hexagon789
Veteran Member
I can't really comment on the Devon & Cornwall lines, but I can vouch for the fact that, even on the steep gradients on the HML, full power isn't required for a lot of it - I tend to get up to line speed & notch back, which is a totally different way of driving than what we are used to. Usually, in a 158 or 170, it's full power & nowhere near line speed...
For example, most of the climb from Blair Atholl to Drumochter is at power notch 2/3 (with an occasional touch of 4) - notch 5 (full power) not really needed, once line speed reached (partly due to the lower speed of 60mph, most of the way up the hill - DMUs can do 70, although none actually can...). In fact, one of my colleagues on the training train a while ago, managed to climb this gradient at line speed on 1 power car (rear one wouldn't start at Perth)!
Out of curiosity how does braking compare, seeing as there are 6 service steps instead of 3?
Last edited: