Diesel Brake Tender

Press Release from Railway Vehicle Preservations:

Members of Railway Vehicle Preservations TPO crew have today announced plans to construct an item of rolling stock that failed to enter preservation, despite the last vehicles having been withdrawn from traffic in the 1970s – A Diesel Brake Tender.

The diesel brake tenders were introduced after it was discovered that the newly introduced diesels of the 1950’s and 1960’s had insufficient brake force when used on unfitted goods trains, so these vehicles were introduced to increase the brake force available. A total of 122 vehicles to various diagrams (1/555 to 1/558) were built and were numbered between B964000 and B964121. The vehicle would normally be placed in front of or just behind the diesel locomotive.

RVP member Phil Stanbridge initially came up with the idea while some vehicles at the Great Central Railway were about to be scrapped after having been purchased for spare parts. One of the vehicles was set aside for the project, while a feasibility study and then design work was undertaken. The project became known as “Project X” while this work was being undertaken, as the team wanted to keep it quiet until all hurdles had been overcome.

Once proven that it was feasible, RVP’s Draughtsman, Mick Yates, set about obtaining the drawings, of which the NRM were able to supply, and revised them for use with the underframe from a Mark 1 coach. Research has shown that the original vehicles were actually constructed using not just the bogies from both LMS and LNER coaches but also the underframes and roofs of the coaches.

The vehicle, which will be numbered B964122, the next in line, is currently under conversion from former Mark 1 CK M15208 at Rothley. As all the original vehicles came from LMS or LNER descendents and this conversion is from a BR Mark 1 a new diagram number has been created to accommodate the design, this being 1/559, which would have been the next number in the B.R. wagon diagram series.

Work has so far concentrated on:
- Design work on the chassis, brakes and body.
- Removing the bodywork from the donor coach.
- Removing the roof, keeping a section to form the top of the brake tender.
- Shortening the chassis to the required length.
- Obtaining the brake rigging.
- Obtaining the correct style of Oleo buffers.

It is anticipated that the vehicle will be completed within two years subject to the availability of funding. Once in operation it will be available for use at galas and for photographic charters.

RVP Trustee, Paul Harrison, commented: “I remember seeing these vehicles in my younger days and have always wished one had been preserved; now one will run again to demonstrate to the public and enthusiasts alike how the early days of the diesels needed braking assistance on the many unfitted trains that used to run. It will be something that you can’t see anywhere else, but on the Great Central Railway”

RVP Chairman, Tim Pryce, added: “The omission of this type of vehicle from our heritage collection is one that many people have commented on and I look forward to seeing the vehicle in use demonstrating how problems with new technology, which diesels were in the 50s and 60s, were overcome. They provided a solution to a problem that continued until continuous braking was available to all trains, i.e. unbraked trains were eliminated.”

More details at Railway Vehicle Preservations - Project X - Diesel Brake Tender

 

One in the flesh.
http://www.davidheyscollection.com/userimages/001-bill-wright-37-brake-tender-b.jpg

More here.
Diesel Brake Tenders

 

Is it april the first still? One way or another.... Its something I'd like to see!

 

I did suggest it was an April Fools on WNXX given the posting date, but it appears they may be serious actually, good luck to them in that case.

 

It would look good with green EE Type 3s or the Clayton - great idea

 

There's been a thread about brake tenders a while back - lots of photos etc but a search fails to un-earth it.

 

I remember that thread - wasn't it one chap's archive photos?

 

It was suggested as an April Fool on The Works as well.

 

That was me I am afraid though when I realised it was genuine , I gave Brian my opologies.

Best regards
Chris:

 

Glad to hear it is genuine. Great idea. Look forward to seeing it pushed along in front of the green 25.

 

Was this the thread you were thinking of, Sheff? It's on another site, but it's one that stuck in my mind - it's a big one, but I think there's brake tender shots in it.

If not, well, it's a great read in its own right. Enjoy!

LNER/BR PHOTOS FROM 1960-1980 - RMweb

 

No, it was def on here as I posted on it. But good site as you say.

 

Meh! I wonder where it's gone, then

 

When the forum had a major crash & changed forum software a couple of years or so ago, weren't a lot of threads/posts lost in the process?

 

I glad its not a april fools and look forward to the photos with green diesels and the windcutters in the future!!!

 

Does anyone know when one was last used? I can only remember seeing a brake tender on the North Eastern Region, where else were they used?

 

A large number of unfitted trains from Toton working to Washwood Heath; Wellingborough, Corby steel works and March were common workings that had / required DBT (Diesel Brake Tender) support.

 

I remember a few of them being parked in the BR yard at Didcot in the late 70's

 

Thanks Fred, any idea when that finished?

 

I seem to remember seeing a few at Barry scrap yard around 1975-6