Freight Locos reaching 100 mph on Railtours

[Whistler40145]

Sometimes the unexpected happens on Railtours when the driver manages to wind up freight loco(s) to 100 mph or more, when their top speed normally doesn't allow this to occur.

Some I remember are:-

37051+37057 doing 100 plus south of Donny on The Settle Syphons
31271+31308+31514 doing 100 between Didcot & Reading on The Multiple Marauder
56114 between Cardiff Central & Port Talbot Parkway on Crug & Grog Grid

Please share your memories.

Mods, if this is in wrong section, please move it.

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[Newshy37]

I once clocked 37002 and 37191(I think it was 191) at 103 on a summer relief between Derby and York sometime in the early 80's. Anyone else remember it?

 

[tiptoptaff]

Sometimes the unexpected happens on Railtours when the driver manages to wind up freight loco(s) to 100 mph or more, when their top speed normally doesn't allow this to occur.

Some I remember are:-

37051+37057 doing 100 plus south of Donny on The Settle Syphons
31271+31308+31514 doing 100 between Didcot & Reading on The Multiple Marauder
56114 between Cardiff Central & Port Talbot Parkway on Crug & Grog Grid

Please share your memories.

Mods, if this is in wrong section, please move it.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

With the 56, are you sure? Linespeed West of the Severn Tunnel is 75 at most. I live between Cardiff and Port Talbot, and the max Linespeed through us is certainly only 75

 

[Whistler40145]

Certainly felt more the normal line speed. It went PDQ from Cardiff Central!

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[Pacerpilot]

Its 85mph from Bryn Y Gwynion nr Bridgend and varies between 75 and 90 as far as Briton Ferry. 100mph for trains cleared for HST differential speeds from Stormy Down to Margam

 

[fgwrich]

I've had pedestrians 31190 & 31601 & a 67 at 100 on the South Devon Banks back from Mazey Day a few years ago. Must have warmed the 31s up a fair bit considering the 'pedestrian' speed we had them up the banks!

 

[theblackwatch]

I've recorded Class 56s doing almost 100 on a couple of occasions in the 1990s.

 

[12CSVT]

Would I be right in thinking a pair of DRS 20s topped 80 mph on a Blackpool to Minehead railtour in May 2000 ?

 

[KA4C]

Is this thread a good idea, given that it identifies specific loco's, trains and therefore, drivers?

 

[38Cto15E]

Not a railtour but 4S53, Kentish Town-Glasgow Bridgeton, 'The Tarton Arrow', we managed to get a ton out of the Class 47 on the down main between Leagrave and Harlington.

 

[NSEFAN]

Is this thread a good idea, given that it identifies specific loco's, trains and therefore, drivers?

Surely there would only be grounds for telling off drivers if you could actually prove they were speeding? I imagine the word of a passenger on a railtour isn't quite as reliable compared to OTMR data (which IIRC gets overwritten after 28 days?)

And as for tours which were quite some time ago, I doubt anything can be done about it now.

 

[455driver]

I imagine the word of a passenger on a railtour isn't quite as reliable compared to OTMR data (which IIRC gets overwritten after 28 days?).

Which is why some of the OTDRs are routinely downloaded onto laptops for "future reference".

Dont expect any heroics on any railtours anytime soon, in fact most drivers hate working any sort of special simply because of the "I was on 1zxx and we did xxmph at XYZ" web post can result in the driver being taken off driving while it is investigated, even if it comes to light months later.

 

[KA4C]

Surely there would only be grounds for telling off drivers if you could actually prove they were speeding? I imagine the word of a passenger on a railtour isn't quite as reliable compared to OTMR data (which IIRC gets overwritten after 28 days?)

And as for tours which were quite some time ago, I doubt anything can be done about it now.

OTDR's get over written at different timescales, depending on the OTDR and work that the loco has done. Some loco's (esp those likely to be used on railtours) can have two or three months worth of data on them. Whilst it may be the case that nothing can be done about events mentioned on here, the driver can be identified and might be under closer scrutiny

Anyway, anyone who drivers like this is a) unprofessional and b) bloody stupid, deserving of whatever befalls them
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Dont expect any heroics on any railtours anytime soon, in fact most drivers hate working any sort of special simply because of the "I was on 1zxx and we did xxmph at XYZ" web post can result in the driver being taken off driving while it is investigated, even if it comes to light months later.

Two bloody true and it has happened to some of my guys. Quite a few times I have had to look into a matter posted on a web forum by some clever git with a GPS

 

[83G/84D]

Which is why some of the OTDRs are routinely downloaded onto laptops for "future reference".

Dont expect any heroics on any railtours anytime soon, in fact most drivers hate working any sort of special simply because of the "I was on 1zxx and we did xxmph at XYZ" web post can result in the driver being taken off driving while it is investigated, even if it comes to light months later.

Speed restrictions / line speeds are there for a reason, not to be broken by freight drivers on railtours or anyone else for that matter. It is quite right to investigate any alleged speeding offences. Most TSR's now have overspeed sensors / TPWS which bring trains to a stand if they are exceeding the maximum allowed speed.

I do however remember many years ago coming down Hemerdon bank one night in a HST so fast that the crockery in the buffet car (I think it was the down Golden Hind with restaurant service) went flying and smashed on the floor!

 

[Bevan Price]

Speed restrictions / line speeds are there for a reason, not to be broken by freight drivers on railtours or anyone else for that matter.

!

Obviously it is unwise to do anything dangerous. But certainly in the past, some speed limits were more concerned with reducing track or loco. maintenance costs than with safety considerations (signalling, curvature, etc.) .

Sometimes, too, overspeeding can be ascribed to defective speedos.

 

[KA4C]

Obviously it is unwise to do anything dangerous. But certainly in the past, some speed limits were more concerned with reducing track or loco. maintenance costs than with safety considerations (signalling, curvature, etc.) .

Sometimes, too, overspeeding can be ascribed to defective speedos.

Well over speeding might be down top a defective speedo, just might, but only by a little. Most drivers know when a speedo is out and report it, so i don't really accept that one

If a speed is down to track / loco maintenance costs, then is that a good reason to speed? no it isn't

Some speeds are due to signal sighting or brake force considerations due to number of loco's on trains

Where speeding is concerned there is not a good reason to do it deliberately (unless anyone can give one?) and it is unprofessional, end of

 

[theblackwatch]

Which is why some of the OTDRs are routinely downloaded onto laptops for "future reference".

Dont expect any heroics on any railtours anytime soon, in fact most drivers hate working any sort of special simply because of the "I was on 1zxx and we did xxmph at XYZ" web post can result in the driver being taken off driving while it is investigated, even if it comes to light months later.

Despite your view that most drivers won't touch charters with a bargepole if they can help it, there are quite a few drivers who will actually go out of their way to drive charters with particular locos. There's a tour next month and I've a pretty good idea who a couple of the driver will be on it - and I know they'll want to do it too.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Despite your view that most drivers won't touch charters with a bargepole if they can help it, there are quite a few drivers who will actually go out of their way to drive charters with particular locos. There's a tour next month and I've a pretty good idea who a couple of the driver will be on it - and I know they'll want to do it too.

I found that comment too... I know there are enthusiasts working as drivers so i imagine there is a select few who love doing tours!!!


On the speeding issue, while i don't like having to stick to rules and always appreciate discretion, i do not think this is one of those situations. The reason the railways are so safe is because we stick to the rules (in the most part) and i think speeding is incredibly irresponsible.

Do it in a car you have yourself and whoever trusts you. A train full of people is a very different situation. Even if 99999 times out 100,000 nothing happens. That 1 time you could kill too many.

 

[455driver]

Speed restrictions / line speeds are there for a reason, not to be broken by freight drivers on railtours or anyone else for that matter.

That wasnt what I meant. :roll:

What I mean is pushing locos past their maximum speed whether its a pair of 20s going over 75 or a restricted loco, say a weekend only 47 (thats going back some years ) going over its 60 limit even though it would be more than capable of it and there wouldnt be any sort of alterations made to the loco except a couple of cab stickers.

Any driver that willingly and knowingly breaks the line speed or speed restrictions deserve everything they get thrown at them.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Despite your view that most drivers won't touch charters with a bargepole if they can help it, there are quite a few drivers who will actually go out of their way to drive charters with particular locos. There's a tour next month and I've a pretty good idea who a couple of the driver will be on it - and I know they'll want to do it too.

So a couple of drivers want to work a tour, out of how many drivers at the depot?

My point still stands most drivers dont want to/ wont work a tour but there are always some that will.

 

[theblackwatch]

So a couple of drivers want to work a tour, out of how many drivers at the depot?

My point still stands most drivers dont want to/ wont work a tour but there are always some that will.

I have no idea how many drivers are passenger passed at particular depots - maybe someone in the industry could advise? Can a driver refuse a particular job they are rostered for on the grounds that they simply don't want to do it?

 

[KA4C]

Can a driver refuse a particular job they are rostered for on the grounds that they simply don't want to do it?

No, they can't

 

[Trainfan344]

Can a driver refuse a particular job they are rostered for on the grounds that they simply don't want to do it?

They could, They would also most likely lose their job.

 

[Bevan Price]

Well over speeding might be down top a defective speedo, just might, but only by a little. Most drivers know when a speedo is out and report it, so i don't really accept that one


f

Certainly happened in the last days of Class 47's on the North Wales Coast (Birmingham / Holyhead, etc.) loco hauled trains, circa 2004. One train was terminated at Stafford by the driver, but another train I was on had some very strange increases / decreases of speed along the coast line, exceeding 100 mph at one location.

 

[tsr]

I do however remember many years ago coming down Hemerdon bank one night in a HST so fast that the crockery in the buffet car (I think it was the down Golden Hind with restaurant service) went flying and smashed on the floor!

That's not always a good indicator of running over the speed limit!

(I've witnessed most of the contents of a buffet on a 373 go flying whilst whizzing up HS1 just North of Ashford International, and I very much doubt that was speeding related!)

 

[Jedipickles]

86259's done near to 100mph on the WCML i believe...

 

[Class86Fan]

86259 was never a freight loco and it is cleared for 100mph operation.