StirlingRatty
Member
- Joined
- 19 Jul 2016
- Messages
- 8
I am trying to understand the reasons for the move from large single wheel locomotives to multi coupled ones. What was the technological advance that caused that move?
So obvoiusly, it was cheaper to run one big loco + (say) 10 coaches, than two trains with smaller locos and 5 coaches.
Midland Railway did not get that memo!:roll:
Probably why the LMS based their motive power engineering department in Crewe not Derby!
Midland Railway did not get that memo!:roll:
No - but even Midland Railway found it had to replace single-wheelers by 4-4-0s.
Gerry Fiennes, in "I tried to Run a Railway" commented on this; when the Deltics were under consideration to replace the lower powered pioneer diesels which didn't have the performance, another senior manager said "Why don't you double-head". And that was where the restricted length of Kings Cross station (which it has compared to other termini) came into play. Fiennes, the Deltic champion, retorted "yes, two locomotives on EACH end with a platform turnround, triple-car dining set (which the ECML long had), and you end up with space left for about three coaches".One explanation as to why the rival GNR and successor LNER always built locos able to handle the largest trains singlehandedly was a long held understanding that there was a 'ban' on double-heading by the civil engineer.
While the widespread need for double-heading in steam days made little sense on the LMS, and its BR successor region, the original Midland Railway offer of comparatively short trains departing often from St Pancras was perhaps an early example of a company recognising the attractions of high service frequency to customers.