West Somerset Railway General Discussion

Yes, but your line is so flat that if any assistance is needed, the guard can just get out and push

Tom

 

In fact, I'm surprised Paul Hitch isn't constantly posting that they don't need anything bigger than an 0-4-0 for normal services, only needing a bigger 0-6-0 when steam heat is required.

 

Ah, but the problem is that they use these very heavy Mk1s, and in such long trains too...

 

In 'Railway Adventure' Tom Rolt describes doing just that in the early days of the Tallylyn

 

I've been told length doesn't matter......

 

Fnar Fnar..............

 

... except that if you have great length it attracts high maintenance

Tom

 

Its not keeping it under control that causes unexpected maintenance costs

 

Why would the WSR rule book not allow such assistance - in today's world it is a common enough occurance and it is not rocket science to produce the necessary operating policy if there is a need for it. It is no more unsafe than double heading a train.

Peter

 

In times past, unless rescuing a disabled train you could only assist in the rear where it was authorised in the Sectional appendix. That seems to have changed but the Network Rail rulebook is confusing on the issue. TW1 'Preparation and Movement of Trains' states:
15 Locomotive assisting in the rear of a train
15.1 You must only assist a train in the rear where authorised in the Sectional Appendix. You must make sure that the assisting locomotive is always coupled to the train except where authorised in the Sectional Appendix......

It then goes on to say
16 Locomotives at both ends of the train or in tandem
16.1 Trains with locomotives at both ends of the train. You can operate a train with powered locomotives at both ends of the train in the following circumstances.
• When the rear locomotives are providing traction power.
• When the rear locomotives are providing an electrical train supply only. You must make sure that the automatic brake is connected and operative throughout the train.
Driver locomotive on rear: You must reach a clear understanding with the driver of the leading locomotive as to what is required before the journey or movement begins.

 

There you have it - what could be easier? Just because it is not in one company's operating procedures does not mean that it is not in others. No dispensation needed provided you have the necessary method of working. Most TOCs dont need it as they only operate multiple unit type trains and never touch loco hauled stuff. I've been on the NYMR for nearly 30 years now and assisting in the rear has always been a common method of operation there. Section 16.1 says all that needs to be said.

Peter

 

At various times recently WSR services have run with diesel rear assistance.

An example that comes to mind occurred during the visit of Flying Scotsman. The noble
lady slipped to a halt by MP170 on day two and thereafter was 'pushed' by a Crompton.
The downside of this of course is that there are then two locos to 'run round' at each
terminus.


The special Timetable in force during the FS visit was such that there was sufficient
time between scheduled set arrival and departure times for the requisite loco movements
to be accomplished. This is not the case I submit wrt MD1 ie the Service to which the
QB consist will be attached at Bishops Lydeard , which has a 'turn round' in practice
of c 30 minutes at Minehead, often less, such that changing crews, running round and
taking water is invariably a challenge (without the added challenge of running round
a'diesel').

It is for thesse reasons and concerns wrt limited non dining seating on the two
important dep times ( ie 12.35 ex BL and 14.30 ex MD ) that the possibilities of
using 53808 with a heavy train is arguably apposite ?

Michael Rowe

ps There is also a cost element. The raison d'etre for attaching the QB set to
a scheduled service is presumably to save on haulage costs. ( The QB from
published figures is currently at best a break even business.) The hire of a
diesel from DEPG rightly involves a charge,

 

Flying ? Scotsman at Eastcombe at a stand, being rescued by a real engine.....

 

Nah. It was just waiting for it to catch up.

 

So do London Underground when they operate steam specials with a Class 20 on the rear. It is allow to give a shove to get going (mainly to maintain the headway). It is all managed by risk and method statements

 

When I worked in Victoria I used to often watch the steam specials depart, and for most of them the diesel at the back was clearly providing assistance and it wasn't always coupled either as I saw a few drop back once the special was under way.