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Mark 3 and later Mark 2 carriages

Discussion in 'Heritage Rolling Stock' started by burnham-t, Oct 27, 2021.

  1. burnham-t

    burnham-t New Member

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    I've noticed that a number of lines are acquiring or have acquired carriages of this generation. Presumably intended for diesel haulage given the need for fairly hefty electric power and air braking. Has anyone tried using them with steam traction and if so how (generator van?)? What are seen as the pros and cons versus refurbishing older carriages with vacuum brakes and steam heating? I have no axe to grind, just curious...
     
    burnham-t, Oct 27, 2021
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  2. Romsey

    Romsey Part of the furniture

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    There are a number of generator vans around or coaches modified with generator sets in the former brake accommodation.
    Often used for railtours with no heat diesel locos.
    It's a specialist market and I suspect the gen vans are almost hand built. CIE had quite a few based on second hand mark 1 coaches until the advent of diesel units on almost all routes. I think the GCR and GWSR imported a few but I don't know what happened to them. Certainly a couple at Winchcombe were suffering badly from normal mark 1 rust at the bottom of the body sides.

    Cheers, Neil
     
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2021
    Romsey, Oct 27, 2021
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  3. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    The Irish vans are steam heating vans not generators, designed for the opposite scenario of a non steam heat fitted loco pulling steam heat stock.
     
    Pete Thornhill, Oct 27, 2021
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  4. Romsey

    Romsey Part of the furniture

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    Thanks for the clarification, but I'm sure I heard somewhere they had generator vans for the 1mark 3 stock.

    Cheers, Neil
     
    Romsey, Oct 27, 2021
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  5. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    There are still four Mk3 generator cars in use in Ireland, out of the 15 built - the rest have been scrapped.

    There are about half a dozen generator cars in use in the UK on mainline charters. A Mk1 BSK, a Mk2 BFK, and four Mk1 BGs.
     
    5944, Oct 27, 2021
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  6. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Not at the GCR/GWSR, the ones you are thinking of being the MK3 generator cars, I’m pretty sure none have ever made it over here?
     
    Pete Thornhill, Oct 27, 2021
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  7. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    The Mk1 BSK from Ireland on the GWSR was most definitely for steam heating, not powering electrically heated Mk2/3s. We've never had any carriages that converted in the other direction so to speak. :)
     
    flying scotsman123, Oct 27, 2021
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  8. M59137

    M59137 Well-Known Member

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    Railways such as the Mid Norfolk who have bought the air braked/air con later BR coaches seem to be avoiding the idea of steam haulage with generator cars and instead go down the route of having a separate vacuum braked set of coaches for steam.

    Sent from my moto g(8) power using Tapatalk
     
    M59137, Oct 28, 2021
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  9. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Which, given the freezing conditions on the GCR when their steam heat carriages were in use, but misbehaving, strikes me as a sensible option.
     
    35B, Oct 29, 2021
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  10. Wenlock

    Wenlock Well-Known Member Friend

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    Steam heat does of course need maintenance and repair just like all the other systems on coaches. It is understandable that if the heating is seldom used, it may not work properly. One would hope that any railway using steam heat will have tested all the pipework, cocks and condensate drains before the steam heat season.
     
    Wenlock, Oct 29, 2021
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  11. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    I did hope - but my experience as a passenger was that the added complexity more than offset the theoretical advantage of not needing to uncouple for run rounds.
     
    35B, Oct 29, 2021
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  12. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

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    For what it is worth. Eastern Rail Services seem to have two of the ex-Nightstar Mk3 generator vans

    http://www.easternrailservices.co.uk/news.htm

    I have to admit that I am not really sure what Eastern Rail Services do per se
     
    Monkey Magic, Oct 29, 2021
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