• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

A stupid question

Status
Not open for further replies.
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

1D53

Established Member
Joined
2 Apr 2006
Messages
2,665
To act as a barrier :D

Normally when the stock concerned has different couplings, each end of the barrier has a different coupling.
 

Guinness

Established Member
Joined
13 Jun 2005
Messages
3,736
Some trains have different couplings than other trains such as BSI, Tightlock, Screw (Common in older Mk1 Stock and Modern Locos). When moving a train with incompatible couplings i.e. both have different couplings then you can do two options.

Move the train with an emergency coupling. These are only used in emergencies (Hence the name) to usually drag a failed train away to clear the line. This is just a simple coupling all trains have in one form or another. HSTs and Pendolinos both have them through movable front panels. The problem is that some trains can't have a through brake in one form or another. In other words the train only has a brake on the Locomotive or lead unit. So it can't be effectively moved long distances.

Another option is a Barrier Coach. Usually a small Mk1 converted coach with specialist couplings on such as BSI, Tightlock, Dellner to attach the unit. And the other end have similar things. The Barrier Wagon is capable of providing a brake for the whole train therefore making it effective to use on Long Distances. They are usually found on trains that go through the Channel Tunnel e.g. 450s/350s/185s. An example train would be a 92 (Screw) + Barrier Wagon (Dellner coupling) + 185 (Has a Dellner Coupling).

These wagons can usually be found in Wembley Yard as that's where International Trains with New build units end up. :)

Hope this helps! :)
 

Coxster

Established Member
Joined
9 Jun 2005
Messages
9,244
so why should they carry the whole coach?
can't they use a shorter one with different couplings?
It's probably just easier and cheaper to just convert an old coach rather than creating purpose-built stock.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top