Autocoach-fitted locos

What locos are/will be serviceable in 2015 and are fitted for autocoach working?

Kieran

 

Steam railmotor 93.

 

6412

 

Existing GWR Fitted:
Railmotor 93*
1420/1442/1450*/1466
6412+/30+/35*
5572
(all as originally fitted when built)

Fitted in pres era:
5542*

* = currently thought to be servicable
+ = currently thought to be under active overhaul

Other Companies
30053?

 

I think that the SR push-pull system was very different from the GWR's but cannot explain the technicalities.

To be really pedantic, the SR and the LBSCR before it never used the term auto-trains. Motor trains or just push-pull were the more common terms.

Regardless of terminology, it would be good to see 30053 able to work in this manner. The Swanage Railway hopes to do so, and has a couple of suitable coaches available, although much work will be needed o restore them to working order. Unlike the GWR auto-coaches, these were not purpose-built but were adapted Maunsell main line stock.

 

are the 4575 locos fitted at both ends? I assume the others are

 

30053 definitely isn't currently fitted for motor working - it would need an air pump.

Other surviving Southern locos that historically worked motor trains, but aren't currently equipped, include H class 263, Terrier 55 (possibly some of the other terriers) and the various SECR P class locos.

The three pre-grouping constituents of the SR all had different systems, but after some accidents with the LSWR system (which was a Heath-Robinson contraption of wires and pulleys), the SR standardised in a hurry on the LBSCR system, which used compressed air actuators to move the regulator. The LBSCR locos were of course air-braked anyway, so already had a supply of compressed air; former LSWR and SECR locos that were converted to the system needed a Westinghouse pump and air cylinder to be added, which explains why, amongst the Drummond M7s, it was only the long-frame variant that were so fitted. (The air tank went between the front buffer beam and leading driving wheels; on the short-frame M7s there wasn't enough space). The air pump on such locos was solely for the motor train gear; the locos fitted remained vacuum only as far as braking was concerned.

Tom

 

Actually none of the 45/55xx were originally fitted with auto gear. IIRC this was a late 50's B.R. addition for service in the South Wales valleys. Ray.

 

August - November 1953 according to RCTS.

My understanding is that the reason for having the gear at both ends was because the GWR system didn't work very well through more than one intermediate trailer, so 3 and 4 coach autotrains were best marshalled with the loco in the middle, so it would be surprising if the 4575s weren't so fitted.

 

One of the 55xx's that visited Llan a few years back was auto fitted, on the bunker end only. Possibly 5526? Is that the South Devon one?

 

I posted this link in the Autocoach thread.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GWR_Autocoach

5572 is the "one ender".

 

I seem to recall reading that there was until fairly recent times a rule prohibiting a loco (other than a banker) from pushing more than two passenger-carrying coaches. Was that so, or is it a myth?

 

Empty head, Empty post, - clicked on wrong button

 

Not sure that could be universally true - photographic evidence seems to suggest the North Eastern at least had 3-coach pull and push trains.

See e.g.

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/bedlington/
http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/m/monkseaton_second/

In addition, there were stations with propelling moves with full passenger trains; for example Dorchester South, in which all up trains had to run past the station, then set back into the platform, pick up any passengers and then continue on their way forwards again towards Bournemouth / London. See http://www.signalbox.org/diagrams.php?id=721

Tom

 

W8 worked push-pull trains on the Bembridge branch and I think the Ventnor West branch as well. We have two four-wheeler carriages which were part of these trains and the brake coach has end windows and control equipment fitted (including a compressed air whistle!) though I doubt it is in working order.

 

5526 was/is bunker only, but currently out of service. 5542 was single ended but is now fully operational front and rear and we're just itching to use both ends at the same time again!!

John

 

No it isn't - UJs at both ends

 

Only going by what it said in the article.