Railtours running on the main line with or without a diesel at the back?

[India Four Two]

I like watching videos of steam trains on Youtube - particularly GWR-hauled steam trains, but then I'm biased!
Sometimes, I see a diesel engine idling along at the back and sometimes not.

Yesterday I saw a Deltic-hauled train with a diesel bringing up the rear!


What determines whether a diesel is required as a backup for mainline running?

 

[StripeyNick]

S

I like watching videos of steam trains on Youtube - particularly GWR-hauled steam trains, but then I'm biased!
Sometimes, I see a diesel engine idling along at the back and sometimes not.

Yesterday I saw a Deltic-hauled train with a diesel bringing up the rear!


What determines whether a diesel is required as a backup for mainline running?

Often they are there for insurance purposes. Sometimes they are there to provide power for heating but the they are often there to assist with shunt moves at the final destination.

For example, all steam tours that come to Cardiff turn on the Maindee triangle at Newport en route as it saves a path for having to turn a loco during the tour's layover. This means that whatever loco is on the back will haul the train into Cardiff. It's a bit of a shame they do that now as it means we've lost the sight of a steam loco arriving into Central

 

[12LDA28C]

I like watching videos of steam trains on Youtube - particularly GWR-hauled steam trains, but then I'm biased!
Sometimes, I see a diesel engine idling along at the back and sometimes not.

Yesterday I saw a Deltic-hauled train with a diesel bringing up the rear!


What determines whether a diesel is required as a backup for mainline running?

Various factors determine the need for a loco on the rear of a charter train. Often a diesel is left on the rear to assist with shunt/reversal of the charter or its associated ECS moves. If the train is steam-hauled and the stock is not steam-heated then the diesel will be on the rear to provide train supply. Finally, a diesel is often left on the rear, or tucked in behind the train engine as insurance in case of failure, or on occasions such as when due to fire risk a steam loco is only permitted to operate 'in light steam' with the diesel doing much of the work.

 

[zwk500]

What determines whether a diesel is required as a backup for mainline running?

Generally, operator preference. Sometimes it can be customer requested or very rarely a requirement imposed by NR if there is a particular risk (e.g. Lineside fire for steam or adhesion problems in autumn). It is also possible for a diesel to 'shadow' the tour to provide insurance without the need for it to be in the consist but this runs the risk of getting other trains between the tour and the backup.

For example, all steam tours that come to Cardiff turn on the Maindee triangle at Newport en route as it saves a path for having to turn a loco during the tour's layover. This means that whatever loco is on the back will haul the train into Cardiff. It's a bit of a shame they do that now as it means we've lost the sight of a steam loco arriving into Central

Some tours still run the loco light to Maindee to turn between the tour, or certainly did pre-COVID. However it's all down to cost and capacity.

 

[StripeyNick]

Generally, operator preference. Sometimes it can be customer requested or very rarely a requirement imposed by NR if there is a particular risk (e.g. Lineside fire for steam or adhesion problems in autumn). It is also possible for a diesel to 'shadow' the tour to provide insurance without the need for it to be in the consist but this runs the risk of getting other trains between the tour and the backup.

Some tours still run the loco light to Maindee to turn between the tour, or certainly did pre-COVID. However it's all down to cost and capacity.

We haven't had a move with a light loco around the Maindee triangle for quite some time....... certainly not since COVID times

 

[India Four Two]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.