaller version engine did duty today
https://youtu.be/mkQM2V3uNeURailway Station:
Apparently the "day to go" is on the first Sunday of a month. Then there are many more locomotives, and the engine museum is also opened and the engines are started. (I saw these running a couple of years ago and definitely worth the trip to go see). Pity I missed it this time round, but I'll go back soon.
I took some pics inside the engine room:1925 Ruston Hornsby Size 7 Class H Oil engineBore: 250mm
Stroke: 457mm
Swept volume: 23L
Mass: 8.95T
1911 Deuts E12
Tangye FL9B Oil engine28HP @ 330 rpm
Bore: 220mm
Stroke: 408MM
Swept volume: 15.5L
1929 BlackstoneSpring injection Diesel
Blackstone Oil engine50HP @ 450 rpm
HornsbyPetrol
1926 Petter S Oil engine12-14 bhp @ 525rpm
Driving a 50Hz 3kVa 230V alternator
National gas engine
1898 Ericsson Hot Air Pumping Engine