TESTING TIME

Series

Series Name
Mining Review 6th Year

Issue

Issue No.
3
Date Released
Nov 1952
Stories in this Issue:

Story

Story No. within this Issue
3 / 4
Summary
BFI synopsis: the loco testing station, Rugby, where main-line trains are put through their paces and their performances assessed.
NCB Commentary - The railways are among the nation’s biggest coal users. Naturally, they want to know all about where it goes. At Rugby is a big locomotive testing station, where main line engines are put through their paces and their performances assessed.
Up in the control room, technicians keep an eye on the whole layout. The loco is on rollers and is linked with a dynamometer to record the pull. Pounding away at the equivalent of 50 miles an hour, driver and fireman ride on the footplate of Merchant Navy class engine 35022. Every pound of coal to go into the firebox is weighed. On this job it’s the fireman who does most of the work, keeping up an even fire throughout the tests. Every shovelful of coal that goes in is recorded by this observer.
Each time he presses the button, a mark is made on a moving band of paper upstairs in the control room. This recording grea analyses all the factors in the engine’s performance.
Everything that may affect performance and fuel consumption is recorded - the smoke box characteristics - the evennedd and depth of the coals in the firebox. And during the course of the tests, which may last six months on a single type of locomotive, the backroom boys are constantly recording, analysing and codifying their knowledge.
For the men on the footplate it’s hot work and it’s hard work - "like driving a [illegible] going uphill all day" said the fireman. But it’s all in pursuit of the better and more economical use of our coal.
Researcher Comments
BFI sources suggest that this story was filmed on the 27th June 1952. Commentary recorded 3 October 1952.
Keywords
Railways; Science and technology; Engineering
Locations
England; Rugby; Warwickshire
Written sources
British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
Film User   Vol.8 No.87 January 1954, p32.
The National Archives COAL 32   /3 Scripts for Mining Review, 1949-1956
Credits:
Director
Basil Somner
Production Co.
Documentary Technicians Alliance
Sponsor
National Coal Board

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