THE GREAT BRITAIN IV

I was looking at this on UK Steam Info and wondered why for the Sunday 24 April leg out of Penzance iis diesel hauled to Bristol,70000 and 70013 work into Penzance on the Saturday so why cant they and the train be hauled to St Blazey for turning and be hauled back with train to Penzance ready for the run to Bristol?
The King and Castle did this in June,so why not the Brits? It would save the light engine path to get them back east and give continuous steam from Penzance to Paddington, surely a better proposition for the punters?

 

A sensible thought, but I believe RTC are using the two Brits on an eastbound tour the following week?

 

Yes I believe its a reverse of the previous GB's in that respect.

 

Also what is on uksteam isn't what the RTC are advertising. The RTC blurb at the moment says out from Bristol with the two Brits and back with D1015 on the Saturday (23/04/11)

Andrew

 

I wish D1015 would be ready to do this leg, but cant see it happening. Probably be a 47 although a pair of 37s would be better. Still looking forward to seeing the Brits,going to start planning shots soon!!!!

 

Current RM puts D1015 out of use til maybe 2012 with traction motor repairs, wheelset replacement and a repaint.

 

well it will be interesting to see if both brits do double head on the GBIV as 70000 is seemingly booked to be in two places at once on Saturday 23 April, double heading with 70013 over the South Devon banks on GBIV for RTC and also hauling a Paddington - Stratford on Avon Cath Ex for Steam Dreams. We shall see !

 

That could be a little problematic.......

 

When I saw that post about traction motors just, I had a double take as well..................

 

*Cough!* Diesel Hydraulic *Cough!*

 

Actually, they ARE motors that drive the axles, but powered hydraulically instead of electrically.

It's just that it's assumed that if it says 'motor', then it must be electrically powered; this is not the case, although in fairness the vast majority of motors ARE electric...

There are many examples of hydraulic motors in industry.

It's likely that the motors in question will be stripped down, inspected, and all joints, O-Rings etc replaced during the rebuild.

Mark

 

Taken from the DTG website:

 

Ben, you will suffer the wrath of Shirley for even TYPING the words Diesel Hydraulic and looking at our web-site.............

Looking forward to videoing 5029 when she takes the last leg to Paddington.

 

Hydraulic motors?

Don't you mean torque converters.

Dave

 

No there are, actually, hydraulic motors driven by internal vanes, pistons etc. I would,nt know what type the Westerns had as I thought they were horrible looking things. The motors would have been supplied under pressure from an hydraulic pump driven by a diesel engine. The hydraulic motor may have been chosen (at the time) for it,s superior torque. This is only my supposition....

 

Cant say I've ever heard that the Voith L630rv Transmission is a hydraulic motor!! it is however a three stage torque converter driving a intermeadiate gearbox and three final drives via a number of cardan shafts.

 

Osprey

You have described a torque converter and automatic transmission.
The pistons you describe are actually servo's which activate various stages of the transmission dependant on speed and internal hydraulic pressure.

Dave

 

We shall indeed see, I was hoping to be on the SD trip to Stratford with 70000

 

Well my definition of a torque convertor is a fluid coupling. A hydraulic motor is exactly that, a motor providing drive by fluid. A torque convertor does contain pistons etc but it ain,t a motor. It would appear that the Western is diesel powered providing drive through a torque convertor.

 

Steam Dreams have confirmed to me that Britannia is going to Stratford with them and that Tangmere is doing the RTC trip