LE Movements, ECS and Test Runs 2018

45231 climbing up Tunnel Hill between Ash Vale and Pirbright on her light engine movement to Southall (14th March 2018)

 

They did crew 61994 over the Central Wales line not so long ago, that was in vac mode.

 

Not sure on the 'ins and outs' of the AB system colours but other AB locos I have seen tend to have a combination of red / yellow taps. You might find the answer here but I soon lost the will to live! - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_air_brake

Edit: just seen a vid from 15/11/17 and it had yellow / white air taps back then -

 

Interesting to know the method of maintaining competence. Perhaps some heritage line collaboration?
It has been said one barrier is the lack of vac fitted rescue locos to DBS. Perhaps they will have access to the growing LSL diesel fleet?

 

Many, perhaps most, mainline approved locos are fitted with air brake pipes. But it does not necessarily mean that they are fiited with an air pump suitable for hauling air braked trains.

 

White on vacuum brake vehicles indicated that the vehicle was a "Blow Through" (unbraked) presumably white on air braked vehicles is the same and means that it can be included in the consist.

 

Think there are only a handful of through piped, 62005 & 1264 spring to mind. Not sure if 45231 might be unique in having train brake control without supply?

 

45231 is a vacuum braked loco. It doesn't have an air pump or air brake valve.
It is through piped for both Main res air (yellow pipe) and brake pipe (white pipe).
This enables it to be in an air brake train, but not lead vehicle.
This move was a vacuum braked train.
Vacuum brake has not been off DB's safety case, indeed all the drivers need to be vacuum braked trained to operate steam locomotives as most are vacuum braked.
They are, in most cases, vacuum braked loco's that are capable of working air braked trains. The loco's themselves are not air braked.
An exception to this is, for example, 60163 which is an air braked loco that is capable of hauling a vacuum braked train. the other way round.
DB have chosen not to operate vacuum trains due to the fact we do not have any diesel locomotives that can operate vacuum trains. This would be mainly to haul stock into a terminus, for example, prior to the train departing using steam. Or, heaven forbid, rescue a failed train or operate the train if a steam loco suddenly became unavailable. I do not expect us to be working vacuum braked trains all over the place, as the above still applies. I could be wrong on that front though. But although 45231 is vacuum braked it could be hauled as through piped vehicle as long as there are air braked vehicles behind it. So if we had sat down today and needed to be rescued, a diesel could have helped as the support coach is duel braked. Whether an 'unpiped' vacuum steam loco would have been considered I do not know. I suspect this will be one of only an occasional vacuum braked job.

 

If you are recalling the trip to Kyle with No. 61994, was it 2013 Cath Ex, was No. 61994 not fitted with a through Air Pipe to allow the same rescue method as explained above for No. 45231?

 

It is a helpful post but, prior to it the general lack of DBS vac steam moves gave rise to the inference the firm did not do vac. Happily thoroughly clarified most positively by Wayne.
Happy to stand corrected about the lack of brake valve on 45231, its 12 years since I was last on its footplate so mind plays tricks

 

5M51 Carnforth - Hellifield and return has been activated for today. Anyone know what this is?

 

Doesn't look to be activated to me??

 

Both realtime trains and railcam data is showing it as activated.

 

WNXX talk of a test run sometime for (non-steam) 33 029, not sure if coincident?

 

From RTT

5m50 the round the houses run does not appear to have been activated.
5m51 the Carnforth - Hellifield back to Carnforth has been activated but does not seem to have actually moved anywhere?

 

Nothing reported but should be 33029 on test according to a poster on wnxx who is involved with the diesels at 10a.

 

22 early at Hellifield what ever it is. no further report at this time.