'good ones' and 'bad ones' in the same class

[dk1]

When the 90001-015 where allocated to East Anglia 90001 was that bit quicker off the mark than all the rest. Crown Point engineers could never offer a reason why and often disputed it but it was true for many years.

 

[Harpo]

I believe 390044 was chosen for the Euston to Glasgow record run because it was the best performer.

In the past, HSTs were selected from those that were most recently ex-works. This meant that wheel diameters were at their maximum, an important consideration when line speed was to be exceeded.

 

[voyagerdude220]

I believe 390044 was chosen for the Euston to Glasgow record run because it was the best performer.

Is there any difference in acceleration between the 9 and 11 car sets?

 

[dk1]

Is there any difference in acceleration between the 9 and 11 car sets?

Oh there was an interesting article by Roger Ford in MR at the time but darn if I can remember now what he said.

 

[matchmaker]

From what I can remember and it has been a while but we never put more than four coaches on a 37/4 due to the low index of the ETH.

It's because the ETS wiring of a 37/4 is rated at 150A as opposed to 600A for other locos. While the alternator on a 37/4 can probably supply more than the ETS index of 38, the wiring can't cope. It's in the Sectional Appendix.

 

[Class15]

90045 is typically out of service for more time than it’s in service…

 

[70014IronDuke]

The Pines Express ran via Bath until September 1962. Coincidentally that was the month that 34037 was reallocated from Bournemouth to Eastleigh.

There is quite a lot of data on Southern Region locos working to/from Oxford in the early 1960s. On summer Saturdays there would be 4 or 5 turns, some with Bournemouth locos (usually diagrams in the 398-401 range) and some from Eastleigh (usually diagrams 250 and/or 251).

For 1962 there is an excellent BackTrack article (10/95 issue) with details for 4 summer Saturdays. 34037 worked the Bournemouth-Birkenhead on 11/08/62, and also the Poole-Sheffield on 25/07/62, though the latter changed locos at Basingstoke.

Thanks. Interesting. Maybe I saw it on one of those days.

But I remember seeing it at Didcot one weekday, almost certainly on the Pines, in - I think - April 64. IT was a big letdown. I'd only got four Bulleids underlined, and damn it, they'd put one of those on the Pines! But I've lost the logbook that could confirm the date.

As an Eastleigh loco, 34037 worked the Bradford north on 14/08/65, returning on the Newcastle, but that's the only record I have of it reaching Oxford on a summer Saturday in 1964 or 1965. In those years more common locos reaching Oxford on summer Saturdays included 34040, 34044 and 34046. These are all Bournemouth locos, which were more common than Eastleigh locos because they had more turns.

Yes. I remember one summer Saturday, late July 65 - it seemed to be a procession of Bulleids. I think I have that in a logbook somewhere.

 

[Magdalia]

Yes. I remember one summer Saturday, late July 65 - it seemed to be a procession of Bulleids. I think I have that in a logbook somewhere.

Something for the "Back in the day" discussion later this year maybe? It will be 60 years ago.

 

[Tony2]

I’ll offer 37425 as probably the best and most impressive class 37/4 performer. I’ve a non substantiated theory that BR forgot to downrate it from 2000hp when it was ML based as 37292…

 

[D365]

I believe 390044 was chosen for the Euston to Glasgow record run because it was the best performer.

390044 was used for the previous record attempt, but 016 has been put forward this time.

 

[PointA Rail]

390044 was used for the previous record attempt, but 016 has been put forward this time.

I assume that would be because of its recent Railway 200 promotions as well as its performance. Also when roughly is the record attempt planned to take place?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Feb 2025 ==

Is there any difference in acceleration between the 9 and 11 car sets?

Besides the obvious longer wait time to accelerate beyond speed restrictions, I don't imagine there is much of a difference, considering that the additional two carriages are powered (if I am not mistaken).

 

[sprinterguy]

Besides the obvious longer wait time to accelerate beyond speed restrictions, I don't imagine there is much of a difference, considering that the additional two carriages are powered (if I am not mistaken).

One powered and one trailer, regarding the two additional vehicles in the 11-car sets.

 

[Soft Hands]

When the 90001-015 where allocated to East Anglia 90001 was that bit quicker off the mark than all the rest. Crown Point engineers could never offer a reason why and often disputed it but it was true for many years.

I've known several West Coast AC loco drivers for many years now. They all also confirm that 90001 always was, if you were keeping a close eye on things, quicker than the other 14 class 90's they drove regularly!

 

[sk688]

i remember reading somewhere that 37069 was "haunted" , but that might be a bit OTT for this thread

 

[SuspectUsual]

EDIT - In checking which race Nimbus won, I discovered a random fact that Alycidon and Meld were father and daughter! - neither won the Derby, although both had a long string of other wins.

And Crepello was Alycidon’s half brother

 

[37114]

I’ll offer 37425 as probably the best and most impressive class 37/4 performer. I’ve a non substantiated theory that BR forgot to downrate it from 2000hp when it was ML based as 37292…

While it maybe a strong performer it is unlikely to have the same power unit from when it was 37292.

 

[dk1]

I've known several West Coast AC loco drivers for many years now. They all also confirm that 90001 always was, if you were keeping a close eye on things, quicker than the other 14 class 90's they drove regularly!

Cheers for that. Several of us commented on this on the GEML.

 

[hexagon789]

Is there any difference in acceleration between the 9 and 11 car sets?

Very slight, an 11-car has about 1.5% less power for its weight than a 9-car but even in the upper speed range it'll be only some seconds difference in acceleration time; that is important though when conducting a record breaking run of course

Every second counts then!

 

[Harpo]

Very slight, an 11-car has about 1.5% less power for its weight than a 9-car but even in the upper speed range it'll be only some seconds difference in acceleration time; that is important though when conducting a record breaking run of course

Every second counts then!

On older/simpler and less aerodynamic units a 3x4 EMU (for example) would always be faster than 1x4 solo because there was only 1 front end resistance.

Do longer modern MUs (and Pendolinos) see the same effect? Or are they set up to deliver the same acceleration regardless of load etc?