RailAdventure Power Cars

[jimmylow]

From our Märklin operating session last week. The RailAdventure HST Class 43 power car looks beautiful

 

[D365]

Been a long time since any of the Märklin brands have produced British locomotives!

 

[jimmylow]

Been a long time since any of the Märklin brands have produced British locomotives!

The HST is from Hornby 00 scale. Märklin sold Flying Scotman steam loco as part of the loco 100th anniversary. It is H0 scale though

 

[ExRes]

43423 & 43467 out on test today working 1058 0Z43 Kidderminster SVR to Leamington Spa, 1232 0Z44 to Birmingham Moor Street, 1348 0Z45 to Leamington Spa and 1433 0Z46 back to Kidderminster SVR

 

[LA50041]

43423 & 43467 out on test today working 1058 0Z43 Kidderminster SVR to Leamington Spa, 1232 0Z44 to Birmingham Moor Street, 1348 0Z45 to Leamington Spa and 1433 0Z46 back to Kidderminster SVR

Seen passing Solihull on 0Z46

 

[The_Train]

43423 & 43467 out on test today working 1058 0Z43 Kidderminster SVR to Leamington Spa, 1232 0Z44 to Birmingham Moor Street, 1348 0Z45 to Leamington Spa and 1433 0Z46 back to Kidderminster SVR

I am keeping everything crossed that all of this is relating to the upcoming HST tour that Rail Adventure are providing traction for as both power cars are required by me

 

[43096]

I am keeping everything crossed that all of this is relating to the upcoming HST tour that Rail Adventure are providing traction for as both power cars are required by me

The re-activation of 43423/467 is nothing to do with the tour. It is exceptionally unlikely that they will be on the tour.

 

[The_Train]

The re-activation of 43423/467 is nothing to do with the tour. It is exceptionally unlikely that they will be on the tour.

I mean, you could have kept that to yourself and at least allowed me the hope until the day

 

[Wyrleybart]

The re-activation of 43423/467 is nothing to do with the tour. It is exceptionally unlikely that they will be on the tour.

That is interesting. I didn't know that Railadventure were supplying the power cars for a railtour. Presumably their power cars are still fully 125mph capable then

 

[43096]

That is interesting. I didn't know that Railadventure were supplying the power cars for a railtour.

Next Friday’s Sheffield to Marylebone and U.K. Railtours tour to Skegness in June should both be RailAdventure power cars.

Presumably their power cars are still fully 125mph capable then

They are and have been used at 125mph by RA already.

 

[ExRes]

43465 & 43484 and 43468 & 43480 worked 1031 5Z76 Kings Norton OTPD to Long Marston with 2 NVA barrier vans, the scheduled 0811 0Z76 Kings Norton OTPD to Wembley Receptions 1-7 had been cancelled due to a problem in France with the incoming 777s

 

[Rhysdabeast]

43468 + 43480 + Barrier 96603 + 777039 + 777041 + Barrier 96605 + 43484 + 43465 are working 5Q79 14:29 Honeybourne Sidings to Walton Old Jn.M.S.C.Sdgs https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:55189/2024-03-07/detailed

 

[Jamesrob637]

43468 + 43480 + Barrier 96603 + 777039 + 777041 + Barrier 96605 + 43484 + 43465 are working 5Q79 14:29 Honeybourne Sidings to Walton Old Jn.M.S.C.Sdgs https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:55189/2024-03-07/detailed

Passing through Birmingham New Street just in time for early shift commuters to see it!

 

[ExRes]

Passing through Birmingham New Street just in time for early shift commuters to see it!

By all accounts the Birmingham commuters had a fairly leisurely look as 5Q79 was delayed by an hour due to signalling problems, some say due to the length of the train

43465 & 43484 and 43468 & 43480 then worked 2103 6Q80 Walton Old Junction MSC Sidings to Kirkdale CS with the 777s and this mornings 0501 5Z81 back to Walton


Scheduled 1643 0Z43 to Wembley Receptions 1-7 to form Saturdays 1149 6Q44 has been cancelled



** Updated Saturday 9th March **


43468 & 43480 worked 1022 0Z43 Walton Old Junction MSC Sidings to Wembley Receptions 1-7 and 1645 6Q44 to Northampton TC Up Sidings with 777038, 777051 & 777053 and the barriers

 

[BRX]

When these powercars are being used for the 777 deliveries, why is it that they don't venture further south than Wembley, is it just because they aren't cleared for that route?

If they went to Dollands Moor and collected the train from there it would save a loco swap at Wembley.

 

[43096]

When these powercars are being used for the 777 deliveries, why is it that they don't venture further south than Wembley, is it just because they aren't cleared for that route?

If they went to Dollands Moor and collected the train from there it would save a loco swap at Wembley.

They are not cleared to Dollands Moor.

 

[ExRes]

43468 & 43480 worked 1415 6Q45 Northampton North Junction to Walton Old Junction MSC Sidings with 777038, 777051 & 777053 and the barriers

 

[BRX]

They are not cleared to Dollands Moor.

Seeing as a large part of Railadventure's business seems to be transporting stuff through the tunnel... I'd have thought it might be worth their while getting them cleared to Dollands Moor, but maybe it's not simple to do so?

 

[Wyrleybart]

Seeing as a large part of Railadventure's business seems to be transporting stuff through the tunnel... I'd have thought it might be worth their while getting them cleared to Dollands Moor, but maybe it's not simple to do so?

That is a valid point, but much of Railadventure's mainland Europe activities involve AC traction under the wires. Perhaps they are more comfortable with hiring AC electrics ?

 

[Doomotron]

That is a valid point, but much of Railadventure's mainland Europe activities involve AC traction under the wires. Perhaps they are more comfortable with hiring AC electrics ?

But aren't the RA HSTs running under the wires much of the time anyway? On another note I doubt they'd be interested in getting some kind of third rail locomotive, considering there's only two types left and neither is in an ideal choice for them (as much as I like both 73s and 92s).

 

[BRX]

That is a valid point, but much of Railadventure's mainland Europe activities involve AC traction under the wires. Perhaps they are more comfortable with hiring AC electrics ?

I don't quite understand what you mean. They already have UK diesel locos, which must represent a not insignificant investment. They are already using them to haul stuff around the country but for some reason not the bit between Wembley & Dollands Moor. Instead they pay DB to haul their trains with DB diesel locos on that section. There must be some complication/expense in getting the 43s cleared but I wonder what it is. I thought that part of the point of the 43s is that they are fairly go-anywhere.

 

[ExRes]

They are not cleared to Dollands Moor.

Do you know if there's any particular reason for this or is it just that nobody has ever considered it? I know there's been past discussions about 43s on 3rd rail but it's perfectly possible of course, the RA 43s themselves did their testing out of Eastleigh and LSL had their blue set there for painting, I also remember the Eurostar link sets operating into Waterloo through Kensington Olympia, as for RA electric locos, could this be another one for the 'thousand and one uses for a Class 93' bucket

 

[BRX]

Do you know if there's any particular reason for this or is it just that nobody has ever considered it? I know there's been past discussions about 43s on 3rd rail but it's perfectly possible of course, the RA 43s themselves did their testing out of Eastleigh and LSL had their blue set there for painting, I also remember the Eurostar link sets operating into Waterloo through Kensington Olympia, as for RA electric locos, could this be another one for the 'thousand and one uses for a Class 93' bucket

Quite a few times GWR HSTs were diverted into Waterloo (via Basingstoke?) during engineering blocks. And XC HSTs ran to Bournemouth.

Not sure whether an HST has ever run south-east of London though! Did they ever make it to Dover?

 

[ExRes]

Not sure whether an HST has ever run south-east of London though! Did they ever make it to Dover?

I thought they had but a quick look at Flickr and google comes up with zilch apart from Hornby sets ..... meanwhile


43468 & 43480 worked 0635 6Z46 Walton Old Junction MSC Sidings to Wembley Receptions 1-7 with the European barrier array and 1332 0Z47 to Kings Norton OTPD

43465 & 43484 worked 0900 0Z43 Walton Old Junction MSC Sidings to Crewe Basford Hall SSN and 1152 6X44 to Bo'Ness Junction Exchange Siding hauling Rail Vac 2 which will be taking part in the Permanent Way Institution Practical Trackwork Challenge at the Bo'Ness & Kinneil Railway

 

[43096]

Did they ever make it to Dover?

No!

 

[Wyrleybart]

I don't quite understand what you mean. They already have UK diesel locos, which must represent a not insignificant investment. They are already using them to haul stuff around the country but for some reason not the bit between Wembley & Dollands Moor. Instead they pay DB to haul their trains with DB diesel locos on that section. There must be some complication/expense in getting the 43s cleared but I wonder what it is. I thought that part of the point of the 43s is that they are fairly go-anywhere.

I am with you on the UK thing, but Railadventure have some amazing kit in Europe. The Lok buggy system is fascinating - basically bogies which go under the wheels of something needed moving. Effectively "super wheelskates". These are used to recover or move vehicles and traction of any gauge. Railadventure seem to own ex DB103s and 111s, Swiss Re6/6 and French electric locos.

 

[The_Train]

How did they move the power cars over to Germany that they took over there to show off their UK acquisitions?

 

[43096]

How did they move the power cars over to Germany that they took over there to show off their UK acquisitions?

They went by road from Eastleigh to (I think) Immingham, then shipped to Cuxhaven.

 

[43096]

Do you know if there's any particular reason for this or is it just that nobody has ever considered it? I know there's been past discussions about 43s on 3rd rail but it's perfectly possible of course, the RA 43s themselves did their testing out of Eastleigh and LSL had their blue set there for painting, I also remember the Eurostar link sets operating into Waterloo through Kensington Olympia, as for RA electric locos, could this be another one for the 'thousand and one uses for a Class 93' bucket

I'm not aware of any specific reason, although I would not be surprised if RA have tried to get the route cleared for 43s. When HSTs have worked onto the Southern before there are clearance risks for both trailers and power cars. Trailers the issue is that they need SSL bogies and the 23m length is also an issue in places, particularly as you get further east towards Kent. That's not relevant for RA, though. For power cars, the issue is clearances with the power car bogie steps. When Reading to Waterloo was first cleared back around 20 years ago, there were several very restrictive speed restrictions (5 or 10mph) through some station platforms because of the clearances. I would not be at all surprised if there were similar problems between Wembley and Dollands Moor.

I am with you on the UK thing, but Railadventure have some amazing kit in Europe. The Lok buggy system is fascinating - basically bogies which go under the wheels of something needed moving. Effectively "super wheelskates". These are used to recover or move vehicles and traction of any gauge. Railadventure seem to own ex DB103s and 111s, Swiss Re6/6 and French electric locos.

As an incomplete list, I think the German business owns:
- 1 x German 103 (103222), which I'm not sure is still operational
- 5 x German 111
- 1 x German 139
- 1 x German 365
- 2 x Siemens ES64U4 'Taurus' (183500 and Italian registered 190311)
- 1 x Siemens ER20 diesel (Austrian registered 2016902)
- 1 x French registered Vossloh diesel

In Switzerland they own two Re6/6 (one operational). The "French" electrics you refer to are actually Dutch Class 1600 locos (although built in France by Alsthom).

They also have a Euro6000 electric loco on order from Stadler.

As an example, this is 183500 at Dresden Hbf in July last year:

 

[BRX]

I'm not aware of any specific reason, although I would not be surprised if RA have tried to get the route cleared for 43s. When HSTs have worked onto the Southern before there are clearance risks for both trailers and power cars. Trailers the issue is that they need SSL bogies and the 23m length is also an issue in places, particularly as you get further east towards Kent. That's not relevant for RA, though. For power cars, the issue is clearances with the power car bogie steps. When Reading to Waterloo was first cleared back around 20 years ago, there were several very restrictive speed restrictions (5 or 10mph) through some station platforms because of the clearances. I would not be at all surprised if there were similar problems between Wembley and Dollands Moor.

Thanks for the explanation.
Are the class 43 bogie steps particularly unusual in some way?
It would be surprising if the route (regularly used for deliveries of all sorts of new stock not designed for 3rd rail land) from Dollands Moor to Wembley can be used for such a variety of stuff but not an HST power car.