Far North Line in the snow

[ShadowKnight]

Well that narrows it down

 

[styles]

Well that narrows it down

Hard to narrow down a single track line

 

[Carntyne]

Class 66 can use the ploughs as well I assume, or anything else without a central driving position.

 

[swaldman]

Class 66 can use the ploughs as well I assume, or anything else without a central driving position.

Good question - I'm guessing the driving position in a 66 must be lower than a 37 - can they see anything past an independant plough?

Re the route availability issue, which I've always assumed was the reason 37s got the Far North Line... I just looked things up at https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Route-Specification-Scotland-2021.pdf and it says that everything north of Invergordon is RA5, which makes sense, except that Georgemas->Wick is RA3. I don't think there are *any* locos that meet RA3 (?)... would there have been some kind of special dispensation to get the 37s to Wick this winter?

 

[yoyothehobo]

Good question - I'm guessing the driving position in a 66 must be lower than a 37 - can they see anything past an independant plough?

Re the route availability issue, which I've always assumed was the reason 37s got the Far North Line... I just looked things up at https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Route-Specification-Scotland-2021.pdf and it says that everything north of Invergordon is RA5, which makes sense, except that Georgemas->Wick is RA3. I don't think there are *any* locos that meet RA3 (?)... would there have been some kind of special dispensation to get the 37s to Wick this winter?

Checking the sectional appendix Georgemas Junction to Wick is prohibited to Class 20 and 37/5 that are RA6. 37/0, 37/3, 37/4, 37/6, class 43 are allowed with a 10mph speed restriction over a couple of bridges

 

[43096]

Checking the sectional appendix Georgemas Junction to Wick is prohibited to Class 20 and 37/5 that are RA6. 37/0, 37/3, 37/4, 37/6, class 43 are allowed with a 10mph speed restriction over a couple of bridges

How are 37/5s RA6 when a 37/4 is RA5? A 37/5 is basically a 37/4 without the train heat.

 

[matchmaker]

How are 37/5s RA6 when a 37/4 is RA5? A 37/5 is basically a 37/4 without the train heat.

And aren't 20s RA5?

 

[yoyothehobo]

It must be referring to that some of those class 37/5s and 20s might by RA6. Again, just reading the SA