Longest permitted freight train

[Falcon1200]

I was just thinking about this, presumably it involves splitting one of the trains and using the second one to shunt the rear portion back into the loop once the front part has pulled forward?

Indeed, it would involve uncoupling, coupling and propelling moves, requiring staff on the ground. Better to avoid the situation arising in the first place!

 

[Taunton]

Indeed, it would involve uncoupling, coupling and propelling moves, requiring staff on the ground. Better to avoid the situation arising in the first place!

There were some similar issues on the GWR lines from Taunton to Minehead and Barnstaple in the early 1930s, which among other things apparently led to passenger coaches being shunted temporarily into the goods yards at intermediate passing points. As a result they were all substantially rebuilt and extended.

 

[Pete_uk]

I remember reading in Rail back in the early 90s about a 'megatrain' freight train that had, I think, two 59s on the front and one in the middle.

All I know is that it went '...through the Vale of Berkeley...' in the early hours.

 

[LRV3004]

They used two-way secure radios there, in the old 100 s.l.u. days, riding on the Cartic at the front of the propelling move, did go badly wrong once

There was also a very entrepreneurial autos supervisor then.

The radios we used weren’t great - I used to joke about them interfering with aircraft at John Lennon Airport; imagine an EasyJet speeding down the runway and the pilot suddenly hears “all stop all stop”!

 

[Oxfordblues]

I remember at a meeting in the 1980s when we wanted to run longer trains on the WCML the London Midland Region told us that the length-limit is governed by the length of the shortest loop, which turned-out to be Oubeck DGL. Anything longer would need to have an "X"-headcode to alert the signallers. One of our team seriously suggested that we should simply shut Oubeck DGL, but it was retained as a refuge for tampers and suchlike and is still in use.

 

[The Planner]

Two points; lengths are also limited by signalling, one issue being if, when standing at a signal, the rear end still hasn't reached the previous signal. Blocks other routes and, more likely, level crossings.

Makes little difference, you just plan schedules around it and in a lot of places its specific in the TPRs about how you plan with specific lengths.

 

[Merle Haggard]

Makes little difference, you just plan schedules around it and in a lot of places its specific in the TPRs about how you plan with specific lengths.

Thanks, I didn't realise that it was widespread - I thought that the G.E. (for Harwich trains) was the only route with problems for 102 s.l.u. , and even that was regarding loop lengths rather than signalling.

Out of interest, what's the usual distance between signals on the W.C.M.L.? (choosing that as having been upgraded to the ideal).

 

[JKF]

The Stinkliner trains (Brentford to Severnside) appear quite long, reviewing a couple of videos I have they consist of 78 boxes on 26 container flat wagons, no idea how that compares to some other services. It might just be that they seem unduly long due to the slow speed when I see them run through Clifton Down station, feels like they go on forever!

 

[j37401]

Not sure about F.Liner/DRS/GB but the DB Southampton - Trafford Park is currently 106 SLU and 18 twin sets (36 wagons) and can be a max of 110 SLU inc loco. These trains overlap several signal sections in the Oxford Rd corridor.

 

[King Lazy]

I’m sure in the early 2000s when there was still plenty of coal traffic through Carlisle there used to be an instruction in the weekly notices allowing two coal trains to be joined and head across the Tyne Valley.

Not sure if it ever happened but that must’ve been a contender if it did.

 

[Harpo]

The radios we used weren’t great - I used to joke about them interfering with aircraft at John Lennon Airport; imagine an EasyJet speeding down the runway and the pilot suddenly hears “all stop all stop”!

Stopping the job at John Lennon Airport? Imagine all the people.

(Copyright Tim Vine)

 

[Spartacus]

I’m sure in the early 2000s when there was still plenty of coal traffic through Carlisle there used to be an instruction in the weekly notices allowing two coal trains to be joined and head across the Tyne Valley.

Not sure if it ever happened but that must’ve been a contender if it did.

EWS had their Jumbo 42 HTA coal trains running from Carlisle to York and later Gascoigne Wood. They were all set to expand (the paths already worked out) before the takeover by DB put and end to them for some reason.

 

[LRV3004]

Stopping the job at John Lennon Airport? Imagine all the people.

(Copyright Tim Vine)

Ha ha!!!!

 

[mailbyrail]

The book 'Cromford Station - a history' published 2009 by the Arkwright Society has a picture from April 1968. It shows a class 37 hauling 100 4-wheel BR continental ferry vans on an up train used for Westinghouse air brake trials. There's no other information provided but the train had probably started from Rowsley. Each van was considerably longer than 1 slu so overall around 150slu.

 

[Spartacus]

The book 'Cromford Station - a history' published 2009 by the Arkwright Society has a picture from April 1968. It shows a class 37 hauling 100 4-wheel BR continental ferry vans on an up train used for Westinghouse air brake trials. There's no other information provided but the train had probably started from Rowsley. Each van was considerably longer than 1 slu so overall around 150slu.

That reminds me, back in steam days the Gresley P1s used to be timetabled on 100 wagon coal trains which caused considerable problems if they got out of path or needed regulating, they were too long for loops before they were converted to 4 track.

 

[Dr Hoo]

The book 'Cromford Station - a history' published 2009 by the Arkwright Society has a picture from April 1968. It shows a class 37 hauling 100 4-wheel BR continental ferry vans on an up train used for Westinghouse air brake trials. There's no other information provided but the train had probably started from Rowsley. Each van was considerably longer than 1 slu so overall around 150slu.

I recall that trial being mentioned in Modern Railways at the time. Don’t know which issue so can’t dig it out. I think that it came to about three quarters of a mile. It was all about investigating brake propagation and release times with single pipe operation. There was never any intention's to operate such long trains in normal service in GB.

 

[Dunfanaghy Rd]

I remember reading in Rail back in the early 90s about a 'megatrain' freight train that had, I think, two 59s on the front and one in the middle.

All I know is that it went '...through the Vale of Berkeley...' in the early hours.

59005 carries a plaque to commemorate the event.
Pat

 

[Pete_uk]

59005 carries a plaque to commemorate the event.
Pat

Great!

 

[james60059]

The Kingsbury tanks with a load 32 would be a contender maybe? (there was talks of extending to 36 a while back - anyway I digress and that is for another section )