Diesels on steam tours

Now hang on, going bust means job losses, money lost by a lot of people and potentially lots of cancelled tours, so don't go wishing things like that. If you had payed a lot of money fr a tour, I'm sure you'd rather have a diesel on the back to get you back to your starting place if the steam engine fails for whatever reason rather than be stuck out in the middle of nowhere.

 

Stu, they arent your own opinions mate, you are just stating the truth that if everyone still wishes to experience mainline steam then having a diesel on the back at certain times is just going to have to be the case. I know what I'd rather have than nothing at all.........

 

I missed out Mk3s. 33s & 73s shouldn't try to ETH those either.
Its all down to the MAs. Motor alternators. Which convert ETH DC into 415v AC 3 phase for air-con supplies.
Or rather the regulators. They are designed for nominal 1000v DC ETH. Although in practice, some locos like 50s & 55s are a bit lower than that. But still within the operating range of the MA regulators. With 750V, the regs. just increase the excitation of the motor part of MA. This does not cause a current overload, like a short circuit, or over length train would, but creates an insatiable demand for electricity, which the 33s ETH regulator just winds up the ETH generator, in an attempt to provide 1000v.
Leading to overheating and eventual failure.
73s are off the juice, so would not blow up a major component of the loco.

Gatwick Mk2fs were modified with MA regulators that could operate of a wider voltage range. Designed to work of the juice, but happy being supplied by 33s.

 

Stepney60,
Please don't tell me what I would rather happen if there was a failure.I would hope that there was never a failure with the steam on a tour and so therefore no necessity for a diesel helper.
It looks as if things are happening with one operator anyway.The amount of hassle they have caused recently not just to passengers but to the industry as a whole leaves a lot to be desired.Perhaps things will settle down after this event and a resumption of non assisted and satisfactory
run tours.

 

:-k You tell Mr.cobweb to be constructive-fair enough, but equally all you are doing is re-stating your OWN opinions. There's nothing constructive about that :-k

 

PG, unfortunately sh*t happens and steam locos fail - however rare it is - it happens. As do cock ups... need we go back to the Exeter incident?
We all hope everything runs smoothly, but you would be a fool to assume that it WILL run ok and not have a back up plan. With our railway system becoming ever more crowded, one failure soon has an effect felt by the network.
Before you get the wrong idea, I am not telling you what to do with your time or money, but I suppose that as you will not be travelling on many tours and supporting mainline steam you will be helping the preservation movement some other way? And if you already are, then I suppose you will be doing a bit more?

 

[-X What a terrible thing to say. Especially from a mature adult [-X

 

Could agree more victor thats abit over the mark!

Alex

 

Haha that's class! Put a big smile on my face :smt001 .

 

I'm not telling you what you want to happen at all, all I am saying is that hoping a company goes bust is a bit extreme? What about the poor employees out of a job simply because they're boss annoyed you by putting a diesel on the back of a train?

 

The run from Waterloo to Okehampton by D1015 on 24th February is almost sold out, in fact they have increased the load from 12 to 13 to accomodate anyone still interested in this tour. Is there any truth in the rumour that the success in selling this tour is due to Past Times policy of not putting a steam engine on the back of a diesel tour.

8-[

I'll get me coat.

 

I have no issue with this train.It is an advertised diesel hauled excursion with a particular attractive hydraulic diesel.Now if the train ran on the day with a spoon or a 67 I would be very disappointed.
I fell that the reason this has filled is because of its rearity value.Good luck to all concerned.
My gripe is with advertised steam hauled trains being pushed on the day with an unadvertised diesel.This practice has to stop.Tell us before hand or don't run the train.

 

Disappointed! I'd be completely gutted!!!

Absolutely.

My post was very much tongue in cheek. Your good wishes to the success of this train are appreciated.

 

It makes you wonder how the Western fans would feel if the train had a class 67 diesel at the rear? It's the same problem with any railtour whether it be diesel or steam. You would never know if the engine at the back of the train was giving a push or not. <BJ>

 

Well to be honest as a Western has taken load 18 over the South Devon banks it's not going to happen but on the point of principle it's as expressed earlier the tour should do what it says on the tin. If a tour is run in the way that it is advertised then no one can quibble. I don't know if I've just been lucky but I travel on about half a dozen steam tours a year, all with Western power and have never had diesel assistance. In fact if a 47 rocked up to assist I'd be looking for another way home.

 

Dont they pull their own weight though, so in pulling terms there is no extra weight.

 

A bit like a dynamo on a bike ?

Does the Diesel Glow ! !