New Shunters

[theageofthetra]

Given the age of the shunting locos in the UK and their limited workload these days are any new builds in the pipeline? Or will they soldier on for the forseable future.

The blue shunter used on the Crossrail site at Abbey Wood looks quite modern-can anyone confirm? Same with the one at the Hitachi shed at Ashford.

Could for example a new build loco be built to a standard European design and as it would only be used in a confined yard area would the larger loading gauge be a huge issue?

 

[andyb2706]

Don't think there are any plans to build new shunters ever.

If I remember correctly I read an article a few years back were the they said they would use the main line locos for shunting duties.

 

[6Gman]

Many years ago I worked in a department called "Forward Planning" in the LM regional office. One day, bored, I was looking through some old files and discovered a project file for an 08 Replacement [this was circa the 1980s].

It was classic "Christmas Tree" stuff (i.e. a basic plan which gained more and more extras ...). What was originally a basic 08 replacement gained:

a) a higher speed - in case it needed to venture onto the main line
b) more power - in case it was needed
c) dual braking
d) a train heat supply

etc etc etc

Not surprisingly it didn't come to anything!

 

[Bevan Price]

Many years ago I worked in a department called "Forward Planning" in the LM regional office. One day, bored, I was looking through some old files and discovered a project file for an 08 Replacement [this was circa the 1980s].

It was classic "Christmas Tree" stuff (i.e. a basic plan which gained more and more extras ...). What was originally a basic 08 replacement gained:

a) a higher speed - in case it needed to venture onto the main line
b) more power - in case it was needed
c) dual braking
d) a train heat supply

etc etc etc

Not surprisingly it didn't come to anything!

Apart from train heating, that sounds like re-inventing Class 14..........

 

[RichmondCommu]

Given the age of the shunting locos in the UK and their limited workload these days are any new builds in the pipeline? Or will they soldier on for the forseable future.

The blue shunter used on the Crossrail site at Abbey Wood looks quite modern-can anyone confirm? Same with the one at the Hitachi shed at Ashford.

Could for example a new build loco be built to a standard European design and as it would only be used in a confined yard area would the larger loading gauge be a huge issue?

There is a company which has recently been bought out by Wabtec who seem to make a tidy living from repairing class 08's along with other things. The name of the company escapes me (might be L H Group) but whilst they are still able to repair class 08's I would have thought it unlikely that anyone would be looking for a replacement. From what I've read DBS now only have around a dozen class 08's in a active service.

Hunslet have developed and built a brand new shunter design which looks very similar to the kind of shunters operated by the SNCF but I have no idea whether they've had any orders on the back of it.

 

[Jamesb1974]

Deleted

 

[DarloRich]

There is a company which has recently been bought out by Wabtec who seem to make a tidy living from repairing class 08's along with other things. The name of the company escapes me (might be L H Group) but whilst they are still able to repair class 08's I would have thought it unlikely that anyone would be looking for a replacement. From what I've read DBS now only have around a dozen class 08's in a active service.

Hunslet have developed and built a brand new shunter design which looks very similar to the kind of shunters operated by the SNCF but I have no idea whether they've had any orders on the back of it.

yes it is LH Group

 

[theageofthetra]

I am pretty sure the shunter at Ashford Hitachi depot- the one named after an Hitachi director, is a Hunslet.

 

[furnessvale]

Could for example a new build loco be built to a standard European design and as it would only be used in a confined yard area would the larger loading gauge be a huge issue?

Certainly not a problem for Foster Yeoman who have a shunter from the USA at Merehead.

 

[jopsuk]

Fundamentally MUs rarely require a shunter- only if they have traction failure or need split. For passenger stock generally a powerful depot shunter is not important- the Foster Yeoman one has to be able to shift loaded heavy freight.

So a modern passenger depot shunter could potentially be smaller. Which would allow a high visibility centre cab. Remote controls for very low speed working would probably be handy too.

 

[DarloRich]

the newer ones tend to be shunting "mules" that often seem to look like a milk float!

 

[furnessvale]

the newer ones tend to be shunting "mules" that often seem to look like a milk float!

And are often controlled by the shunter(person) on the ground.

 

[birchesgreen]

There are some new shunters (Class 01/5) but i doubt there will be a new "standard" class, they'll just re-engineer 08s if necessary.

 

[D6975]

the newer ones tend to be shunting "mules" that often seem to look like a milk float!

Like the one at the Siemens depot at Northam.
It's a weird little yellow box thing.

There are more conventional looking shunters at Wembley (Chiltern), Ardwick (TP) and Polmadie (Virgin WC) OTTOMH.
The Polmadie one got swapped (temporarily?) for an 08 at some point, I'm not sure what's there at the mo.

edit apparently 08954 is currently the PO shunter,

 

[Carntyne]

Like the one at the Siemens depot at Northam.
It's a weird little yellow box thing.

One of those at Shields TMD for the wheel lathe road too.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Like the one at the Siemens depot at Northam.
It's a weird little yellow box thing.

Will AC units in a depot use them as well or would they move under their own power, with the individual roads in the depot building having the power switched off as needed (and the switch padlocked shut-off by whoever is needing the power switched off)?

 

[dgl]

Will AC units in a depot use them as well or would they move under their own power, with the individual roads in the depot building having the power switched off as needed (and the switch padlocked shut-off by whoever is needing the power switched off)?

I'm guessing like this: https://youtu.be/VzV_HcvAXmU

So with padlocked switches.

 

[DarloRich]

Like the one at the Siemens depot at Northam.
It's a weird little yellow box thing.

that is the one - although only really suitable for work inside depot buildings. You can get bigger ones for "yard work"

 

[pinkpanther]

08/09s were designed to be shunting engines. They can be driven from either side of the cab and have slow release DSD pedals to allow the driver time to cross the cab.

'Big engines' ie 60/66/67 are mainline engines, with the driving controls on the left (or centre left if its a 67). Not much use for shunting when you need to see out of both sides.

I can't speak for the DSD, but Cromptons also have dual controls.

 

[randyrippley]

I can't speak for the DSD, but Cromptons also have dual controls.

not much vision when going backwards though..........