Rail Treatment

[mickoo]

I suspect it's timings, many of these services run in between regular services. My mate who worked in Colchester SB as shift manager hated class 60 with their 60 mph limit, mobile roadblocks they all called them. Even the 66 and 70 at 75mph are a pain when you're trying to run a EMU service at 90-100 mph.

There's a 2000t+ sand train, or was, that comes out of Ipswich docks and up Belstead bank, they give it 15 minutes to do the 6 miles up the hill, bagged some shots at Belstead Manor, flat out at 15 mph and you could feel the heat as it went by. A few moments later a 321 EMU whizzed by bang road running BiDi to over take it, it crossed over at Manningtree, made it's stop and left before the sand train even got to Cattawade. Basically freight in high density passenger routes doesn't mix and the GE north of Colchester isn't that high density.

Not sure what speed the RHTT runs at though mind, Dan will know, don't think it's 75 but what ever it is, the acceleration with two engines will still be a help.

 

[richard carr]

Mick

They run at 75 mph with 66s they are going some when they go through Harlow but max line speed here is 80mph so they don't really get in the way.

Although they may be topped and taled only 1 lcoc is working but I would estimate the total train weight at 250 tons max.


Richard

 

[mickoo]

There is of course the tenuous thought that it's a track cleaning train and the power is ahead of the cleaner, there 'may' be situations where adhesion is limited, in which case, the engine behind the cleaner will have better traction and as Dan notes, can be switched in and driven remotely from the front.

 

[Dan Randall]

Seems hard to believe with the amount of HP available just in one loco ?

Col.

The train is quite tightly timed, so although one loco is more than capable of reaching 60mph with such a small train, it just takes a little longer to get there. Also, some areas are jetted at lower speeds, so having two locos means you can get back to 60mph that bit quicker. Personally, I prefer the loco I'm on to be doing some work - it's an odd sensation being shoved along in comparative silence by the back loco!


Regards

Dan

 

[Dan Randall]

Dan. Where is Exeter does the crew change occur? On the 3/12/2018 it ran through Exeter St Davids non stop at about 25mph and disappeared south in a cloud of dust/mist.

Hi Paul

In the platform normally - The Exeter to Westbury leg is usually from the bay platform at the east end (though last Saturday, it went from Riverside Yard), whilst the Westbury to St. Blazey leg is normally platform 4. I believe the crew change is sometimes done at Taunton, hence no need to stop at Exeter.

Regards

Dan

 

[Eastsidepilot]

Personally, I prefer the loco I'm on to be doing some work - it's an odd sensation being shoved along in comparative silence by the back loco!


Regards

Dan

Agreed....always hated Hillman Imps & Skoda's

Col.

 

[simond]

Porsche....?

 

[Eastsidepilot]

Porsche....?

"Un-sprung Kraut Technique".........oh no, that's Audi
Over priced Beetle ?

 

[Peter Cross]

Both designed by the same man. Along with various weapons of war.

 

[mickoo]

A few from the archives.

Class 20 at Stowmarket back in 2006


Class 57 at Belstead in 2010.



And a few post RHTT campaign for you weathering gurus











GBRf are pretty quick at cleaning up post campaign and these shots were the first few days directly after the end of RHTT, many returned the next day nice and clean. Generally here at Felixstowe GBRf keep the same engine on the same service all week, sometimes they swap on a Thursday but usually it'll be the Sunday they swap engines.

 

[Boyblunder]

RHTT with 2 x 37's seen passing through Thorrington level crossing on the Clacton and Walton branch at about 40 mph on Friday. Locos were filthy and I was in my car waiting to cross so didn't get a good view. Pretty sure one number ended in 6 so according to Wikipedia it could have been DRS's 37606 or UK Rail Leasing's 37906? Whichever locos they were it says quite a lot for the original design and build quality that they are in useful service 59 years after they were built.

 

[Eastsidepilot]

RHTT with 2 x 37's seen passing through Thorrington level crossing on the Clacton and Walton branch at about 40 mph on Friday. Locos were filthy and I was in my car waiting to cross so didn't get a good view. Pretty sure one number ended in 6 so according to Wikipedia it could have been DRS's 37606 or UK Rail Leasing's 37906? Whichever locos they were it says quite a lot for the original design and build quality that they are in useful service 59 years after they were built.

Pretty sure one of the 37's I saw at Stowmarket could have been '06, didn't think to record the numbers as I didn't have my bobble hat and anorak with me...

Col.

 

[simond]

Both designed by the same man. Along with various weapons of war.

Do you mean Hans Ledwinka? (Though I don’t think he made weapons...)

Hans Ledwinka - Wikipedia



Simon

 

[InvernessTMD]

IIRC they blew up about half the 57s used a few years back! several were dumped in the headshunt at Stowmarket. First year I was at Ipswich it was 37s (2011), then it changed to 57s until they broke them all...
Stowmarket usually sees an MPV during the weedkilling season as well, and the usual diet of tampers etc the rest of the year, only really coming to life for the RHTT season.
I believe they only run to Shenfield, with beyond that covered by a separate contract, possibly the Broxbourne one, not sure.
I escaped North in Feb to Sunny South Scotland, no fancy new trains for me