The_Rail_WAy
Member
- Joined
- 20 Jul 2008
- Messages
- 458
Quite an amazing conspiaracy and a cause of great debate amongst enthusiasts and the general public alike the notion of the 'Strategic Steam Reseve' caused much conspiracy and debate amongst enthusiasts and the general publc alike.
However, in 2012 the rumours and conspirecies are all but quashed. And here are a few of the main factors against its ever existence:
What was the need to keep it a sceret when the soviet russia, sweded and other countries made there ssr's quite open. Britain was open about its strategic food reserve, green godesses, 'dad's' army etc. A nuclear/natural disaster would of all but ripped up any infrastructure anyway thus any locomotive wether it be steam or diesel would struggle tomove around anyway.
The growing preservation movement of the late 70's early 80's was unknowingly our ssr - such lines had the locomotives and knowledge to maintain such that they were 'it'. Added to this the NCB's use of austerity tanks until the early 80's and the army's continued training of steam locomotives that if such an occurence was to take place these factors indeed would be our SSR.
Added to the fact the sheer complexity of maintaining steam locos undergound or in a tunnel for such a long time was practically impossible and the fact that the rumoured location - next to Box Tunnel was never ever proved to be such a location for a vast amount of steam engines.
Yes a believe there was a back-up plan for the railways, but in this age we can finally acknowledge that the Strategic Steam Reserve was indeed a myth and thank god the situation never did arise to have one. I was wondering what other members on the forums opinion on this amazing debate are.
Fire away, The_Rail_WAy:
However, in 2012 the rumours and conspirecies are all but quashed. And here are a few of the main factors against its ever existence:
What was the need to keep it a sceret when the soviet russia, sweded and other countries made there ssr's quite open. Britain was open about its strategic food reserve, green godesses, 'dad's' army etc. A nuclear/natural disaster would of all but ripped up any infrastructure anyway thus any locomotive wether it be steam or diesel would struggle tomove around anyway.
The growing preservation movement of the late 70's early 80's was unknowingly our ssr - such lines had the locomotives and knowledge to maintain such that they were 'it'. Added to this the NCB's use of austerity tanks until the early 80's and the army's continued training of steam locomotives that if such an occurence was to take place these factors indeed would be our SSR.
Added to the fact the sheer complexity of maintaining steam locos undergound or in a tunnel for such a long time was practically impossible and the fact that the rumoured location - next to Box Tunnel was never ever proved to be such a location for a vast amount of steam engines.
Yes a believe there was a back-up plan for the railways, but in this age we can finally acknowledge that the Strategic Steam Reserve was indeed a myth and thank god the situation never did arise to have one. I was wondering what other members on the forums opinion on this amazing debate are.
Fire away, The_Rail_WAy: