Recent content by big all

When i became a second man at Redhill around 72 we had at least one evening up vans to Wilsden junction where we would stop at Croydon on the up around 2100 . now over the years i can remember both having the Croydon pilot attach to the rear and we would just pick up the van/vans on return to...

yes easily from memory on a stopper [pre 94]cross the canal just before the junction about 30-35 mph and coast you loose perhaps 7 or 8mph on the gentle grade but you keep to time ??

its is 30 years since i trained on 319 so perhaps false memories sorry if i am wrong and have misled ?? we got them on the southern when the first class 319 allowed the cascade to southern suburban servivces ??

on a 319 they are not actually fixed they raise rather than fully retract like a 73 but well clear off the electric rail

Shoes must always be retracted otherwise all shoes are live by default on the unit even if only one is in touch with the juice rail all dual mode traction as part off change from one to the other involves full isolation from the other mode/s to operate?? you can often check [shoe down button on...

i am not saying it didn't happen, it just doesn't make a lot off sense Redhill was a 24 hr depot with trains running to Tonbridge every hour or so during the day with nice big brake vans and with mail trains travelling at time to suit the early morning mail requirements overnight? if it did...

i was at redhill man and boy from around 1971 to 1994 except 3 and a bit years from 76 to about 80 as a driver at coulsdon north and never heard off an mlv trying to go down the tonbridge whilst we worked mlv at redhill we never went in battery mode but seen enought mlvs being pushed on to...

they would trundle down to redhill yard from victoria probably a quick shunt at croydon mail dock they would have perhaps 3-5vans including cct's guv's and bg's they would do perhaps 3 moves within the up yard over 10 mins but not manage much more before batteries would wain??

no different to any other unit except you accidentally get "gapped " you have the possible option off battery taking a few seconds to change?? we had them later in there career at Redhill [late 80s] for vans in ones and twos from London bridge to Hastings via lewis and the batteries were fairly...

you seem to misunderstand how a 47 works ?? an engine under full load will give out full power [about 2580 hp] at i think it was 750 rpm this will be constant from about 15mph up to whatever speed that how its designed and will happily go on for days on end with no strain . when you talk about...

It is worth a mention that around the 70s or perhaps 80s counting the clicks on welded rail with a stopwatch could mislead as good condition 60ft rail would be "cropped" and made into long welded 600ft rails. Basically a 60ft rail would be "cropped " by removing the rolled rail ends plus the bit...

Possibly more as a driver had to be alive to admit it or others have to be honest to provide an accurate conclusion?

In the mid to late 80s I think it was London Bridge central was virtually shut on evenings and weekends as there was no service via Peckham Rye after about 7pm on weekdays and limited or no service Saturdays with even less Sundays?

Yes indeed I chose to "alter" my social drinking around 1992 when I think the level off acceptance of drinking on and of duty was further clarified and random drink and drug test were on the cards to be introduced?

you can only travel via the depot as ecs [empty coaching stock] as they removed the passenger loop from the running line about 40 years ago ??