BucksBones
Member
- Joined
- 18 Jul 2017
- Messages
- 332
A recent thread on the introduction of Pacers turned my mind back to the period just before the 150s started operating the Calder Valley route. I remember the 110s but I have just read an article on www.stormrail.info that states the following:
"In a panic over costs West Yorkshire PTE agreed to some smaller 2 car sets being derated to one engine per car known as class 78's. They could barely stagger up the hill from Bradford but fortunately did not have to tackle Miles Platting bank as they used the Cheetham Hill Loop"
Now I'd have thought that when they scrapped the non-powered centre cars there would have been left with only power twins so where did the unpowered trailers come from? Unless they just ran them with one engine switched off? Also I can find no reference elsewhere to class 78 - surely a locomotive designation?
Edit: just noticed it says 1 engine per car. I still don't understand!
"In a panic over costs West Yorkshire PTE agreed to some smaller 2 car sets being derated to one engine per car known as class 78's. They could barely stagger up the hill from Bradford but fortunately did not have to tackle Miles Platting bank as they used the Cheetham Hill Loop"
Now I'd have thought that when they scrapped the non-powered centre cars there would have been left with only power twins so where did the unpowered trailers come from? Unless they just ran them with one engine switched off? Also I can find no reference elsewhere to class 78 - surely a locomotive designation?
Edit: just noticed it says 1 engine per car. I still don't understand!