Class 56074 Roof Light

[fgwrich]

Just browsing through the Railway Heralds website, and in looking at the Picture Of The Day with the 3 Class 56s up at Monkhill Junction,Pontefract, i noticed 56074 seems to have a orange flashing light mounted on the cab roofs - Does anyone know why this 56 had this feature and what it was for?

The only thing i can think of is something to do with the Merry Go Round operations but who knows?

http://railwayherald.co.uk/imaging.centre/showimage.php?image=218856

http://railwayherald.co.uk/imaging.centre/showimage.php?image=174016

 

[Hydro]

Wasn't it trialled for remote controlled MGR operation?

 

[fgwrich]

Could well be - Ive just found this picture which shows the light better:

http://www.class56.co.uk/picture/56074-yk-130380.jpg

 

[driver9000]

Wasn't it trialled for remote controlled MGR operation?

That has always been my recollection of the roof light. Two 47s were also fitted out for remote control operation and had similar lights, although not at the same time as the 56.

 

[simon7929]

I think 073 was fitted too. Possibly a class 47/3 fitted also. Possibly something to do with slow speed MGR operation at one of the Yorkshire Power Stations.

 

[142094]

Was it not put in place as Hydro said for the remote-control trial (like you see at steelworks etc with their internal shunters), but the slow-speed control was favoured instead and fitted to the rest of the 56s?

 

[The Colonel]

I think 073 was fitted too. Possibly a class 47/3 fitted also. Possibly something to do with slow speed MGR operation at one of the Yorkshire Power Stations.

IIRC it was 073 & 074 fitted as posted above. It was slow speed MGR not remote control. I remember seeing them at Knottingley years ago.

 

[12CSVT]

Several 47/3s (47370/373/379) had experimental modifications in 1979

IIRC 370 & 379 had remote control (and unofficially named 'Pinky' (370) and 'Perky' (379), 373 had a roof light similar to the 56s

 

[simon7929]

I think they had jumpers fitted similar to the 47/7s if my memory serves me right.

 

[Hydro]

My recollection of reading about "Pinky" and "Perky" was that they were the only (at the time) 47's modified for multiple working, using a proprietary Brush system (I think?) through RCH style jumpers. The nicknames came from the fact they were always together as they were the only multi fitted 47's at that time.

 

[jopsuk]

Was it not put in place as Hydro said for the remote-control trial (like you see at steelworks etc with their internal shunters),

Used commonly for yard shunters in the US- controlled both from ground level portable units and from yard control towers as far as I know.

 

[Roylang]

I think 073 was fitted too. Possibly a class 47/3 fitted also. Possibly something to do with slow speed MGR operation at one of the Yorkshire Power Stations.

Although not very obvious as it is quite dark, this shows 56073 also had the light as you suggest: http://www.derbysulzers.com/56073derby.jpg

47277 and 47373 were also so equipped. This (http://sulzerpower.com/archivephotos/chronological.html) shows 373 with the fitting (about 1/4 of the way down).

Roy

 

[455driver]

47370 and 47377 were fitted with multiple working equipment.
47277 and 373 were fitted with remote slow speed control for use at Drax? power station, it worked with a couple of "wiggly wires" in the four foot.
This was then fitted to 56073 and 074 to continue the experiment.