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HST Single Car Workings

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alexl92

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Hi,

HST power cars working alone has been discussed many times before, but I was just wondering what the procedure would be if one had to reverse for some reason whilst travelling between depots or something like that.

With there being no rear cab, does someone have to walk ahead of it whilst the driver reverses?
 
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455driver

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Hi,

HST power cars working alone has been discussed many times before, but I was just wondering what the procedure would be if one had to reverse for some reason whilst travelling between depots or something like that.

With there being no rear cab, does someone have to walk ahead of it whilst the driver reverses?

They wont walk behind it but they could travel in the luggage area looking out of the gangway passing messages by back to back radios, although this will only be used in depots.

If there is a chance of needing to reverse on the mainline then they wont be sent out singly.
 

D365

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If there is a chance of needing to reverse on the mainline then they wont be sent out singly.

Like so?

8192887195_88c9f68d4b_b.jpg
 

najaB

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If there is a chance of needing to reverse on the mainline then they wont be sent out singly.
Interestingly there is a rule in the Scottish SA which specifically allows power cars to operate blunt end first between Edinburgh Waverley and Craigentinny.
 

HSTEd

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I assume that would be under similar restrictions to propelling moves?
 

Philip Phlopp

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Interestingly there is a rule in the Scottish SA which specifically allows power cars to operate blunt end first between Edinburgh Waverley and Craigentinny.

Was a fairly regular occurrence under British Rail and GNER prior to the MTU re-engineering program, would normally happen with passengers remaining on the train, and a replacement power car being sent at the same time as the dead PC went to Craigentinny. It was around a 20-30 minute delay, if memory serves (plus however late you were prior to arriving at Edinburgh with a dead PC).

It's also permitted at Aberdeen for the same reasons.
 

HMS Ark Royal

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I've always thought the acceleration of one of those formations must be quite something!

I recall seeing a picture in what might have been RAIL or TRACTION years ago when Great Western were short of units so they formed a quick unit of 2 power cars and two coaches - now that would have been good to travel on
 

PHILIPE

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Interestingly there is a rule in the Scottish SA which specifically allows power cars to operate blunt end first between Edinburgh Waverley and Craigentinny.

Seen. Changing PC on a through service to Aberdeen.
 

455driver

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Interestingly there is a rule in the Scottish SA which specifically allows power cars to operate blunt end first between Edinburgh Waverley and Craigentinny.

That would be in the local instructions, if you want to go down that route then there are probably no rules which apply to the whole of the railways!

It is so that they can send one down to replace a failed power car and saves sending the whole set up to Craigentinny to do the exchange.
 

455driver

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I recall seeing a picture in what might have been RAIL or TRACTION years ago when Great Western were short of units so they formed a quick unit of 2 power cars and two coaches - now that would have been good to travel on

I have seen a video of that, lets just say the brake force wasn't up to much! ;) :lol:
 
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Phil.

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Trivia time.
The prototype HST had a little auxilliary driving position at the rear of each of the power cars.
 

najaB

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Trivia time.
The prototype HST had a little auxilliary driving position at the rear of each of the power cars.
Didn't the initial production power cars also have them, but they were removed later to keep fleet commonality?
 

Ash Bridge

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Didn't the initial production power cars also have them, but they were removed later to keep fleet commonality?

I thought the same as I have a slide which I took at a Crewe Works open day back in 1976 showing the rear end of a brand new HST Power Car with a window in the same position as on the prototypes, though i think someone on a previous thread pointed out it was actually only a guards compartment with no driving controls fitted.
 

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sprinterguy

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Didn't the initial production power cars also have them, but they were removed later to keep fleet commonality?
No, they never did, but as Ash Bridge suggests, power cars 43002 - 152 had a guard's compartment situated within the van area of the power car and windows were provided for this reason.
 
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