The Book of Samson…
The latest book in the occasional series of titles dealing with the transport collections has arrived – The Book of Samson…
It was written by after the project was completed, chronicling the story of the construction of our new build steam locomotive ‘Samson’ and describes the process carried out largely by David Young in the creation of this recreation of the 1874 original. It also includes a history of the original Samson and its manufacturer, Stephen Lewin of Poole, the contemporary narrow gauge industrial locomotive scene, a chapter on other narrow gauge locomotives and tramways in Weardale plus an extensive collection of photographs, the majority in colour.
It is published by RCL Publications and publisher Roy Link has done a stunning job of putting the book together. Needless to say I am delighted with it!
This 144 page casebound book contains 255 photographs, 14 drawings, 2 paintings, 3 engravings and 2 maps – all for just £18.50.
It will be available very shortly from the shop at Beamish and for those who have asked about obtaining plans and details with a view to making a model of Samson, you will find scale drawings as well as copies of the originals David produced for the project within the covers. The differences between the new Samson and the original are also described.
What next then?! This has taken many months of work to bring to fruition so it will be a little while before the next book, which is likely to be one describing the overall transport collections at Beamish – which presents something of a challenge in its scale!
I can’t wait but will it be available exclusively at beamish? Thanks, George
Hi George, it will be available direct from the publisher as well, plus his usual outlets of supply but I don’t know the list of these. So not exclusive to Beamish though obviously we would like to sell as many as possible ourselves! Best wishes, Paul
Thanks paul, i ask as i live a little far away from Beamish, but i am interested in its progress. thanks, George
Hi Paul I have read the book and I think you have done a wonderful job with it. You certainly have a way with words and your descriptions on the progress of the build are great. Looking through the book and seeing all the work as it progressed brought back all the 3 years of work David did both at Beamish and in his workshop. I remember every bit and the highs and the lows when he thought something was good or something not right. It is a great tribute to all who worked on Samson, including yourself, and I personally can’t thank you enough. Maureen
I’ll spend my £18.50 during my next trip to Beamish. Hope it’s still in stock early September. Rather the Museum profits than other retailers. The description & images from the book look like making it an excellent accompanying volume (or vice-versa!) to the new edition of ‘Railways of Weardale’ in preparation by the North Eastern Railway Association.
Hi Paul, I purchased this fantastic book from the gift shop today and so far I am very impressed. I was thinking about the purpose of the two gears fitted to the wheels on the side of Samson (I know one is connected to the rest of the gear chain) and I was wondering why a gear not attached to the rest of the gear chain would be fitted to the wheel when I remembered the blenkinsop locomotive which had a toothed wheel on one (or both?) Side which engaged with a toothed rail on the side of the track and I wondered if that was the case with Samson. If so it may be a possibility that Samson did indeed travel on the incline at the tramway using a toothed rail layed by the side of the track, which the gears engaged with to help the engine climb the hill.
Just a guess, but it seems possible to me.
Thanks, oliver
Hi Oliver
I’m glad that you like the book! Regarding the gears, these are described on Page 25 and my theory is that the need for extended crankpins on the leading coupled wheels was most simply expedited by using a duplicate wheel casting as used on the rear axle. The Blenkinsop design really reflected an apprehension amongst early locomotive designers that relying solely on the wheel-rail interface would produce insufficient ‘grip’ for satisfactory operation. Hedley and Co’s experiments at Wylam soon proved that there was adequate grip for adhesion without a toothed gear-wheel and rack rail, as had been applied by Blenkinsop on the Middleton line. There would have been no need for Samson to traverse the incline as far as I can see, and a rack-railway design for hill-climbing is quite a separate technology (usually the coupled wheels are for support and guidance, whilst the drive is provided by the toothed wheel on the rack). A further complication would come from the pair of gears that would engage the rack rail and the fact that these are coupled by rods as well.
Its an interesting thought though and thank you for the interest in the book!
Best wishes
Paul
Hi Paul,
My name is Kathryn and I work in the Gift Shop of the Durham Dales Centre in Stanhope and we would like to stock your book.
Could you email and let us know whom your publisher is with contact details, thank you.
My appologies for using this method of contacting you but could not find any other contact details.
Many thanks, Kathryn
Hi Kathryn – if you contact Roy Link via this site: http://narrowgaugeandindustrial.co.uk/pages/contact-us he is the publisher of the book and can advise on obtaining the book for sale at the Dales Centre.
Beamish isn’t able to supply wholesale I’m afraid though we hold stocks here on Roy Link’s behalf if you can reach an arrangement with him.
Best wishes,
Paul
Many thanks Paul I will give contact Roy, thank you Kathryn.