How are Class 800/801s towed?

[trv100]

This may seem a stupid question but how are class 800/801s towed, surely they can’t be towed by class 67s due to their coupling system, and how/with which train have they been towed in the past?

 

[DanNCL]

This may seem a stupid question but how are class 800/801s towed, surely they can’t be towed by class 67s due to their coupling system, and how/with which train have they been towed in the past?

Rescue is usually by another 80x unit. In exceptional circumstances a 67 can be used with a coupling adaptor. GBRF have some 66s that are capable of hauling 80xs without any barrier wagons, but I can't remember which ones.

 

[jaketaylor]

Rescue is usually by another 80x unit. In exceptional circumstances a 67 can be used with a coupling adaptor. GBRF have some 66s that are capable of hauling 80xs without any barrier wagons, but I can't remember which ones.

I know 66751 was the loco involved in hauling them about when testing was going on. It didn’t need a barrier wagon as it had a coupling adapter fitted if I remember correctly

 

[fgwrich]

Rescue is usually by another 80x unit. In exceptional circumstances a 67 can be used with a coupling adaptor. GBRF have some 66s that are capable of hauling 80xs without any barrier wagons, but I can't remember which ones.

Not just for rescues, but it seems, for movements of other 80Xs around too. During their delivery phases, both the LNER and TPE fleets visited Eastleigh Works for vinyl fitment which, on more than one occasion, led to mixed Hull Trains & LNER sets towing each other around while working past GWR liveried sets. Possibly the only time those 3 will ever be seen side by side (though HT and LNER IETs and ScotRail's 385s will all be seen off patch soon when they cycle through Hitachi's road in Eastleigh Works).

 

[TurboMan]

800s/801s can be dragged by pretty much any loco. There is an adaptor coupler in the emergency equipment cupboard on the 80x that allows mechanical coupling by connecting the Dellner on the 80x to the loco drawhook. There are also main res and brake pipes between the loco and the 80x. Once the brake pipe is attached, there is a loco hauled coupling cock behind the nose cone which is opened, and a 'loco-hauled mode' switch on the cab back wall - this basically switches on a translator on the 80x that converts brake pipe pressure to EP brake signals (in the same way that translator vehicles do) so that through brake control is achieved from the loco cab.

There is also a switch on the cab back wall that tells the 80x if the cab is attended or not. If set in the unattended position (for when there is no competent person in the cab) then a passcomm activation will dump the brake pipe pressure and stop the train. If in the attended position, there is no immediate brake demand, but the competent person can activate an emergency plunger if there is a need to stop the train once they have spoken to the person who has activated the passcomm.

It's all quite clever stuff really!

 

[Doomotron]

800s/801s can be dragged by pretty much any loco. There is an adaptor coupler in the emergency equipment cupboard on the 80x that allows mechanical coupling by connecting the Dellner on the 80x to the loco drawhook. There are also main res and brake pipes between the loco and the 80x. Once the brake pipe is attached, there is a loco hauled coupling cock behind the nose cone which is opened, and a 'loco-hauled mode' switch on the cab back wall - this basically switches on a translator on the 80x that converts brake pipe pressure to EP brake signals (in the same way that translator vehicles do) so that through brake control is achieved from the loco cab.

There is also a switch on the cab back wall that tells the 80x if the cab is attended or not. If set in the unattended position (for when there is no competent person in the cab) then a passcomm activation will dump the brake pipe pressure and stop the train. If in the attended position, there is no immediate brake demand, but the competent person can activate an emergency plunger if there is a need to stop the train once they have spoken to the person who has activated the passcomm.

It's all quite clever stuff really!

That's quite interesting. Are there any drawbacks, such as speed restrictions?

 

[TurboMan]

That's quite interesting. Are there any drawbacks, such as speed restrictions?

Yes, I think it ranges from 60mph with a permanent coupler fitted to the loco and full brake control, to 5mph with an adaptor coupler and no through brake control for whatever reason.