Could Grand Central operate their trains with a DVT at both ends?

[ic31420]

Moderator note: split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...y-grand-central-and-start-spring-2020.165526/

Traction training must include driving from both the 90 and DVT.

They'll train up on the 90s first then run trains tnt with DVTs to train up on them.

Slightly more serious note could you operate

DVT+stock+loco+DVT or does the loco have to be at one end of the train?

 

[Roast Veg]

Network Rail have run some funny combinations of just a loco sandwiched between two DVTs, but I highly doubt GC will do so.

 

[Spaceship323]

N

They'll train up on the 90s first then run trains tnt with DVTs to train up on them.

Slightly more serious note could you operate

DVT+stock+loco+DVT or does the loco have to be at one end of the train?

Network Rail have done driver training runs with DVT + class 67 + DVT

 

[43096]

They'll train up on the 90s first then run trains tnt with DVTs to train up on them.

Slightly more serious note could you operate

DVT+stock+loco+DVT or does the loco have to be at one end of the train?

You cannot couple a 90 (or indeed 91) to the inner/guard’s end of a Mark 4 DVT as they have different couplers.

 

[popeter45]

You cannot couple a 90 (or indeed 91) to the inner/guard’s end of a Mark 4 DVT as they have different couplers.

But could do DVT+TSOE+loco+TSOE+DVT
Or even a DVT pair that you swap what side the loco is on when switching direction

 

[gingertom]

surely such an arrangement, if it were technically possible, would occupy/waste a significant amount of platform space?

 

[hexagon789]

surely such an arrangement, if it were technically possible, would occupy/waste a significant amount of platform space?

Indeed, even if you had to run-round the loco each end, I still don't see merit in such an arrangement.

 

[AndrewE]

(answering the OP) Why would you want to? The loco will have a working cab so why waste platform space on a DVT?
However I remember seeing/travelling on (from Geneva airport) a long train of l/h stock with a DVT - more likely a DSO - a few coaches from the end of the train, and then a couple of coaches and another DSO leading. I took it to be peak-hour strengthening of an all-day consist.

 

[hexagon789]

However I remember seeing/travelling on (from Geneva airport) a long train of l/h stock with a DVT - more likely a DSO - a few coaches from the end of the train, and then a couple of coaches and another DSO leading. I took it to be peak-hour strengthening of an all-day consist.

Pretty standard SBB practice, a basic formation of 7 or 9 coaches with a second class seating driving trailer, strengthened by mini-sets of typically a first, a second and another second class driving trailer. I recall boarding an IC at Geneva formed of an Re460, 10-coach IC2000 set, coupled to a 4-coach EWIV set with another Re460 the other end.

 

[pdeaves]

(answering the OP) Why would you want to? The loco will have a working cab so why waste platform space on a DVT?

I think the intention was purely as a crew training exercise to learn DVTs, rather than the final passenger-carrying arrangement.

 

[AndrewE]

I think the intention was purely as a crew training exercise to learn DVTs, rather than the final passenger-carrying arrangement.

fair enough. Thanks for the explanation.