If any of you guys know where "Harewood Bank" is you will know what I mean.
We used to take The Dalesman to the steam rally up there in top gear and the sound was absolutely amazing, no gear noise at all just the engine barking up the chimney and a slight rise and fall of the front spring on each power stroke. We used to just give the simpling valve a couple of prods on the sharp bend near the top and that sounded even more awesome echoing through the trees.
When driving through a town on the level, most people could not hear it approaching it is so quiet, we had a few people step out in front of us until we realised, after that we usually let everyone know we were coming through in the usual way.
It was sometimes a bit un-nerving until you got used to it, but when it is working hard the crankshaft flexes and if you are sat in the steering seat, the flywheel is right in front of you with a fair old sideways wobble going on.
Happy days.
Phil