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Heaviest consist in preservation

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Forest Rail, Nov 24, 2020.

  1. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Only 15in gauge, I know, but proving runs for the RH&D's new diesel, a few years back, produced a very long train. Does anyone have a piccie, pretty please?
     
  2. Maunsell907

    Maunsell907 Member

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    October 22 2000. 21C123 and 34081 3.35 pm Sheffield Park Horsted Keynes 12 carriages reasonably
    full .. 420 tons gross ? Plus two Bulleid Pacific.
    Attained 25 mph on the 1/75 to West Hoathly from Horsted Keynes.
    Sheffield Park - Horsted Keynes 16 minutes 29 seconds with line speed either side of a pws.
    Horsted Keynes 00--00 West Hoathly 9-46 (25) Kingscote 15-51.

    The heaviest consist I have been party to on the West Somerset was a visiting special at a Gala,
    13 Mark 0nes plus two 66s. At Bishops Lydeard the visiting A4 was added as pilot. ( Taken off
    before the level crossing at Minehead and run to shed )

    There have been other thirteen coach trains run through to Minehead but the two diesels plus
    the A 4 make this the heaviest. With a full train probably 870 tons.

    Michael Rowe
     
  3. Steve Edge

    Steve Edge Member

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    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    Class 66 no 66061 passes Crowcombe Heathfield on 31 March 2001 with a 14 coach Minehead to Letchworth special.
    © Steve Edge
    This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Licence. Any re-use of the above image must conform to the requirements of the Creative Commons Licence.

    Visit wsr.org.uk for all the latest pictures

    [​IMG]


    Steve
     
  4. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    If we are cheating and involving diesels, the spoil trains that removed Imberhorne Tip must be up there. I think they normally loaded to 18 or 20 wagons, 50 tons load each. I'm not sure what the wagon weight was, but that was 900 - 1000 tons of spoil each trip, probably of the order 1200 tons total train weight. There will be records (because everything was weighed going out) but I don't have them. I suspect we have had a few fairly hefty ballast deliveries as well.

    Another very big one was the filming train for the Kings Cross "Wonder Woman" job. Three Maunsell carriages, a hundred seater, the LBSCR first, four four wheelers and the Wainwright C class, top and tailed by two class 20s.

    Tom
     
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  5. meeee

    meeee Member

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    Whilst not the heaviest or longest, we did run a train made up of 61 vehicles on Festiniog Railway. We had plans to run one of 100 vehicles this summer but it didn't happen for obvious reasons. I wonder if that has ever been beaten in terms of sheer number.

    Tim
     
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  6. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Probably in the old days, before the depression. There's a photo in Boyd's Vol.2 of Livingstone Thompson heading an 'up' passenger into T-y-B with an uncountable number of slate 'empties' in tow.
     
  7. Mike Birch

    Mike Birch New Member

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    Does Britomart (just) hauling 11 count?
     
  8. johnofwessex

    johnofwessex Resident of Nat Pres

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    Impressive, wasnt hanging about.
     
  9. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Don’t forget 1992 - 3822 on 19 coaches on a round trip from Minehead. Partly lead to the 23 coach train on the ELR the following year.
     
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  10. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    What a magnificent Willy waving contest this is turning out to be :)
     
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  11. LMarsh1987

    LMarsh1987 Part of the furniture Friend

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    Galatea heads up Battlefield Bank (1/117) on load 13 having just come back from Scrap and sounding well off beat during it's running in phase.
     
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  12. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    During the Swanage 'Strictly Bulleid" event, some trains back from River Frome had the train loco hauling seven carriages plus two Bulleids on the rear, neither of which were shoving. Around 525 tons. Neither biggest, nor heaviest but it sure sounded good.
     
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  13. HerstonHalt

    HerstonHalt Member

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    Tended to be only 5 coach sets, but here’s Manston putting on a show.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  14. HerstonHalt

    HerstonHalt Member

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    And Manston with ten on at an earlier gala




    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  15. Forest Rail

    Forest Rail New Member

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    There's some real gems here, you can't beat the spectacular of unleashed mechanical power at its maximum!
     

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