LE Movements, ECS and Test Runs 2015

Nearest one to Crewe would be the ELR?....

There are lines that are "approved" for high speed testing, the MHR & GCR being two that I know of, but even then I believe dispensation has to be sought for it to happen.

 

I am a little surprised they sent 60009 straight on to the ML after having such extensive work carried out. Axlebox problems with loco's are hard to check for on a FTR exam particularly when the loco is confined to running up and down a small yard size area. With the current WCRC situation I would have thought sending No.9 to a preserved line for testing & running in would have been the sensible thing to do. That is the intention for newly overhauled/repaired loco's from Crewe in the future with 46100 due to be the first out hopefully.
Preserved lines currently approved for 60mph testing are the MHR, GCR & SVR. Not sure if there are any others. Perhaps sending No.9 to one of the lines mentioned after she has been repaired might be the wise thing to do.......

 

Even if they can do high speed under testing conditions, would a preserve line offer enough length ?, I presume the SVR bit refers to the Bewdley - Kidderminster section, even if defective, is that enough length of line for a box to becoming hot enough to show itself as defective ?.

 

i can see the option of the SVR and MHR because they are main line connected, so arranging a loaded test run, could be a case of coaching stock for loco turns up diesel hauled then the run to the future depot becomes the loaded test run, with a Diesel in the mix to act as insurance for instance
In the MHR case, it could be down to guildford, then over the surrey hills, then down to east croydon then across london to southall . i dont know what the route from Kiderminster would be, either to tysley, or where ever the nearest from Carnforth ,or Crewe

 

When you're doing 60, it wont take long!

Other question is - would the lines want this foisted on them?.........

 

ELR has dispensation on the Heywood section for higher speed testing.
Agree with your other points, particularly as reportedly new axle boxes have been fitted rather than just overhauling the old ones. The determination to meet the commitment of the Hadrian train was admirable but the wisdom of trying to do so without sufficient appropriate testing was a misjudgement, the rules of hindsight being liberally applied as well as common sense.
Had a suitable substitute been available perhaps a different decision over 60009 might have been taken.

 

It's a good point. I wouldn't be very keen on it if I was a loco owner. However, in this case it appears they don't have much choice.

 

Don't you also need to reweigh a loco and a few other things for NR use if it's been on a low loader ?, might be more trouble than it's worth taking it to a non NR connected railway, I don't get the point about towing it to one either, surely the axleboxes are getting use whether the loco's in steam or not ?, and a reduced speed move would make getting there more difficult.

Although I can understand the convenience of having Carnforth at the other end, perhaps a daylight run up the WCML isn't the best option for a test run (WCRC themselves use the Hellifield circuit), perhaps a late evening run out to Chester/Shrewsbury would present less risk ?.

 

Shame they didn't use the old Crewe-Shrewsbury test run. Its still a surprisingly sparsely used route with two trains an hour bunched-up within around 12 minutes of each other on weekdays.

 

According to the daily wail it's already happened (and cost £400.000 for the test run! Read the photo captions.)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/t...ght-months-action-thanks-400-000-upgrade.html

 

My god the mail is awful. And that piece is also awful.

 

The West Somerset also has a dispensation for test running at speed between Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren. It has the advantage that this section is not often in use for internal passenger services. It has been used previously for testing newly overhauled main-line steam locos, in addition to ToC crew training and testing of diesels etc. I understand that there is a possibility it may well be used again for testing main line steam locos quite soon. It has the advantage of a reasonably long straight section, with turning and servicing facilities nearby.

David

 

No 9 was regularly shaken down on the SVR when she was based there, used to sound wonderful accelerating hard from sterns.

cheers Dave

 

That explains why Spud 1 is being done there!

 

Both eminently sensible. Chester has a triangle and so has another route from Crewe, that via Middlewich to Northwich. Setting aside those heritage lines where they have serious engineering facilities, most of the locations where major overhauls are done have relatively lightly used track nearby. One cannot fault the traditional approach of yard running followed by a cautious light engine run (albeit these days probably with a support coach) before moving on to a loaded test run out of harm's way. I'm no engineer, but I would have thought that a hot box would be as likely to show up with speed as with load. Can any mechanical engineers give a view?

 

I'm trying to remember if 60163 test is today.

 

Deleted, quad post.

 

Deleted, quad post.