33/1 with blue star

[robertclark125]

Do 33/1s have blue star MU cables, like their sister sub classes? And if so, if a 33/1 and 33/0 were coupled together, weould you need a crew in each loco, or just in the lead cab?

 

[TheExmoorBeast]

You can couple any loco with a Blue Star jumper system to another and work them in multiple, so you could even couple a Class 33/1 to a 73 and it would work with a single driver & you could even couple it to a class 421/2/3 unit or a TC unit and drive it from there as well.

Good old stuff the SR MU system.

I know that Brizzol drivers in days long gone, would always run a 33/1 around the TC set if one appeared on their trains, yet Portsmouth crews would simply change ends and drive from the TC, much to the bemusement of the Brizzolians.

 

[robertclark125]

So let's consider this next theory. I remember in 1989 or 1990 there was an open day at Eastleigh, and a railtour was run down a brahcnline using 33008, a 33/1, and a 4TC. both engines were working, and at the terminus, the train went in reverse, 4TC, 33/1 and 33/0.

Both locos were under power, but obviously the 4TC was controlling both locos. The 33/1 had to be coupled to the 4TC as 33008 was not equiped for push pull working.

Could you have replaced 33008 with a class 25, 26, or 27, and still been able to have both engines running, even in push mode, as long as the 33/1 was next to the 4TC, as 25 26 or 27 have blue star Multiple working cables?

 

[TheExmoorBeast]

Yes!

Because there were low level control jumper sockets on the locos below the buffer beams, so you could couple the 33/0 & 33/1 together in full multiple & then couple them to a TC set and still control it from the TC set, you'd have a 4 TC set with 3,100 hp behind it.

IIRC, there used to be a working from Meldon? Quarry to either Salisbury or Woking and that could throw up either a pair of 33/1's, 33/0's or combination of the two & it worked perfectly!

 

[royaloak]

The only reason you need the 33/1 is to connect to the high level pipes on the end of the unit, other than that it is pure blue star.

blue star-
20,24,25,26,27,31,33,37,40,45s (when built),73. so any of these can work together.

 

[lewisf]

What about 442's, as they seem to have the same couplings and jumper cables as the CIG's etc, would they be compatible with a 33/1 or 73 in push mode? I've seen pictures of a 442 with a 73 on the rear but it may just be hauling it.

 

[royaloak]

I am not 100% sure but yes I believe a pig would be compatible.

 

[paul1609]

In theory they were but in practise they never worked!