Parry People Movers on heritage NG lines

I know some NG heritage lines have trialled PPMs, such as the Welshpool and Ffestiniog, and there was a 2ft gauge test track in Brighton (in 1994?), as well as several standard gauge examples (including a service now operating on Network Rail, with "Class 139" PPMs on the Stourbridge Town branch line operated by London Midland).

Are there other NG examples? Can anyone share their experiences with seeing, travelling on, or operating these vehicles?

 

I travelled on a Parry People Mover when it visited the W&LLR. This only served to convince me that the idea was a no no except on level or near level lines. It would cry "mummy mummy" up the Golfa Incline only just above New Drive crossing. The only way round this would be an even more high speed (and high tech.) flywheel or else a heavier one. The latter would be self defeating.

Only with the advent of the regauged Baguley-Drewry "Wasp" has the W&L gained a railcar that can cope with its gradients.

I am sorry if this disappoints those who feel the answer to rural transport would be a PPM recharged by a wind turbine but there we are!

 

Basically if you have a line with long continuous steep gradients like the FR, WHR or L&B then forget it. You'll spend more time revving up the flywheel than actually moving. If you have a line with many short up and downs then it works fine as it charges the flywheel going downhill ready for the uphill streches. The one that visited the WHR was pretty poor but it was a prototype so maybe the one on the Stourbridge Town branch is a better example.

Anyway if your thinking of one for the L&B i would just stick loco hauled trains for the time being, more flexible, reliable and comfortable.

Tim

 

No problem - it is just these sort of hand-on experiences I was looking for - from those who have actually tried it!

But then again, we do have quite a bit of wind on Exmoor...

 

I gather this query might be in response to some eedjit (me!) who suggested that Killington Lane to Parracombe might temporarily be operated as a separate "western" line until funds are found to cross the road there via underbridge. A PPM might be an option for this western line.
Can anyone in the know comment on the gradients on the stretch?

 

Yes Martin, it was, sort of, although I have been quietly looking at PPMs as a possibility for the L&B on and off for a few years. The ruling gradient is 1:50, and certainly some of the "western" route is at that, although not all, as I recall, but PPMs are supposed to be able to handle 1:10 - in fact one of their party-pieces is to drive up steep ramps onto road-haulage trailers under their own steam (well, not steam exactly...)

 

Hi Martyn -
I looked at the site: they seem very interesting.
Any ideas what type of price range we're looking at here? Or could we persuade them to use the L&B as a sample site for narrow gauge!
I assume one would only need a 30 passenger size (or should that be 50?). :smt041

 

Yes but only if your 1:10 gradient is no longer than a ramp onto a low loader. I don't think you've quite grasped how short a stretch of steep gradient a ppm could climb the WHR one could barely get out Caernarfon station on a 1:50 gradient.

I don't know if this is the case with the Stourbridge one but the ng ppm was designed to have the flywheel charged buy an external source at a station. For it to work on the WHR etc it was fitted with a ford diesel (out of and escort i think) and had no direct drive to the wheels. If you ran out of energy which you quite often did then you had to rev the nuts off the engine for 5 minutes before you could move again. It's no wonder the little engine eventually blew up.

Personally i don't see why you would want to split volunteers and other resources between 2 sites only for people to have a ride in a little tin box rather than them visiting the nice surroundings of woody bay.

Tim

 

Hi Tim -
I don't think it's anything other than a jeu d'esprit to speculate about two stretches of line at the L&B; it's clearly not a viable option.
On the other hand, if a PPM were feasible, it could act as a back-up for less busy times and/or when steam were unavailable for any other reason. It seems we need to look for other options, unless the PPMs have improved since the WHR tests!

 

You could always seek assistance from Renovater...

 

saucer of milk for Mr Dimmick please ;-)

Well said Roger!

 

PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! don't encourage Renovator to write more rubbish here, we seem to have got rid of him or her at last and do NOT want him back!!!!!

 

This is a quote from Parry People Movers Ltd.'s sales literature:
"PPM vehicles are designed to negotiate steep gradients on urban tramways (PPM cars' 'party trick' is to drive themselves up the ramp onto the road transporter!) PPM tram cars are designed for gradients of at least 1 in 15 - and up to 1 in 10 if the application demands - although when used on railway branch lines the gradients will be much shallower."

Parry's track specification for use on normal tarmacadamed-surfaced road. Click the link below:

http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/holdfast_tramwaytrack.htm

Geoff Ambridge

 

The website URL is http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/holdfast_tramwaytrack.htm

Geoff Ambridge