sprinterguy
Established Member
Class 47s were cleared for the West Highland line a few years ago - I think at the same time that the route was cleared for class 67s, with their high axle loadings.
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ASLEF Fear "Terrible" Class 73
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Question from one who has tried to read the whole thread but isn't that in-the-know...
Why not just use 37s? Is it a reliability issue? Couldn't they just refurb the engines at a lower cost than rebuilding the 73s and use those instead?
Also why were 47s banned from the highland line?
Why not just use 37s? Is it a reliability issue? Couldn't they just refurb the engines at a lower cost than rebuilding the 73s and use those instead?
Also why were 47s banned from the highland line?
route:oxford
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No-one has come up with the money to rebuild a Class 37s with new eco-engines.
Axle loading on the Oban line
My opinion is if GBRF is using say 5 736xx's out of a pool of what looks like to be 16 or so then it might become very useful to switch them round from time to time to cover maintenance etc.
I think the 37's fit the west highland line requirement very well. However the ETH rating of the 37/4 is quite low (38) ... which is probably good good for 6 coaches but problematic above that. The 37 probably would not have looked good on the bid proposal ... a downgrade from a class 67 ... as there may be questions as to if they could soldier on. There is also a question GBRF don't own any ... though they could probably acquire some at a price. There is/will be a known spares capability for 736xx's .... that for class 37 might be currently less easy to demonstrate.
matchmaker
Established Member
You're getting your lines mixed up. The Highland Line is Perth-Inverness.
Of course. Sorry!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Sorry to bump but going back to the 37s, do WCRCs 37s use the power units they've always had or are they re-engineered when they get to Carnforth?
sprinterguy
Established Member
All class 37s, except for the small former sub-fleet of class 37/9s, retain the English Electric 12CSVT engines that were fitted to the class from new.
73/9s will be a common user pool with 3rd rail capability for the southern region. This increases their usefulness seeing as they could come off the sleeper for an exam and end up in Peterborough then find itself dispatched to Tonbridge whilst a classmate takes up its place in Scotland.
Does it really matter whether its got 3rd rail shoes or not when it's in Scotland, completely irrelevant.
A 1600hp loco should do fine to Aberdeen but perhaps another loco for the other portions. There was chatter about a 66/73 combo... Can't be that far fetched seeing as GB have trialed 20/47 combos on freights! The latter should come on stream now the tube stock moves and ending.
92s shouldn't have an issue on the WCML seeing as their top speed is above the normal sleeper operating speed of 80mph and they are considered to 'stick' slightly better than a skoda anyway.
67s for the time being anyway, they won't be coming out of Scotrail use any time soon!
Thanks
Does it really matter whether its got 3rd rail shoes or not when it's in Scotland, completely irrelevant.
A 1600hp loco should do fine to Aberdeen but perhaps another loco for the other portions. There was chatter about a 66/73 combo... Can't be that far fetched seeing as GB have trialed 20/47 combos on freights! The latter should come on stream now the tube stock moves and ending.
92s shouldn't have an issue on the WCML seeing as their top speed is above the normal sleeper operating speed of 80mph and they are considered to 'stick' slightly better than a skoda anyway.
67s for the time being anyway, they won't be coming out of Scotrail use any time soon!
Thanks
Unless the shoes are retractable, they will fairly quickly be left lying around various parts of Scotland with high ballast shoulders or indeed anything else left on the sleeper ends.
Juniper Driver
Established Member
I haven't been on one for a few years but I thought they were.
I would sort of call it a swing up out of the way action (sort of like a crane jib)rather than a retract action. The flash guards modification as shown on 73109 here http://www.semgonline.com/electric/class73_10.html might give additional protection.
Incidently as far as I can tell all the 7396x conversions seem to be all from 73/2 and not 73/1 .... not sure if there is a technical reason here or otherwise.
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HSTEd
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Considering 73s have run far and wide I would be very surprised if the shoebeams cannot be moved out of the problematic position.
BritishRail83
Member
I think the 73's will be great on the sleepers. You've got virtually a new locomotive anyway. I hope their detractors are proved wrong the same with the 92's.
73961 seems to have been out testing the main line loughborough to Derby a couple of weeks ago ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--O1RT2zMWY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--O1RT2zMWY
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crewmeal
Member
You could be forgiven for thinking this was a scene from the Weymouth Quay days with workers walking in front of the engine on a single line next to the road.
BritishRail83
Member
That's just what I was thinking!
Ash Bridge
Established Member
I thought that white van man was going to tailgate the 73 at one point,
BritishRail83
Member
'Orrible garish gaudy disgusting shoeboxes.
They will be an absolute blight on the Highland capital.
Oh be nice
Johnuk123
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'Orrible garish gaudy disgusting shoeboxes.
They will be an absolute blight on the Highland capital.
You're right in that description, they are probably one of the ugliest locomotives ever to grace the network.
What will the headcode be on the service?
I will get my coat....
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Didn't you know the Scottish government has funded third rail electification of the West Highland Line?
I will get my coat....
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Didn't you know the Scottish government has funded third rail electification of the West Highland Line?
That was indeed the hope behind the question.
I've seen the future! Third rail is the new Garlic Bread!
matchmaker
Established Member
I would say bland would be more accurate seeing as they are basically a box so too dull to be classed as ugly? Colours at least will brighten up the bleak dump that is Inverness station, hope abellio go to town on it with the refurbishment for retail.
Shouldn't that be Gaelic Bread?
Gaelic Bread? Gaelic Bread? Bread wi' Gaelic on it?
Chan eil mi a' tuigsinn!!!!!!!!!!!
Is that Gaelic for "I don't understand"?
My first shot, using the tried and tested method of trying to make a sentence from words that look or sound a bit like that was
"You Tuggin' Ma Chain?"!!
It might not work as well for Gaelic as it does for French.........
Johnuk123
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Inverness isn't that bad I've been to plenty worse.
PFX
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Going through this thread, I see kermit has already mentioned it and perhaps I'm being stupid, but all joking aside, what is the logic for using the 73s so far removed from a third rail? I'm working on the basis that the DC equipment is being retained in the rebuilt/refurbed locos.
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