Sprinter 'Hold Gear' switch.

[Christmas]

I've noticed this Hold Gear switch on the panel in the cabs of some Sprinters. Can anyone explain exactly what this switch was used for and if any are still working. It is my understanding that they were disconnected many years ago.

 

[tiptoptaff]

I've noticed this Hold Gear switch on the panel in the cabs of some Sprinters. Can anyone explain exactly what this switch was used for and if any are still working. It is my understanding that they were disconnected many years ago.

Without a photo I can't offer any help - can't say it's something I've noticed on our (GWR's) sprinter fleet

 

[craigybagel]

It was for working in multiple with Pacers, with their original mechanical Self Changing Gears transmission. You could hold the Pacer in a lower gear if needed. It became redundant when the more conventional (for railway use) Voith Hydraulic transmission was fitted.

 

[hexagon789]

I've noticed this Hold Gear switch on the panel in the cabs of some Sprinters. Can anyone explain exactly what this switch was used for and if any are still working. It is my understanding that they were disconnected many years ago.

For working with mechanical transmission Pacers, given those are no more (having been refitted with Voith transmission and of course later withdrawn), I doubt they've been used in a few decades.

 

[craigybagel]

Without a photo I can't offer any help - can't say it's something I've noticed on our (GWR's) sprinter fleet

On a 150/2, it's the bottom right switch on the bank of switches to the drivers left - underneath the headlight switch. On our 150s the actual switch has been removed and it's just a small hole now - but the label is still there.

I'm not aware of it being fitted to any Sprinters other than 150s, and I've never signed 150/1 so I can't comment on them.

 

[hexagon789]

On a 150/2, it's the bottom right switch on the bank of switches to the drivers left - underneath the headlight switch. On our 150s the actual switch has been removed and it's just a small hole now - but the label is still there.

I'm not aware of it being fitted to any Sprinters other than 150s, and I've never signed 150/1 so I can't comment on them.

Intriguingly the 150 drivers manual on locodocs says it's not fitted to 150/2s only 150/1s!

 

[craigybagel]

Intriguingly the 150 drivers manual on locodocs says it's not fitted to 150/2s only 150/1s!

I'm not sure if we're allowed post photos here from other sites directly, but there's a photo of a (then ATW) 150/2 cab on Flickr here.

Of course, it might well be the case the hole where the switch should be has been empty since the units were built and they were never actually fitted?

 

[hexagon789]

I'm not sure if we're allowed post photos here from other sites directly, but there's a photo of a (then ATW) 150/2 cab on Flickr here.

Of course, it might well be the case the hole where the switch should be has been empty since the units were built and they were never actually fitted?

AFAIK Flickr links are fine with context.

That could be it, I don't think the Pacers had the SCG transmission for very long anyway it being so unreliable.

This is the piece from the manual:

 

[158757]

150/1s and 156's are also fitted. Never noticed it on the 153's or 158's and I don't sign 155's so can't vouch for them.

 

[tiptoptaff]

On a 150/2, it's the bottom right switch on the bank of switches to the drivers left - underneath the headlight switch. On our 150s the actual switch has been removed and it's just a small hole now - but the label is still there.

I'm not aware of it being fitted to any Sprinters other than 150s, and I've never signed 150/1 so I can't comment on them.

That explains it, that entire panel has been replaced on ours when they upgraded the lights and put a mimic panel in

 

[craigybagel]

AFAIK Flickr links are fine with context.

That could be it, I don't think the Pacers had the SCG transmission for very long anyway it being so unreliable.

This is the piece from the manual:
View attachment 100777

Now that is an interesting read. Did they change their minds or were the switches left empty all along? I was leaning towards the latter until I read that....

150/1s and 156's are also fitted. Never noticed it on the 153's or 158's and I don't sign 155's so can't vouch for them.

.... The latter built 156s included the switch. Which doesn't really add up.

That explains it, that entire panel has been replaced on ours when they upgraded the lights and put a mimic panel in

Ah I see, I didn't realise GWR pimped their units so much! The panel on the right of ours was altered when WSP was fitted but the left hand side is pretty much as built.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Ah I see, I didn't realise GWR pimped their units so much! The panel on the right of ours was altered when WSP was fitted but the left hand side is pretty much as built.

We had cab AC in our 150s!

 

[newtownmgr]

Signed 150’s in 1989 & don’t think it was in use then.

 

[driverd]

Often wondered this myself! Could anyone explain exactly how this worked? Was the switch only holding the gear in the pacer or does it prevent fluid coupling in the Sprinter?
Further, wouldn't holding the pacer in a lower gear damage the gear box?

Just curious but any help appreciated!

 

[hexagon789]

Often wondered this myself! Could anyone explain exactly how this worked? Was the switch only holding the gear in the pacer or does it prevent fluid coupling in the Sprinter?
Further, wouldn't holding the pacer in a lower gear damage the gear box?

Just curious but any help appreciated!

I'd be interested to know this too. The 150 manual doesn't specify and says 'see Class 141-144 driving instructions for details', sadly locodocs doesn't have a copy of this to view.

 

[Efini92]

It just held the gear in the pacer. During low adhesion the sprinter wheels would slip and the pacer would change up through the gears.
Some drivers used to turn it on to deliberately wreck the gear boxes on the pacers.

 

[driver9000]

Often wondered this myself! Could anyone explain exactly how this worked? Was the switch only holding the gear in the pacer or does it prevent fluid coupling in the Sprinter?
Further, wouldn't holding the pacer in a lower gear damage the gear box?

Just curious but any help appreciated!

Hold Gear had no effect on the Sprinter transmission. It was meant to prevent the 14x unit 'hunting' through the gearbox climbing hills.

 

[trebor79]

It just held the gear in the pacer. During low adhesion the sprinter wheels would slip and the pacer would change up through the gears.
Some drivers used to turn it on to deliberately wreck the gear boxes on the pacers.

Why would they do that? Just for a laugh?

 

[Efini92]

Why would they do that? Just for a laugh?

Because they didn’t like pacers.

 

[gallafent]

Some drivers used to turn it on to deliberately wreck the gear boxes on the pacers.

Good to know the colossal amount of taxpayers' money that is spent on the railways over the decades is being well looked after. Heartwarming, even.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Good to know the colossal amount of taxpayers' money that is spent on the railways over the decades is being well looked after. Heartwarming, even.

Oh get over yourself

 

[Pigeon]

Sounds similar in concept to the "semi-dummy gearchange" arrangement or whatever you like to call it that was used on the hydraulic Bedpan units to work in multiple with ordinary ones. That led to all sorts of untoward consequences like the mechanical unit being towed for miles at 70mph in first gear and chunks of its drivetrain deciding to take immediate retirement. What I find surprising is that they even considered partially repeating the idea.

 

[AMD]

As seen on 150150 - the hole where the hold gear switch once was.....

 

[Efini92]

As seen on 150150 - the hole where the hold gear switch once was.....

The cursed unit of newton heath

 

[gallafent]

Some drivers used to turn it on to deliberately wreck the gear boxes on the pacers.

Because they didn’t like pacers.

Oh get over yourself

After due consideration you're right. Deliberate sabotage of an expensive public asset is a completely reasonable and legal thing to do, I stand corrected.

 

[irish_rail]

After due consideration you're right. Deliberate sabotage of an expensive public asset is a completely reasonable and legal thing to do, I stand corrected.

I'd imagine this is more a case of some muppet in a messroom trying to look like a rebel claiming this is what they did today for a laugh. I seriously doubt many drivers deliberately did this.

 

[gallafent]

I seriously doubt many drivers deliberately did this.

I'm sure you're right of course … there was something about the flippancy of how it was said that raised my hackles!