Proper operation of a branch line locomotive?

[PLD]

but for longer distances, even tank engines were normally turned as bunker first running at speed was not pleasant for or popular with the crew. Especially for locos without a tender cab.

On older Tank locos maybe, but many crews were said to prefer bunker first on more modern Tank locos such as the LMS/BR Class 4 2-6-4s and Class 2 2-6-2s, and on lines with long tunnel sections such as some London suburban routes, bunker first was preferred for reasons of vision...

[Steven B]

One reason, particularly on branches with curves all over the place, for a turntable at the terminus is to equalise wear on the locomotive wheels.

In which case they'd turn the loco at the shed. A turntable was an expensive luxury most branches neither needed or warranted.

Happy modelling.

Steven B

[Bealman]

GWR branches often ran autocoaches which had a tank engine (usually a pannier), and controls at the coach end so it could be driven from there.

'Push-pull' working was also common on the Southern.

Yes, I'd forgotten about that.  Sorry, SR fans! Was it the M7 tanks that were fitted for those duties?

[martyn]

My own advice would be, as ever, study photos or trackplans of the area you are hoping to model. I would suggest that provision of a turntable may have depended on the length of the branch, and the type (tank or tender) locos rostered to work it.
It would seem that short(ish) branches worked exclusively, or almost so, by tank engines were unlikely to have one, and longer branches or those which had a significant number of tender engine workings would.
Note that some branches (eg Mildenhall, Suffolk) did have a turntable as the branch trains involved running to and from Cambridge with tender engines, and not just to the main line junction. Many branches did only run from terminus to main line junction, and I would suggest (no proof, other than looking at photos) that the main line junction usually did not have a turntable to serve the branch line loco.
Some significant mileage was put in bunker first by tank engines on some lines (think the 0-6-2 tanks working out of Liverpool St or Kings Cross suburban duties).
Martyn

[JasonBz]

One reason, particularly on branches with curves all over the place, for a turntable at the terminus is to equalise wear on the locomotive wheels.

In which case they'd turn the loco at the shed. A turntable was an expensive luxury most branches neither needed or warranted.

Happy modelling.



Steven B

Most I would agree with, but not all.

SORRY
I got that wrong
The T/Table at Princetown was mainly for turning the 19xx locos so they were "facing the drifts"  when used to clear snow from the line in a Dartmoor Winter -thats even more esoteric a reason

I was giving a realistic reason why one may find a turntable at a branch line terminus

[Bealman]

I have always thought that drivers would have preferred working bunker first because they'd have clearer vision without a lanky boiler sticking out in front of them, or is that just nonsense? 

[dodger]

GWR branches often ran autocoaches which had a tank engine (usually a pannier), and controls at the coach end so it could be driven from there.

'Push-pull' working was also common on the Southern.

Yes, I'd forgotten about that.  Sorry, SR fans! Was it the M7 tanks that were fitted for those duties?

Some of the M7's were push-pull fitted, but most of the 0-4-4T classes had some examples fitted. Not forgetting the A1X & P 0-6-0T in the early days.

Dodger

[PLD]

I have always thought that drivers would have preferred working bunker first because they'd have clearer vision without a lanky boiler sticking out in front of them, or is that just nonsense? 

Not at all nonsense... In fact exactly what I said 5 posts earlier... 

many crews were said to prefer bunker first on more modern Tank locos such as the LMS/BR Class 4 2-6-4s and Class 2 2-6-2s

[Bealman]

So you did.... sorry! Aussie Saturday night musing 

[LAandNQFan]

Inconsistencies in turntable provision can be historical and may have depended on ownership when the line was built.  Three branches in Ceredigion differed in that the Cardigan and Whitland put a turntable at Cardigan; the GWR who had taken over the Carmarthen and Cardigan put a turntable at Llandyssul when that was the terminus, then took it away and put one at Newcastle Emlyn when they gave up trying to go any further; but no provision for a turntable was made at the Aberayron terminus.   If you are not trying to be 100% historical, Rule One must apply!

[keithfre]

Larger locomotives that needed turning would be sent down the line to a station with a turntable if the branch terminus did not have one.

[JasonBz]

When working on a line with a fierce incline, the (kettle thing) steam loco should be smokebox first going up the hill, to keep the water level over the firebox corwn...or BOOM!

[violets49]

but for longer distances, even tank engines were normally turned as bunker first running at speed was not pleasant for or popular with the crew. Especially for locos without a tender cab.

On older Tank locos maybe, but many crews were said to prefer bunker first on more modern Tank locos such as the LMS/BR Class 4 2-6-4s and Class 2 2-6-2s, and on lines with long tunnel sections such as some London suburban routes, bunker first was preferred for reasons of vision...

You're having a laugh! On the Glasgow suburban routes bunker first running was NOT popular and only when there was no time to turn was bunker first running ever seen. I have NO idea how bunker first could be prefered for reasons of vision? Driver was on the wrong side and faceing the wrong way! Only on the Cathcart circle was there much in the way of bunker first running. (For obvious reasons) In fact, it was a practice for years to put main line locomotives arriving off of English expresses onto Circle trains to turn them. I don't know what went on 'doon the dunny' but as you couldn't see much down there anyway I don't know if it mattered. I'll ask Albert the engine next time I see him. He's the expert on the low level!

[PLD]

on lines with long tunnel sections such as some London suburban routes, bunker first was preferred for reasons of vision...

You're having a laugh!

I have NO idea how bunker first could be prefered for reasons of vision?

Think about it... Your in a Tunnel... It's dark and a confined space... at one end of the loco there's this chimney thing spewing steam and smoke which ain't helpful for visibility... Of course you'd want that end of the loco behind you!!
 

[JasonBz]

on lines with long tunnel sections such as some London suburban routes, bunker first was preferred for reasons of vision...

You're having a laugh!

I have NO idea how bunker first could be prefered for reasons of vision?

Think about it... Your in a Tunnel... It's dark and a confined space... at one end of the loco there's this chimney thing spewing steam and smoke which ain't helpful for visibility... Of course you'd want that end of the loco behind you!!
 

Lack of vision may well be the least of the footplatemens problems - being asphyxiated is a touch worse